News:

  • Home
  • Help
  • Chat
  • Login
  • Register

    • « previous next »
    Pages: [1] 2

    Author Topic: 1970 Cuda - Budget Build!  (Read 9322 times)

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    1970 Cuda - Budget Build!
    « on: July 03, 2014 - 12:23:16 PM »
    Hey Everyone- I thought I would get a project thread started here to track the long project our family has just under-taken. We are realistically aiming for a 10-15 year project build with the car as it needs a lot of work. With a newborn daughter- I thought this would be an awesome father-daughter bonding experience, and a fun way for her to learn how to get her hands dirty growing up. Anyways- the car was originally a 1970 383 auto Cuda but the original motor and and transmission are long gone. This opens up our options and I think this car would make a very cool mild resto-mod. Planning on building a stout 440 < 505 stroker, modern overdrive transmission and Alterkation front / Street Lynx rear with an emphasis on drivability / street / strip. Hoping for around 550-600hp (adj...I live at 7,000 ft), and decent street manners.  :stirpot:

    Long story short- I spotted her in a car graveyard outside of Cortez, CO along with several other old gems who were all weathering away in the Southwestern USA sunlight. It was a long ways off and I actually thought it was a Challenger at first. Got a hold of the owner who was fine selling it (bought it years ago with ambition to restore it but never materialized). After meeting a couple of times- we agreed to a final price of 4,500.00 for the car and a 440 Longblock he had sitting around that needed rebuilding.



    We brought her home a couple of days ago, and injected her with a healthy dose of D Con mouse killer to ward off anything that might be living inside...and it looks as though there is A LOT lol.

    Well let's get this started! Here's her fender tag:



    Taking her home



    Tucked away safe and sound at home just in time for her 45th birthday (July 20, 1969 build date)...and parked next to a....Mustang lol.





    Well that's all for now. Hoping to get to work on her a couple of hours this weekend and start pulling out interior / trunk items and start the long process of stripping her down.  :cheers:
    « Last Edit: July 18, 2014 - 02:56:52 PM by Despicable Z »
    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT


    Offline anlauto

    • Permanent Resident
    • *******
    • Posts: 12328
    • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
      • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #1 on: July 03, 2014 - 12:34:52 PM »
    You got a great deal on that car for sure...I think it should go back to "stock" appearing but have the modern upgrades you mentioned :2thumbs: Can't believe anybody "plans" a ten year resto.... :roflsmiley:
    Logged
    I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
    www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

    Offline Cudaragtop

    • Sr. Member
    • ****
    • Posts: 1437
    • Woulda Shoulda Cuda! Randy
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #2 on: July 03, 2014 - 07:37:45 PM »
    An original EF8 Dark Green Metallic with Elastomeric Bumper! Very cool combo.   :clapping:
    Great score! I'm a fan.   :drool:
    green split bench...  not so much but that's just me. Lucky for me my green car came with black buckets.
    Thanks for sharing but I hope we don't have to wait 10 years to see it finished... :eek4:
    Logged
    - Randy D.
    1 of 88 1970 340 4-Speed 'Cuda Convertibles
    69 Barracuda Fastback Project Album https://goo.gl/photos/XjsAsx4LDo7psimU8
    ----o00o--'(_)'--o00o----

    Offline dfrazz

    • 1970 Cuda - 1968 Charger
    • Resident
    • *****
    • Posts: 4070
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #3 on: July 03, 2014 - 07:50:16 PM »
    Quote from: Despicable Z on July 03, 2014 - 12:23:16 PM
    I thought this would be an awesome father-daughter bonding experience, and a fun way for her to learn how to get her hands dirty growing up. Anyways- the car was originally a 1970 383 auto Cuda but the original motor and and transmission are long gone. This opens up our options and I think this car would make a very cool mild resto-mod. Planning on building a stout 440 < 505 stroker, modern overdrive transmission and Alterkation front / Street Lynx rear with an emphasis on drivability / street / strip. Hoping for around 550-600hp (adj...I live at 7,000 ft), and decent street manners. 

    Sounds perfect!! What color are you thinkin? 
    Logged

    Offline 'Cuda Hunter

    • Sr. Resident
    • ******
    • Posts: 9102
    • Tastes Like Chicken
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #4 on: July 05, 2014 - 11:00:53 PM »
    Rubber bumpers :droolingbounce:
    Logged
    "All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #5 on: July 09, 2014 - 01:04:44 PM »
    Quote from: Cudaragtop on July 03, 2014 - 07:37:45 PM
    An original EF8 Dark Green Metallic with Elastomeric Bumper! Very cool combo.   :clapping:
    Great score! I'm a fan.   :drool:
    green split bench...  not so much but that's just me. Lucky for me my green car came with black buckets.
    Thanks for sharing but I hope we don't have to wait 10 years to see it finished... :eek4:

    Haha Thanks! Yeah I'm not a fan of the split bench either... I mean it's cool and different- but just not really what I have in mind for a build like this. I hope some financial miracle happens too  :iagree: I would love to have it finished in 5!
    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #6 on: July 09, 2014 - 01:08:01 PM »
    Quote from: dfrazz on July 03, 2014 - 07:50:16 PM
    Sounds perfect!! What color are you thinkin?


