Kuda progress

[Cuda416]

Hah, I gotta say when I saw the first couple of images of the floor cut up the way it was my initial reaction was "What on earth is this guy doing!?". After reading on a bit, a better reaction would have been "Wow, these are some really good ideas, I might have to steel some of them!".

Amazing work and awesome welding for someone new to the task!

I can only hope I do as good a job when it's my turn.

[Beck]

With the body out of the workshop I've been working on other parts of the car.


Test fitting the fiberglass fenders and hood, along with the new wheels and tires. The fenders fit up really nice. The hood doesn't match the fenders too well, and all of them are pretty rough,
but that's to be expected from race-weight glass parts I guess.


Reinforced the K member (rewelded the terrible factory welds, seam welded the edges, and added a Firm Feel gusseting kit), and welded on the bracket for the Schumacher torque strap.
The header wrap was just to see how it looked, I won't be running any on the final assembly. Also bolted on the new Milodon road race oil pan, a really nice part!


A composite shot of a few of the new parts that turned up recently. Looking forward to bolting these in and on!

[TROUBLE987]

Aaron nice work..I'm a self taught welder,but man can you give any pointers..like what size wire..I'm using a brand new Lincoln 140 welder..and 75/25 gas..thx

[GranCuda1970]

Your definately gonna have one of the sweetest rides on the site, I nominate for the Mad Max Movie remake if they ever do it!!!!

[TROUBLE987]

Also Aaron what program you using to do your photos,photo shop,etc ?

[Beck]

Cheers guys!
I think the welders I've been using have been running .8mm wire.
The best advice I could give as far as welding goes is practice as much as you can, and play with the settings.

GranCuda, it's funny you should mention a Mad Max remake.
I spent over a year working with George Miller as a lead concept artist on Mad Max 4, primarily on vehicle design. Was a lot of fun.
The film shoot is having some troubles getting off the ground however.

I use photoshop exclusively, it's all you need really.

[GranCuda1970]

That's so friggin cool and I hope they still make the movie!! We have not had enough post-apocalyptic entertainment as of late.

[dutch]

that`s a funny coinsidence... I was watching the interceptor chase-scene last week...  made me want to see the entire movie again real soon.  I do hope a part 4 will be done 
great progress on your car Aaron. I love to see the way your welding has improved over such a short time... you`re a natural for sure    the rollcage will pump up your skill levels for sure. I`ve been fabricating motorcycle ( trike - sidecar and atv ) frames for 12 years now, and welding pipe is the coolest welding by far imo...     gotta love the looks of a nice weld...

[xtreme]

looking good man, so what do you think of the fiberglass fenders, can you post up some other pics of them

[RDF]

With the body out of the workshop I've been working on other parts of the car.

WOW....what size rim/tire you got on the back....looks awesome!

[Beck]

26x12x15" Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R on 15x10" police wheel.

And Dutch, those are some of the best MIG welds I've ever seen!
Where the tube joins the plate is beautiful! Is that pulsed or did you move the gun around?

[dutch]

no pulse. trick is enough heat and feeling the flow of the liquid steel I guess... welding tube comes down to feel and practice.... a lot...
I`m a blacksmith by trade and I never had any kind of schooling for welding.  H-beams are easy... welding pipe is another game.
The atv frames I build ,are all chromemolybdeen tube with very thin wall ( 1-3mm) and that`s tricky with heat, but the heavy frameparts for trikes and sidecars are way more difficult to weld since you need penetration but dont want to find your weld falling faster than you work.
The pipe in the picture has a wallthickness of 6.3mm.
anyways...I love welding pipe LOL

[Travis72]

Your Cuda looks so mean!!!!  It's awesome.  And your photography and art skills are incredible!  Keep posting up some pictures.  That picture of your parts is just too cool!

Travis
72 Cuda

[johns cuda shop]

Looking great Aaron, Great workmanship..I like the stance... Keep us updated.

[Beck]

Modifying the lower control arms.


Stripped and sandblasted.


Reinforced with plates from Firm Feel.


Sway bar brackets welded on.


Done! Ready to be cleaned, powder coated, and thrashed.