Brad' second '70 Cuda and first (and last) restoration project

[usraptr]

Ordered a new master cylinder today from Mancini Racing. They have a 10% off sale for the next few days.  Once I get that I hope to get the rest of the brake lines hooked up and then bleed the brakes.  The dash is mostly done.  I'm still waiting for my radio to be re-buillt and returned; hopefully by the end of April.  Also, still need to try and re-furbish the heater control panel.  I've tried to paint the letters a couple of times with various paint pens but it never comes out right.  I'm going to give it one more try with model paint and a fine brush and if that doesn't work then I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy a new one.  Engine is at the machine shop so what I hope to start on next week is cleaning up the transmission and paint it.  It was rebuilt by the previous owner but never installed/run.  After paint I'll install the shift linkage.  The machine shop is just doing the short block, so when I get it back I'll order new ProMaxx aluminum heads, Performer intake, Quickfuel carb and dist.  After I paint the short block my son and I will install those and then hook up the trans to engine and then mount them on the K member and install in the car.  I've got an old set of headers that came with the car that I'll install for cam break in and then I'll probably buy a set of TTI headers.  In the meantime, I'm busy building and wrapping a couple of custom fresh water fishing rods for my grand daughters Cystic Fibrosis Walk/raffle the first of May.  I'm also building/wrapping 4 more salt water rods for my annual 7-day Long Range fishing trip out of San Diego in Aug.  And in the middle of all that the wife and I are going on vacation to Jasper Park in Canada in June.     So I'm going to be pretty busy for the rest of the summer. 

[sadil340]

I did all the letters in my car with a fine brush. I used the pinstripers' technique - hold the painting hand steady with the other hand. Also, don't try to get the entire letter with the first stroke, just kind of build it up a little at a time.

[usraptr]

Thanks Sadi340.    I'l let you know how it turns out.

[usraptr]

I picked up my 'Cuda engine from the machine shop yesterday. The block was line bored and parallel decked to 5 thousands so I should have about 10.5 compression and good quench. 440 Source 512c.i. fully Balanced Stroker with a Lunati Cam with Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .513/.533 and Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 276/284. Should make a ton of horsepower and torque. Waiting now for the Eastwood engine paint, Promaxx aluminum heads, Edlebrock Performer intake, Summit Electronic Distributor and Quickfuel 880 CFM  carb! Then my son and I can mate the trans to the engine and install in the car. This has been a loooong time coming! Hope to hear this beast running by the end of summer!  I also finished cleaning my transmission and painted it today with Eastwood's cast iron paint. I have to admit I was very impressed with the color.  It really likes like fresh cast iron.  You'd really have to examine it close up to see that's it's painted.  I'd like to duplicate the original factory "677" (I think that's it but will verify) paint stamp on the side of the case.  Does anybody know where I can buy the correct size stamps to duplicate the factory stamping?

[usraptr]

Have a question about factory transmission markings.  While cleaning 45 years of dirt and grim off my Factory hemi 4-speed I was surprised to see that the original factory stamping and paint inspection marks were in reasonably good shape.  I also noticed an additional number stamping directly above the correct "677" ( I think that's what it was)  This stamping was white instead of light blue and said "?76"/."  Has anybody seen this before and what was the purpose of a second no?  My intention was to just clean up the trans and leave the original stampings and inspection marks but I soaked them overnight with Evaporust to try and clean them up and it completely removed the 677 stamping and really lightened the ?76 stamping so I just went ahead and painted it, but I'm still curious as to why the transmission had two different number stampings?

[73440]

677 is correct for your 70 Hemi 4 speed E body
There is a 676 for a 70 Hemi or 440 4 speed B body.

Maybe on the assembly line it was first scheduled for a different car

[redo1973]

Man that looks good.  I used detail grey on my 904 but the color is not perfect.

[usraptr]

73440, that makes sense.  It was just sort of odd to see two different numbers on it.  Anyway, do you know where I can buy the correct size stamps to duplicate the factory "677" ?

[73440]

They may be able to help you here. http://www.iccahome.org/

http://www.71sg.com/stamps.html

[usraptr]

73440 - Thanks    

[73440]

Your welcome.

Those stamps aren't cheap , are you planning on doing all date code and marks?

[usraptr]

I WAS BUT AFTER SEEING THOSE PRICES I MAY RECONSIDER.

[sadil340]

Maybe you could convince others on the board to do a group buy? Should be enough with the same setup to warrant and it shouldn't cost very much in postage to send from one to the other.. just a thought.

[lulurocks]

This car is sick as hell.. Big block triple black. 4 speed .....


Makes me regret doing purple .....


Dash done yet.? 

[usraptr]

Almost, waiting for  new heater control panel.  I got the radio back last week from being restored but decided that I needed to do a cosmetic restoration on the face plate before re-installing in the dash. Have to assist my wife with girls camp this week but I'll be back to it first thing next week.  Thanks for the compliments lulurocks.