71 Cuda Conv Restoration

[anlauto]

  The right front frame rail on the hardtop Challenger I posted above was tweaked up about 1/4 inch.
Something you would have never noticed otherwise.
Now it's pulled back and everything is exactly where it should be.

[mcemond]

Thanks for those detail photos Larry. This all helps when I have to do it. I should be getting my rotisserie this week and I'll need to get an order of steel delivered (since my stake truck is broke down again).

Other than having seen them before I really don't know much about jigs. Do you use the jig to determine straightness, or to keep it straight once its been straightened?

Ive measured the diagonals only on the engine bay and cabin with a tool meant for that and there is an 1/8" difference in the bay and 1/4" in the cabin. That's as it sits on tires, otherwise stripped down.

Thanks
Mike

[hemiken]

Very cool to hear you have progress happening, just make sure you keep checking those measurements as you keep fitting parts and especially welding stuff in to the car. 

[mcemond]

After striping it down to a rolling chassis and doing my best to imitate the bracing pictured, a lot of the suggestions made on this forum were weighing on me. Between frame measuring and straightening, good boxing in of the bracing and not knowing anything about putting a car on a jig while replacing the floor, I just decided it would be better to send it off. I got a recommendation on another thread for a local guy here in nh and he is going to do all of the above and while its on the jig he will replace the floor trunk and quarters with amd panels. He will also send it out for blasting and primer. So this winter I should be getting back a solid clean roller that can be put right on the rotisserie (which ups freight has lost somehow).  Anxious to go visit it and see the progress in a month or so.

[anlauto]

I thought you did your own restorations Wasn't that the plan ?

[mcemond]

Sure. But I didn't have a jig. And my main goal was to get a straight body on the rotisserie that wouldn't twist on me. That's what this guy is doing.

[anlauto]

Gotcha

[hemiken]

Sure. But I didn't have a jig. And my main goal was to get a straight body on the rotisserie that wouldn't twist on me. That's what this guy is doing.

Good reassurance and it comes back as an investment anyway, you get what you want at the end of the day good for you and keep us posted too please

[mcemond]

Its looking like I will be getting back the completed frame in a couple months here. As finances have allowed, I've been piecing together some of the components. Today I bought the 11020 wildwood disc brakes for the front drum spindles. Next, I'm looking at tires and wheels. I've seen the discussions here around size selections and have found a local guy with a set up that matches what many are saying and looks good (to me) 15 x 7's in the front with 235 60 and 15 x 8's in the rear with 275 60 r15. That's pretty much decided but my two questions are:

1. If the fender tag has NO "W" codes or other code indicating the original wheel type, does that mean it originally came with steel wheels and dog dishes or the more widely seen "Rallye" wheel and trim ring combo? Or something else? My tag doesn't have any info either way. The broadcast sheet says "Road: 52, Color: 1X8, Spare: 13". Wheel skirt or Misc is blank, any other reference that might be to wheels is not legible. Tried running that through a decoder and couldn't decipher those codes.

2. I'm trying to match the original factory look on the wheels, but from the info above, obviously I'm going with a different size from factory. So to make sure they aren't in or out too far, I was wondering what the original backspace was on the oem wheels? The wilwood discs have only a .05" offset from original so any new wheels would likely match the stock backspace. Or have others experienced rubbing with the stock backspace and the tire sizes mentioned above? Also, I'm assuming I won't have to worry too much about the center opening size in the wheel for the dust cap on the brakes?

Thanks for your help.
Mike

[anlauto]

"W" codes are never on the fender tag, you must decipher the information on the broadcast sheet.

The "13" for spare is the the collapsible spare which was standard on convertibles

In row #2 on the BCS there should be a "T" code under tires, what is that code ?

In row #4 on the BCS there is a box beside the wheels box for wheel covers, what number is there ?

In row #11 on the BCS is there a "W" code ?

[CudamanTom]

I have 15x8s on the rear. I'll have to verify the tire size but they fit snug.

[mcemond]

"W" codes are never on the fender tag, you must decipher the information on the broadcast sheet.

The "13" for spare is the the collapsible spare which was standard on convertibles

In row #2 on the BCS there should be a "T" code under tires, what is that code ?

In row #4 on the BCS there is a box beside the wheels box for wheel covers, what number is there ?

In row #11 on the BCS is there a "W" code ?

Thanks for the replies and pics guys 
In row 2 I can see the T-U-W Tires headline but the box underneath is pretty obscured. I'll look under a magnifying glass tonight.  beside that box there is a "W 3- " with a "4" code in it if that is at all useful.
In row 4 for Wheel covers it looks like a "24".
In row 11 under the W section it looks like there is a "1" under the "2-" box.

[anlauto]

Your car came from the factory with 14" X 5.5" Rallye Wheels
Standard tire would have been a F78 14 white side wall, optional would have been F70 Raised white letter. That info, as you say is obscured.

[mcemond]

Your car came from the factory with 14" X 5.5" Rallye Wheels
Standard tire would have been a F78 14 white side wall, optional would have been F70 Raised white letter. That info, as you say is obscured.

Awesome! Many thanks. I may continue with confidence (at least on this part) :big grin:

I'll be interested to hear from you too Tom about the size in those pictures.

Thanks again
Mike

[CudamanTom]

I'll be interested to hear from you too Tom about the size in those pictures.

Thanks again
Mike

Mike,
The rear tire size in the pics above is P295/50R15.

Tom