Resto underway!!!

[cudadave72]

I figured that since I'm busy with my baby twins now would be a good time to do a full restoration on the Cuda. Although it was a stunning driver it still had some issues around the hood hinges and trunk pan. Also the car has never been fully apart since leaving the factory!!! My goals is to have the body and paint work done in a year. Once done the car will look very simular to the way it did before I started on it. I'm having a hard time deciding if I will go back with hockey stripe or the original full stripe for a 1972. The other big change is that it will ride on ralley wheels but I am going to retain the stance it has now. I'm having Ryan at Shady Dell doing up a monster 440 cu in small block using a 48 degree R3 block with a complete Indy top end package. Last engine like this he built laid down almost 730hp on pump gas!!! Also switching out the 8 3/4 for a Dana 60. I've got a long road ahead of me but at least the car is super solid other than the issues I listed above. Wish me luck!!

[sdbilyg]

nice looking cuda to start with

[Doomed]

Good luck! Go with the Hockey stripe.

Kyle.

[Challenger III]

Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress! 

[mopar12372]

yes good luck we know you can do it!!

[The Cuda Guy]

Hockey Stripe with a 440 call out!   

Also have you considered painting your car Viper Blue?  We saw a car that was painted that color and it blew us away!  Jeff almost bought it!  It was an awesome color on that cuda....  it had Rally's too LOL!!!

Good luck bro, I will be watching this thread closely!   

Don

[cudadave72]

Thanks guys! I will need much encouragement! Friday I started "unearthing" the poorly installed quarter skins that were installed during a previous paint job. So far the right side aready seems to have a couple gallons of bondo in it to cover up sloppy workmanship. Amazing what you find underneath something that was seemingly straight and slick. I've got a feeling this is not the last suprise I'm in for.

Hockey Stripe with a 440 call out!   

Also have you considered painting your car Viper Blue?  We saw a car that was painted that color and it blew us away!  Jeff almost bought it!  It was an awesome color on that cuda....  it had Rally's too LOL!!

I've thought about Viper blue which is close to the color the car is now. Its very possible that I will go back with the same color it is now. As far as the call out I'm going to go back with 340 as I want to keep the car a sleeper. I'll post some more pics of progress in a few days.

[74chall]

Looks good Dave. I just got done doing a reresto to my challenger a few months ago. It all started one day when i was washing it and couldnt take the few little bubbles of rust on the lower fender 

[mapandjlp]

Amazing what you find underneath something that was seemingly straight and slick. I've got a feeling this is not the last suprise I'm in for.

You said it!  Check out my project - http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73190.0 - and you'll see plenty of surprises!  Sometimes it makes you wish you'd just left it alone...   

[cudadave72]

Got the nerve up today to go ahead and to tear into it full steam ahead. I cut out the left side quarter panel to see what I was working with. From here I will completely remove the panel but I thought I would go ahead and post some pics of the progress. I cant begin to describe how some idiot installed the quarter skins in the past. The drivers side was overlapped and rivioted into place. To top that there was previous damage on the top of the quarter and instead of shapeing it with a dolly or stud pulling it they just fill it slap full of mud. I was knocking off chunks that were inches thick!! Also when they cut out the old quarter it looks like they used a hack saw!!!!!!! Oddly the drivers side trunk extension look brand new and the right side is rotten. Go figure. Also found that the rocker panel on the drivers side had a hole in it and that the trunk lid is junk. At first the trunk lid looked almost perfect and when I went to tap down the right corner to match the quarter a chunk of bondo popped loose and it was rotten underneath.

[mopar12372]

i found the same on my car les the rivits . lots of bondo and holes. i guess we suffer now from past repairs because parts where almost unavailable.

[74chall]

WOW amazing nothing was bubbling up?? Or was it?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

looks like you are gettin the ball rolling! my car will be in similar shape I bet once I start to tear into it.

I say 72 stripe, everyone has a hockey stripe!

[cudadave72]

Can anyone tell me what this triangular bracket is that is attached to the top of the wheel house? It looks like it serves no purpose?

[Doomed]

I feel your pain... a couple of holes in the floor pan turned into this...