70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh

[turbo224]

Nice, that'll look sweet once you're ready to put it on the car, hope you don't find any more bad surprises, hope you get a few good ones!

The surprises have not been good so far, but I think we've found the worst of them. After uncovering all the work from the previous owner, I'm pretty sure I could have replaced the quarter panel better myself using nothing but super glue and duct tape. 

Nice Grille. How is the quality. I about to pop on one of those to have as a spare 

The quality of it is good, but I wouldn't say amazing. I'm trying to withhold judgement until I see how it actually fits on the car. The best thing about it is that it comes with everything you need. All the chrome trim, the grills, headlight light bezels, and installation hardware.

I know the head light cans that are actually welded to the car in 1970 need to be changed to the 71 style to accept the duel headlights. Can anyone tell me if the rest of the grill will bolt right into the car?

[hemiken]

You are going to need a 1971 Header panel and upright support to fit the grille along with what you mentioned. What about fender gills ? It may be an easier way to change out the front fenders to proper 1971 with the gills in them to get that 71 `Cuda look you are after seeing as you are putting billboards, this way you will not need to change the headlight bucket area, they come standard on new fenders 

[turbo224]

You are going to need a 1971 Header panel and upright support to fit the grille along with what you mentioned. What about fender gills ? It may be an easier way to change out the front fenders to proper 1971 with the gills in them to get that 71 `Cuda look you are after seeing as you are putting billboards, this way you will not need to change the headlight bucket area, they come standard on new fenders 

By upright support, do you mean that piece that holds the hood latch? Do you know what exactly is the difference in the header panels? Can the 70 be modified to work?

[diyhemi.com]

In sure you could modify the 70 panel but it would be obvious in my opinion. It's much easier to use a 71 or 72-74 header panel. There are slight differences between the 71 and 72-74 but not like the 70.  72-74 panels can be had really cheaply at swap meets or online


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[turbo224]

So I've been trying to figure this out, but it's hard without being able to look at the car. The first picture is of amd's 70 header panel, and the second is of their 71. Is the whole bottom section on the 70 removable, or is it integrated into the panel?

[diyhemi.com]

The lower section of the 70 is spot welded to the top section. Each rib is individually spot welded. The lower section is essentially the filler piece between the grill and bumper. On the 71 grill and the 72-74 grill, the grill has the filler section molded into the plastic so there is no gap between bumper and grill.

The bracing and hood release support is also different. So even if you cut off every rib of a 70, you still have to fab up something for the hood latch area


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[anlauto]

Top picture is 71, bottom 70...and no nothing is removable or interchangeable

[turbo224]

The lower section of the 70 is spot welded to the top section. Each rib is individually spot welded. The lower section is essentially the filler piece between the grill and bumper. On the 71 grill and the 72-74 grill, the grill has the filler section molded into the plastic so there is no gap between bumper and grill.

The bracing and hood release support is also different. So even if you cut off every rib of a 70, you still have to fab up something for the hood latch area


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Thanks for the explanation, that's helpful. I actually have two spare header panels that must have come from a 71-74, does anyone have a part number so I can figure out the year? Is the 71+ hood support the same on a cuda and challenger?

[hemiken]

hey Tyler, 

Challengers do not have a header panel buddy. The hood on a Challenger goes all the way to the front of the car and lines up with the fenders, you need 71 header my friend, i wish i lived closer, i have a spare one you could have, but the shipping would be crazy.........

[turbo224]

hey Tyler, 

Challengers do not have a header panel buddy. The hood on a Challenger goes all the way to the front of the car and lines up with the fenders, you need 71 header my friend, i wish i lived closer, i have a spare one you could have, but the shipping would be crazy.........

No worries, I have a bunch of them laying around.

So now I need to figure out what exactly the difference is. Can someone explain this? Is it the vertical piece that sits behind the grill and in front of the radiator, or is it just the top plate that holds the hood latch? Or are they both different?

[johns cuda shop]

Every one I have seen is the same. A quick note, the 71 cuda has a hood latch release lever that mounts on the latch support. This is what release the latch from the outside of the grille. This part is not reproduced anywhere. Kinda looks like this.Good luck looks like a great project..

[anlauto]

So now I need to figure out what exactly the difference is. Can someone explain this? Is it the vertical piece that sits behind the grill and in front of the radiator, or is it just the top plate that holds the hood latch? Or are they both different?

Okay...Here's how it goes....

The verticle hood latch support is the exact same for ALL E Bodies, Cuda and Challenger from 1970 to 1974. (actually holds the hood latch) PN2959 584

The Top Plate that holds the hood pop-up spring is the exact same for ALL 1970-1974 Cudas and 1970-71 Challengers. PN 3443 877
The 1972-74 Challengers use a different top plate. PN3573 624

Class dismissed

[turbo224]

Okay...Here's how it goes....

The verticle hood latch support is the exact same for ALL E Bodies, Cuda and Challenger from 1970 to 1974. (actually holds the hood latch) PN2959 584

The Top Plate that holds the hood pop-up spring is the exact same for ALL 1970-1974 Cudas and 1970-71 Challengers. PN 3443 877
The 1972-74 Challengers use a different top plate. PN3573 624

Class dismissed

Cool, I don't want to buy any more parts. I don't particularly care if they are different between the years, just so long as the piece I already have will work. The following listing makes me wonder if there is any difference, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-ONLY-Dodge-Plymouth-Hood-LATCH-PLATE-Center-Support-Cuda-Challenger-MOPAR-/111273986031?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19e87247ef&vxp=mtr

[anlauto]

The only reason he can get away with advertising that as a "70 only" is because of the hood latch itself.
1970 Cuda uses a unique hood latch not shared with anything else.

[turbo224]