Need your opinion on which way I should go with my 71 Cuda

[Fish Tale]

Hello,
I would like your thoughts on this...

I own a 1971 'Cuda 383 4spd (original engine and tranny are long gone).  It currently has a 1969 383 and I don't know the year of the tranny.  It has its share of rust issues, trunk floor, rockers, and rear frame rails need attention.  I believe only 501 of these 'Cudas were made.

Should I restore it to original/stock form being as rare as it is or should I not care since it's missing the original engine and tranny and make a restomod out of it?

Thank you for your time.

[Cuda Cody]

You're going to find a lot of people telling you do what makes you happy.  If it were mine, I would make little changes, but keep it as stock looking as possible.  That's just me.   

[Alaskan_TA]

If you customize it & then at some point locate the original engine & transmission, would the custom touches bug you?

[torredcuda]

Matching numbers engine and trans or not it`s still a real 383 4spd `cuda so my opinion is I agree with Cody-make some bolt on changes to your liking but keep it mostly stock looking.

[71cudajoe]

I have to say that when I built my 71 hemicuda clone, my original plan was to completely restomod the car. I purposefully bought a 71 barracuda without a pedigree -- originally a 6-cylinder barracuda with no broadcast sheet or fender tags. I didn't want to feel guilty about making mods to the car, and I especially didn't want to modify a car that had any rarity.

You are obviously starting with a car that is more valuable than mine in its original state, but I wanted to let you know that the more I got into researching and restoring my car, the more of a purist I became. Originally, I was going to mini-tub the car, use a 6.1 HEMI, install coil-over suspension, etc. As I came to learn more and more about the Cuda, I changed my mind along the way about these kinds of modifications. My car would've been fine any way I built it, but I am certainly happiest with the route I took.

Everything on my car has maintained a more stock appearance. I have a lot of original and reproduction parts on the car, but everything is new or refurbished and configured to look more stock than restomod. For example, I decided to use a 472 HEMI crate motor in place of the 6.1 HEMI in order to keep the drivetrain more stock-looking -- yet it's all brand new and still gives me the reliability and power I was hoping for. I took the same approach with the interior: my radio is a reproduction that looks exactly like an original 71 Mopar radio but is all-new technology -- it looks original but I can plug-and-play my iPod tunes with it.

The only things from an outward appearance that makes my car not look stock is its lowered stance, the 18" wheels and the gloss (instead of flat black) billboards/shaker/tail panel/wing (the gloss black thing was my personal preference). So... my car still has the touch of restomod that I wanted, but it I didn't modify anything that couldn't easily be reverted to original again if I wanted to go that route. I'm really happy with this direction.

[4Cruizn]

I think that since the original engine and trans are gone, I would do what CODY said and make what you want . . . at least that is what I would do.        

I built a 1970 Convertible and although it looks somewhat stock, I built what I wanted and I'm sure that stats would show that it was a rare car.

[Choppintime]

I think this car might be my old Cuda. I sold it 7 years ago to a fellow in California. His intentions were to make a Hemi clone. I saw it 3-4 years ago on ebay. Story I heard was he passed away and his estate was selling it.

http://images51.fotki.com/v750/photos/5/50228/598583/P1090033-vi.jpg

[Choppintime]

Let try again........

[Choppintime]

As far as what you want to do with the car that is up to you. It's not a numbers car so paint it how you'd like. If you don't go too crazy with modifications I think you would be fine as far as if and when you need to sell it in the future. If I remember correctly the trunk pan was done very half assed in that car.

Again, build it how you want to. Heck, look at my Cuda....... talk about limiting myself to potential buyers if and when I ever consider selling it.

[Choppintime]

Not to hijack this thread but here is an album I saved of your Cuda when I owned it.

http://public.fotki.com/Honor74/1971_plymouth_cuda/

My current Cuda in living color...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BX3ZWAmZts

[Fish Tale]

Choppintime - small world!  I sent you a PM to get more information on the car.

The modifications (if I go restomod) I was planning on doing things like adding subframe connectors (weld in kind), body stiffening, disc brakes all around, etc.   But no tubbing or radical suspension.

[Challenger III]

If you're going to keep it, build the car you really want! 

[hotrod98]

I've resto modded a couple of Cudas and I normally go with "build what you want" but the 71 Cuda is pretty much the holy grail in my opinion. I've owned several 71's in my lifetime and still own two 71 Cudas and one 71 Barracuda. At this point, I want them to stay as close to stock appearing as possible with concessions made for drivability and reliability.
My N96 Cuda will stay with a shaker and my other Cuda will retain the bulge hood as original. My 71 Barracuda has a six pack race hood and tends to visit the local drag strip every once in a while so it doesn't count.
Truth is, a stock appearing 71 is just totally badazz in anyone's eyes.  Just look at how many people try to make their Cudas and Barracudas look more like a 71.
Bottom line is..."it's your car". 

[Road_Runner]

 I've been all over the map on my plans for the 73 Barracuda I picked up earlier this year.  When I bought it I was going to change almost everything as it was 'only' a 318 car.  Turns out it is a vary rare color combination, came loaded with a ton of options including rallye hood, stripes, etc. so now I'm tracking more towards a middle-of-the-road approach.  I'm not going to do anything that can't be undone with a set of wrenches and I'm keeping everything that comes off the car.  I'm swapping out the 73 bumpers with 72's.  I've got a 73 340 block I'm going to build and drop in, original sway bars, etc.  So the car is going to retain its 'mostly' stock looks but come closer to the car I want to drive.  It should be a blast when I'm done.  Yours being a 383 4 speed car, if it were mine I'd either take the same track as I'm taking or as some have said, go the totally stock 'appearing' which still lets you turn that 383 into a 438 stroker, etc.  I think as long as you're not cutting it up you really can't go wrong though.

Later, Jim

[Fish Tale]

I think the only real cutting I'll be doing is all the rust removal!  Most of the stuff I'll be doing is bolt on and some welding but nothing that couldn't be put back to original.

I like the idea of making the 383 a 438 stroker.....I'll have to start reading up on that.

Anyone use parts from XV motorsports?