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

[usraptr]

Dropped off the front and rear valances and the driveshaft at the body shop today and did find a suprise afterall.  After media blasting numerous pin holes were found in the driver's floorboard.  Didn't expect that.  Didn't notice that last time as the floorboards were covered with media dust.   Will order the new sheet metal parts from Year One tomorrow.  So far I'm up to about $737.  Not too bad for a 39 year old car.  Also, the car and parts are almost done (media blasting and primer) and will pick it/them tomorrow.    Will post photos then.  Then the fun starts. 

[wagesofsin]

i'd contact mopardave if i was you. hes an outstanding individual, and a straight shooter.


http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?action=profile;u=6078

[usraptr]

Picked up the Cuda from the body shop today.  She's all primered and ready for body work.  They primered, and painted most of the suspension parts with a single stage black and baked it.  So hopefully, I can get the suspension back under it in the near future after I get all new bushings, etc.  Found some pretty amateurish body work under some of the bondo that came off during the media blasting.  My body man, said no big deal, he's fixed a lot worse.  Just more money.     Here are some of the photos I took today.  Didn't inlcude the pics of the fenders, hood, etc since they pretty much look the same, except now they're black. 

[ambitions2]

Yeah the hobby is not cheap, but you also pay what you get for.  Especially in body work, you can never skimp.  Do you mind how much you paid for the blasting/primer?  I was at $800 with the blasting and $220 for the priming (I primed it myself).  I did the car in epoxy also. 

Nice clean metal to work with...ahhhh 

[usraptr]

Sounds like you got a better deal.  $1600 for the media blasting, primer, and painting the suspension parts.

[71_340Challenger]

Looking good!    Very solid car. I am just about to go and get mine media blasted as well. I am scared what might be lurking under my paint. It seems pretty solid overall, so I am not expecting too much, but you just never know with cars of this age.

Hey, what did your body shop use for primer? What about you ambitions2? I have not made my trip down to the paint store yet, but just curious what other people are using.

As a note, I was quoted $500-$600 to blast my entire car and suspension provided I have it all torn down and ready like your was. I am going to spray the primer myself.

Keep up the good progress and keep the pics coming!

[usraptr]

Sorry I made a quick bonzai trip to Calif this weekend so I can't answer your question re what type of primer they used.  Will be back in Utah on Tuesday and will call the body shop and then post. 

[Bluemonster71RT]

We seem to be in the same area of the resto so I'll be taking notes!

[usraptr]

Not a whole lot new to report.  Waiting for several parts/body panels from Year one.  Did manage to scrape all the glue off the roof from the vinly top.  Then wet sanded most of the overspray and primer off of it.  Was surprised at how many dents/dimples the roof had.  Anyway I did get my Chops back from Aaron on what I envision the car to look like when it's done.  I'll try and post here.  I tried on the CHOPS thread and it told me upload box was full!   I'll try here as see if the chops load.  The first pic will be of the finished car with stock Rallye wheels and Goodyear Polyglass tires.  Second photo, same except it will have 18" American Mags with Goodyear Eagles.  Third, black matte 440 hockey strip.  Fourth, white 440 hockey strip.
Last is a chop of my first 'Cuda that I purchased new in Oct '69:  383 magnum, AP spoke mags, 4-speed, rubber front bumper.  Hope this works.

[dutch]

great progress 

I like all chops, but the one with the white hockeystick looks awesome... 

[farmertan]

i really like the third one but then i like the ghost emblems and stock looking wheels either way you go that car is going to look awesome

[usraptr]

Been a while since I posted.  The car has just been sitting for a couple of months, no $.  However, that didn't keep me from going out and tinkering with it.  Finally got tired of no significant progress and decided to remove old panels myself, instead of paying my body man to do it.  Also, decided that I didn't like the hack jobs on both quarters and decided to replace them, (more $  ) instead of having them fixed.  Long story short, after what seemed like a thousand spot welds that I drilled out, I finally got both quarters off, the trunk pan out, and the rear window filler panel.  Just have half of the driver's floor pan left to do.  Hope to get that out in the next couple of days. 

[usraptr]

   Thinking out loud here.  I've been very impressed with the cars on this site where the bottom of the car is finished in the same color as the top.  Looks very sharp.  But how practical is it if the car is going to be driven?  I originally wanted to do the same with my 'Cuda but #1 don't have access to a rotisserie and I'm too cheap to take it to a body shop and have them do it.  Secondly, I think it would drive me nuts every time I ran over a rock or ran through a puddle or got caught in the rain. My body man is encouraging me to spray the underside of the car/frame with Rhino lining.  He says not only does it add protection to the underside but it helps sound proof, especially if you also spray it on the inside floorboards.  Lastly, not that I'm going for any 300 point car shows, but does it make a difference in local type car shows what type of undercoating/paint you have on the car?  Thanks in advance for any feedback.  I'd be real interested in hearing from both those who have painted the underside as well as those who may have also sprayed bed linner.

[dutch]

I had my car up in a rotisserie. First I sprayed a few coats of epoxy then a stone-chip preventing coating from "Motip"  . Don`t think it`s available in the states.  On top of that coating I sprayed body color. Not a must but I like the looks and I had the car upside down anyway.... I am not building a top end show car, I`ll drive the heck out of it and will see how log the color will last... 

[usraptr]

Thanks for your response Dutch.  Right now, I think I'm going to go with the bed linner for the undercarriage.  'Course that could always change by the time I get around to actually doing it.