71 cuda clone buyer

[tommyg29]

Hello everyone:
I have been posting and asking lots of questions. Been looking for the right car for at least a year, and have made offers on a couple, but it seems I have found my car....a clone....which should allow me to drive it once in a while without fear, and without guilt. Plus, its a lot more affordable, probably half as much as the real thing with comparable options and condition. I have a substantial deposit on it now, and hope to have it shipped 1500 miles to me in a couple weeks.

I went to look at it this past weekend, and it was generally as represented. I'm in the real estate business, and I can tell you that pictures rarely tell the whole story, but the car, though far from perfect, is what I expected, and is equipped and colored out just as I would have ordered one, if I could. I love the limelight color, even though it wasnt offered in 71. Never cared much for billboards...much prefer hockey sticks...but they're growing on me. Has weld pro star wheels which are growing on me as well. Only wish list items for a little down the road are elastomeric bumpers, and after I "restore" the underbody, torque boxes.
It has a 440-6 (I'm told a 72 hp block), functional shaker (7 year old repop but decent), a833 4 speed, dana 3.54 rear, hemi torsion bars and leaf springs. Did I mention it also has vintage air and power windows to add a little fufu touch. The gauges are rebuilt with white faces, and it has a rimblow, but with a 2 inch chunk of the black part on the inside missing.

Originally it was a 318 tan barracuda with gold top!? I could take delivery of the original block but dont think I want it since its only the upper half (no lower or heads). Probably not worth the trouble of crating it.

The journey begins. Wish me luck on the road ahead...literally.

[72hemi]

Looks like a nice score! Hope you enjoy it. If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for it?

[pink panther]

  does look nice

[tommyg29]

I'll just say in the 30s.
I dont want to jinx anything since I havent completed the transaction, but the guy I'm buying from seems to be real nice. Young mechanic who seemed to be very particular about what he used and what he wanted. He finished his resto for the most part about 5 or 6 years ago, and fortunately, what he wanted is almost exactly what I wanted. He owns several other mopars, and wants to get a 69 mustang.
I forgot to add he also changed out the K member to one with the skid plate, but then he may have had to with the 318 to 440 switch. Not sure what else he switched out to make it a "correct" 440-6 tribute. I'm sure I'm missing a few things.

[cj]

Car looks great!  I think 'clone' is the way to go if you want to enjoy driving the car...and how could you not want to drive that every chance you get.

[72hemi]

Good luck on completing the transaction, definitely a good buy. February 2007 I sold my 71 440 6 pack clone for 40k and it was an automatic with a bulge hood, it did have power windows and leather seats (originally well optioned gran coupe car). Looks like the economy will be working out in your favor on this one. Congrats again.

[tommyg29]

72hemi: was it a dana? Good condition?

A couple more things are the full 3" tti exhaust with stainless tips, and hooker comp headers, though not coated (they look like crap). May want to eventually either coat them, or maybe cheaper to buy new ceramic coated??
Also under the hood I want to switch out the mopar performance cam covers with the orange stock type, and maybe swap the fabricated aluminum 26" radiatior (that's another thing that was done....the radiator support was changed to 26") with the black stock type, though that might not be possible with the a/c crammed in on that left side. Can the inlet/outlets be swapped?

Posting 3 more pictures. One of the block...should I take the trouble of crating it to ship it 1500 miles? and two of the front and rear suspension areas. The bottom is pretty clean. Mostly surface rust which should clean up with just a lot of my messy labor. Chassis saver has been recommended, but it sounds like its too good to be true...just clean the surfaces and brush it on? If I get a few other recommendation I'll try it.

[72hemi]

The car was in great condition, the body was perfect but I had recently restored the car. It did not have a dana or rallye gauges. I'll dig up some pictures when i get home.

[tommyg29]

Honestly, I think I paid a couple thousand more than I should have, but I've been looking a long time for the car closest to what I really want, and I dont mind paying a small premium for that. I've seen lots of cars online, and if you can believe the pictures, Ive seen some in better condition for about the same money, and I've seen real 440s for "only" about $20 to $30k more, but in the end you just gotta go with your gut on the car you think is right, and just pull the trigger already. With a dozen weekends of my own labor and about $3 to $5k in trim parts and all the other miscellaneous, this car will be EXACTLY what I want, and it will be in excellent condition when I'm done...but who am I kidding. They're NEVER done!
But I dont think I'll ever second guess myself that now isnt a great time to buy, either a project, or especially a "finished" car, unless the car falls apart after I get it home. 
Anyone selling today has to be taking a hit. Some bigger than others.

[brads70]

Wow nice car! Looks in great shape!!!
 Is that a Dana 60 or a 7 1/4 ? I can't tell without seeing the whole picture? I'd get rid of the air shocks. I just got mine ( 70 Challenger)  from CA and it had air shocks too. I replaced the shocks and springs.
If you don't listen to anything else I say hear this. DO NOT USE DAS for shipping!!! I had a nightmare experience with them! About $5000 damage!
Hope the deal goes though for you !! That's my favourite year for Cuda's!!

[tommyg29]

One more thing about under the hood. I'll be looking to rerout the a/c lines, some of the wiring and anything else I can to make it look cleaner. The shaker is awesome, reminds me of a stealth bomber, but its huge under the hood and otherwise hides a beautiful engine, especially with the 6 pack.
With those big old orange covers bulging out, it will look awesome at the local shows!

I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but I oughta love every minute of it.

Oh, and I almost forgot...probably more important than anything...I've got two teenage sons with brand new drivers licenses, and I hope, no, expect them to enjoy working with me on it, in it and under it. They deserve to learn how real cars work, with their own hands.

[tommyg29]

Its a Dana 60, and WOW, I was just about to use them...quote is $564, plus $109 to guarantee top of the hauler, plus another $150 for "insurance". I thought it was a good deal. I just dont want to pay $1400 for a closed carrier. I know with the open carrier ANYTHING can happen, including theft. It is easy enough after all to pop the hood, so I figured putting it up top would be the way to go.
Thanks for the advice, but now I gotta do more research.

[EDGEFIND]

Congrats on the purchase. It looks like a nice ride. Just remember that as long as you're happy with it, it's worth every dime.

[tommyg29]

supposedly dynoed at 400rwhp and 500ftlbs, and though I didnt push it on the test drive, the seller did, and it moves! He said he never pushed it too hard, but has run 14.0 at 109mph, so its got good top end.
Car feels tight and shifts smoothly, but had a couple rattles...the shifter area, and maybe a rattle down near the clutch pedal? plus some popping sounds up front the seller says are coming from the moog polyurethane bushings.
Very little rust. Like I said...surface rust below, and a couple spots in the floor area under the carpet in the corner down below the kick panels, and a couple small spots coming through the paint under the trunk mat. I hate those rubber/vinyl mats. They trap moisture.

[FJ5_440]

440-6, four speed, shaker hood, Dana 60, High Impact color with Billboards and Gills, Rallye Gauges and a rimblow wheel.   

Not a bad way to pick up groceries.

Very Very nice car!!
Congratulations!