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

[mopar12372]

i like the bed liner idea , i have heard that the snow/salt can get under it and rust under neath . the off road guys use it all the time  , just make sure its sealed and layed down correctly

[Matt]

...nuff said!!

[usraptr]

Progress has been slow but steady.  After drilling out what seemed like 1K more spot welds, I finally got the driver's front floor pan and 4-speed hump out. That completes the disassembly of my 'Cuda.  If I never see another spot weld again, it will be too soon.  Test fit the new floor pan and while it's not a perfect fit it will work with a little tweaking.  Ground down all the spot welds on the doors, and rear frame rails getting them ready for welding primer. Finally, ground/sanded off 40 years of rust, crude and paint off the passenger side inner fender well and the rear frame rails and channel that hold the rear tail light panel.  Ran out of sandpaper before I got the driver's side inner fender well done.  After that it's time to primer all the new panels and frame rails and then weld everything in place.    Can't wait but I got a feeling it's going to be a while before my bodyman gets to the welding.   

[usraptr]

Sorry, I accidently hit POST before finishing adding all the photos. 

[wagesofsin]

looking great so far!!!

 

any kind of progress is a good thing.

[usraptr]

Time for an update.  Progress has been slow but steady.  Unfortunately its the kind of progress that doesn't really show, but is necessary to do the job right.  Before I get to the car, since I couldn't find a used rotisserie and didn't want to spend $1K on a new one that I would only use for this car and then sell, I decided to bite the bullet and buy a two post car lift.  I've always wanted one and my shop was designed for one, so I decided what the heck.  I can use it for the restor' on the 'Cuda, and then use it to store it in the winter and park a car underneath.   I can also use it to work on my other cars and my son, the mechanic has already used it for some side jobs.  It's like being a kid at Christmas to actually have my own lift.  First pic is of the lift.  Then my three sons are helping me move the 'Cuda from it's old home in the garage to it's new home in the shop. (I'm the old fart with the baseball cap ) Then my best friend, body man, finally got some time to work on the car.  He straightened the right rear frame rail (notice the come-along attached to the hoist and the other end of the car connected to my truck!! Who needs a stinking frame machine!!??)  Anyway it came out perfectly straight.  He then test fit the quarters, passenger door, trunk floor pans, extensions, rear filler and deck lid. It was amazing how straight he got the door lines.  I think they are better than when it came from the factory.    Last night he finished up the test fitting and punched holes in all the new sheet metal for the spot welds.  Next we'll disassemble again, primer the edges with welding primer, prime the rest with etching primer, reassemble and weld.  Since the outside edge of the inner rear fender wells were rusted/corroded pretty good (not enough to need replacement) I've decided that after we spray with etching primer, to coat the outer half with undercoating spray.  I know it's not factory, but it wont' hardly show when the quarters are on and it will add an extra level of protection to the fender wells.  Like I said, not a lot of visible progress, but all necesary.  I have to admit it's nice to see the car with new quarters, even if they are only held on with clamps.

[usraptr]

A few more photos.

[farmertan]

The progress on this car looks great, this is one of my favorite threads to watch thanks for the updates, and when you guys pushed the car uphill into the garage did you look over at the quad when you got there and go  

[dutch]

great progress... nothing like new sheetmetal     
the carlift looks seriously solid    ready to lift a Peterbilt   

[Bluemonster71RT]

Great work so far.  Man I had a chance to buy a lift as we got 6 from a tech school but I didn't have the $500 at the time .  Anyway I see your pic of putting the door on and getting it lined up.  Were you able to get it right?  I can't seem to get mine correct. The bottom is in to far by the quater and the top is almost spot on. How do you get the rear bottom out?

[usraptr]

Bluemonster, yes we got the door lined up both top and bottom.  I can't really tell you how we did it, because my Ron, body man, is the one that did it while I watched.  I can tell you this, however, we tightened and untigtened the door hinge bolts/hinges a dozen times as he adjusted and tweaked it, both on the door itself and the body.  I had tried it in the past myself and couldn't get it right, but he knew exactly which one to move and in what direction to get it lined up.  Can't beat an experienced body man.  Do you have the original quarters or replacement quarters?  If they aren't original they may not have been aligned correctly when they were installed.  Just a thought.  That's why Ron is taking so much time mocking everything up and making sure everything fits correctly before we start welding.

[Bluemonster71RT]

Only lower rear quater patches were put on so the part by the door should not have been touched. I can get it correct until its fully latched and pushed in where the weather strip would otherwise help keep it out. But thats where the bottem edge goes to far.  I was hoping the there was a adjustment to be hade at the latch but doesn't seem to move much.  I guess it's gonna tame lots of time and . lol.  Thanks 

[usraptr]

The post that sticks out from the quarter that the door latches onto is adjustable.  If you loosen it you can slide it in and out and I think up and down also.  Ron also adjusted that while working on my door.  Good luck.  I know how frustrating it is

[usraptr]

Time for an update.  My body man, Ron, just got a new job so it looks like he might have 1-2 days a week to devote to my 'Cuda.    In anticipation of him getting started again I bought a gallon of Rust Bullet and sprayed the outside of the rear fender wells, rear frame rails and roof.  Then since it will be hard to spray the top of the fender wells once the quarters are installed I got a quart of single stage black and sprayed them while they were still exposed.  Ron came over yesterday and installed/welded in the new trunk floor.  At the time I bought it I had not planned on replacing the quarters so I bought the two piece floor pan.  I was surprised by how much time Ron spent test fitting the two pieces and making sure they were level to each other.  I would have never worried about it considering it was the trunk and will have a trunk mat covering it. Shows the difference between a  true professional and shade tree body man.  Anyway, he got it all welded up.  Hopefully, if things work out I'll soon have some pics of the new quarters permanently installed.  Have attached a few pics.  I know they're not real exciting, but it's exciting to me to finally make some more progress on the car. 

[wagesofsin]

very nice!! but why do those pics look so familiar? i know ive seen them somewhere before...