    I'm really leaning towards a non-stock color. I really like the burnt / metallic oranges on muscle cars and am considering going that route. Perhaps a pearl white too...but our 69 Mach 1 is already pearl white so having two similar cars of the same color is sort of like  :violin:


    I came across this color which I think would look fantastic on a restomod Cuda



    Ironically- I guess it is a factory color...it was the Plymouth Prowler Orange!



    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #7 on: July 09, 2014 - 01:17:21 PM »
    Made a little bit of progress this week. I was only able to spend an hour or two but got a lot of the interior out. Footwells are rusted on the inside- time for some floor pan work  :bigsmile:

    I came across some cool things in the car:

    -An Australian bottle opener in the shape of a kangaroo
    -A rusted regular church-key opener
    -About 30 rusted bottle caps under the back seat as a result of the above openers
    -Denver Street Maps from the 70s
    -All County registrations / DMV records from 1972-1979- showing 3 owners
    -A hand-drawn map with the name "Rex" on it...weird...since that's my name...and it's not exactly a common one! Eerie.
    -The sales receipt of when a woman bought the car in 1972. She traded in her 1971 Pinto for the car, and had to pay 446 dollars outright lol.
    -A copy of the check she used to settle the difference
    -The original 1970 Cuda owner's manual (not in good shape but still cool
    -A spare set of Black interior bucket seats (from a Gran Coupe by the looks of it)
    -A matching set of black rear interior panels from said Gran coupe
    -A spare wheel
    23.8 lbs of decayed interior fabric, rust, and mouse sh*t.












    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline dutch

    • Sr. Resident
    • ******
    • Posts: 6944
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #8 on: July 09, 2014 - 01:53:10 PM »
    cool finds.  your name on the paperwork is just...  :screwy:   :bigsmile:
    Logged
    *** Bart ***

    Offline anlauto

    • Permanent Resident
    • *******
    • Posts: 12328
    • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
      • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #9 on: July 09, 2014 - 01:58:28 PM »
    Take the plastic seat backs off and look for a broadcast sheet... ;)
    Logged
    I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
    www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #10 on: July 09, 2014 - 02:09:39 PM »
    Quote from: anlauto on July 09, 2014 - 01:58:28 PM
    Take the plastic seat backs off and look for a broadcast sheet... ;)

    Now you have me all excited  :2thumbs: I'll try and do that after our car club meeting this evening!
    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline 7212Mopar

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 595
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #11 on: July 09, 2014 - 06:12:12 PM »
    Toxic Orange on modern Challenger?
    Logged
    1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
    2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #12 on: July 09, 2014 - 07:21:11 PM »
    So some bittersweet news this evening. I was unable to find any sheets from our cuda BUT I found one in one of the extra seats that came with the car lol. If anyone has this car let me know and it's yours!
    « Last Edit: July 09, 2014 - 07:39:12 PM by Despicable Z »
    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline Despicable Z

    • Mopar Newb
    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 48
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #13 on: July 10, 2014 - 11:51:24 AM »
    Quote from: 7212Mopar on July 09, 2014 - 06:12:12 PM
    Toxic Orange on modern Challenger?


    Wow I don't think I had seen that color around on the new Challengers. I really like it- pretty similar to that prowler orange as well. Might have to look into it!

    Logged
    1970 'Cuda Project
    1969 428CJ Mach 1 Mustang
    2008 Corvette Z06 (Heads, Cam, Etc.)
    2003 Mustang GT

    Offline Cudaragtop

    • Sr. Member
    • ****
    • Posts: 1437
    • Woulda Shoulda Cuda! Randy
    Re: 1970 Cuda - Restomod Long-term Project :)
    « Reply #14 on: July 10, 2014 - 01:11:44 PM »
    The Hamtramck Registry helps reunite current owners with their long lost Broadcast Sheets and some other services.
    http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/
    Some one on the registry may be looking for it.
    Maybe some day I will find mine and the original 70 (69 date code) 340 block...


    Quote from: Despicable Z on July 09, 2014 - 07:21:11 PM
    So some bittersweet news this evening. I was unable to find any sheets from our cuda BUT I found one in one of the extra seats that came with the car lol. If anyone has this car let me know and it's yours!

    Logged
    - Randy D.
    1 of 88 1970 340 4-Speed 'Cuda Convertibles
    69 Barracuda Fastback Project Album https://goo.gl/photos/XjsAsx4LDo7psimU8
    ----o00o--'(_)'--o00o----
    Pages: [1] 2
    « previous next »