So here is my Cuda story...
Ten years ago, I owned a 70' 383 matching numbers orange with black vinyl top cuda. I bought it before Mopar prices went out the roof (paid about $7K for it) and sold it for about $30K a few years ago. I sold it to help fund a small farm I bought for my family...
I woke up one day several years later and wanted another project car... Knowing it had to be a Mopar, I thought about a Demon as I have always loved the 340 Demon cars... But then I ran across a nice Purple 440 six pack car with white interior that needed some drive train work. The car is solid without an ounce of rust or body filler anywhere. The car does not have the matching numbers motor and tranny still in it
I wish it did. I think the car was a good price but after getting it, it has turned into more of a project than I had planned. Since it's turned into more of an upgrade project, i thought I would start this thread to document it's mini-restoration.
So here is what I've done so far:
1. Installed beautiful rallye dash from RTE
http://rt-eng.com/ Had a few problems with tach but RTE fixed that right away. All in all was a pretty simple but tedious install. Looks great now. Had some wiring to do and sending units to replace. Also, the car is an original A/C car so the dash panel below the steering wheel had to be replaced with a rallye panel (ouch!). They are tough to find and expensive when you do.
2. Installed rimblow wheel from plumbeeper.
http://www.rimblowsteeringwheels.com/ Went on easy, 15 min job tops. Looks amazing.
3. Fixed gas leak I had at tank output.
4. Tuned up 6 pack... no trivial job but its done.
5. Fixed few exhaust rattles I had (car had brand new 3" exhaust when I got it but needed some pro touches to make it right).
What is underway at this time:
1. MPBrakes disc brake kit being installed.
http://www.mpbrakes.com/2. Keisler 5 speed being installed. Took FOREVER
to get all the pieces from Keisler, ordered kit on Aug 10th, just got the clutch pedal kit (last missing piece) last week (Nov 9th).
http://www.keislerauto.com/mopar/e-body.html3. Ordered Dana 60 w/ Truetrac differential with 373 gears, upgraded bearing kit and rear disc brake kit from Dr. Diff (Cass). This guy is the guru of knowledge when it comes to Mopar rear ends. He spent a ton of time with me on the phone multiple times talking through options and weighing pros/cons of various options. He knows his stuff!
http://members.aol.com/doctordiff/Next on the list:
1. New carpet to match the 4 speed hump. Already ordered and in hand.
http://www.accmats.com/2. Notch out console for 4 speed, car had a 727 auto in it. (anyone have instructions on how to do this?)
3. Buy 2 15x8" mopar rallyes for rear. Car has 15x7 all way around right now. Put new tires all way around, car has way too small of tires on it now although they are brand new. Going with 275-60-15 on rear and 235-70-15 on the front BF T/A radials.
Maybe down the road:
1. Next time car needs a paint job (one on it now brand new) probably do the shaker hood.
2. Undercoat the car (any recommendations on this?)
Thats it for now. There have been a million little things along the way that have slowed me down but all in all it's moving along. Plans are to have it all ready for spring. I want to hit the Spring Grand Rod run in Pigeon Forge TN in April and the local cruise in's they have in my home town. Here are a few pics from along the way. Something about taking pics of this car in the day light makes it look a shade of blue, it is pretty darn purple...
Thanks for reading,
Blueglow
11/20/2007 Update - When putting on the MP Power Brake kit, we realized much of the front end rubber was aged, worn and needed replacing. After researching on CC I went with a kit that contains MOOG hardware and Energy Suspension polygraphite rubber from Mopars by Crane
http://moparsbycrane.com. Hoping to have kit next week and finish up install before rear end gets here.
11/28/2007 Update - Realized the car didn't have a front sway bar. Car was drag raced for some period during it's life and it was removed then we are guessing. Ordered new front end sway bar from firmfeel
http://www.firmfeel.com/swaybars_e.htm. Rear end from Dr. Diff going to be early January now Cass is telling me so I'm going to get the car back home and drive it a few weeks before tearing into transmission swap.
2/16/2008 Update - Got car finally up on the rack for the transmission swap. Hoping to be done by end of Feb.
Pics will follow.
2/28/2008 Update - Making good progress...
Got the old trans out
Got the new sway bar from firmfeel installed
Working on the inside, removing console, shifter, etc...
Got the Dana 60 from Dr. Diff installed... Dang bolts rusted while sitting waiting for install over the winter. Only rust on the car...
New Transmission awaiting a new home....
4 speed hump being installed....
My new 8" rims with tires mounted....
Rear view of the car with tag... Still got the rear valance out from putting in the dana 60. Yeah I'm a gun nut too....
Rear quarter with Trany awaiting....
Just waiting on Keisler to ship me my drive shaft cut to length at this point...
More to come....
Blueglow
