71 Cuda Pro-Touring Build

[johns cuda shop]

I made some tubes from 1 inch conduit for running the wires through . This will hide some of the wires in the engine compartment . Other items done is, I mocked up the gas pedal (reversed the studs for a clean firewall and throttle cable for the fuel injection. As you can see in the pictures the go through the fenderwell area, they are mounted high engough so there is no tire interference.

[johns cuda shop]

Rear seat modifications to fit around the rear roll bar tubes. I took out 4 inch square out of the rear seat. I took some 1/4 CRS round and bent it 90 deg then welded back.I will make a couple plastic covers to finish that area after I get the seat covered.

[TorOrange]

Like the fact your keeping the rear seat. Loving the build nice job.

[johns cuda shop]

I welded up the front license plate area on the front bumper. deleted the square bumper bracket holes and welded 3/8 studs on the back side. Looks like I will need to shave the bumper in the rear to tighten up the gap between the body and bumper. More on that later. Also made some new windshield corner brackets out of 3/32 plate  because the originals won't clear the cowl bar.

[Challenger III]

  Real cool stuff you are doing! 

[brads70]

Nice work ! Especially on the rear seat!
 I gotta ask though, how much clearance do you have with the front tire to the extra XV style bar above it? Looks to me like the car is not yet at ride height yet either?

[johns cuda shop]

Hi Brad. Thank you for your comments.As I was asked this before a while back on this post.There is 1 inch of clearance between the bar and the tire with the coilover completely bottomed out ,(or suspension upward fully)see picture. With more weight put into the car and the springs settling ,it should come down another inch in the front, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 in the back. I still have plenty of upward travel ,with the Aluminum block weight savings I may go with a 400 coil spring but I will have to see after the car is together and on the road.   

[brads70]

Hi Brad. Thank you for your comments.As I was asked this before a while back on this post.There is 1 inch of clearance between the bar and the tire with the coilover completely bottomed out ,(or suspension upward fully)see picture. With more weight put into the car and the springs settling ,it should come down another inch in the front, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 in the back. I still have plenty of upward travel ,with the Aluminum block weight savings I may go with a 400 coil spring but I will have to see after the car is together and on the road.   

Ah nice!  Did you try it with the wheels at full turn both ways too?  I was just thinking better to find out now rather than when it's all painted.
I've had a few " Dough!" moments before myself! 

[johns cuda shop]

Ahh yes, I double checked but that is a good point. this is why I wanted to mock up everything on suspension instead of doing my mods on a rotisserie.   

[johns cuda shop]

Some more progress on the body. I welded the side marker light holes, I used the metal from the fender patches. Also the trunk lock (I plan on a remote electric trunk latch from a 70s Chrysler imperial) The antenna hole too, (as I will be using a remote antenna). I Finished some welding on the insides of the fenders too.

[willhaven]

This is looking really nice. This build is right up my alley.

[johns cuda shop]

I finished assembling my rear brakes. I am using wilwood discs on the rear. I custom bent new 3/16 steel brake lines from the master cylinder to the calipers. I used a 12 inch 1/4 diameter braided stainless with 4AN straight ends for the flexible lines from the front calipers to the body, I used 2 ,1/8 npt to 4 an adapters to fit the lines to the front calipers. On the rear end, I used 1 12 inch stainless braided line with straight 4 An ends . I needed 1 adapter for the brake line to the divider block it was a 4AN to 7/16 20 female. Two 1/8 NPT to 3/8 24 adapters round out the connections to the rear calipers. I also Mounted the Lokar emergency brake (part #EBH-7000F) to the rear tunnel.

[johns cuda shop]

More progress, Finished my 3 point shoulder harness mounts. The upper mount attaches to the main hoop of the roll cage, the lower mount is 2 inches foward of the factory seat belt mount. Mounted the A/C port (vintage air part # 34215-VOQ ) To the RH side as I am going to run my A/C lines through the inner fender. I didn't like that vintage air sent me this double sided tape to attach the heater hose water temp valve to the firewall, so I made a custom bracket to mount it correctly. Also I installed the Bouchillion cable mounted throttle cable (part# 3340) The cable runs under the intake, I had to open up the square hole to .660 and make a slight slit in the pedal to make it work. 

[johns cuda shop]

I had to modify the front fender headlight bucket area as I am adding new Halegen 5.75 bulbs from a 1985 BMW with the replaceable bulbs. A 1 3/4 hole saw took care of the clearance. The 4 headlight buckets themselves required a little clearancing for the to fit flush with the headlight housings. i am trying to get most of the fab work done before any wiring is done.

[johns cuda shop]

I shaved the back bumper a bit(as the original fits terrible). I sectioned the bumper 3/8 on each end and 3/4 out of the bumper  brackets. I had to do some sectioning of the ends to get it to fit. Now the bumper fits more flush with better gaps.