Mopar426power
Well-Known Member
Starting a new thread for the reassembly phase of my project. You can reference “71 Cuda Project Underway” thread if interested in more background.
Project summary: My older brother originally bought this car in the late 80’s. After a couple of years of badgering him, he finally sold it to me in 1991.
The car was originally a 340 ‘Cuda with an automatic. However, the 340 was gone and had a 318 when my brother bought it. Shortly after I got it from him, we pulled the 318, rebuilt a ‘71 440 and 727, and dropped them in. While the drivetrain was out, I had the car painted and engine compartment somewhat detailed. I wouldn’t call it a restoration back then, more of a “make it look better and go faster” project.
@Cudahunter: you may want to turn away and not read this part – Not knowing as a 24-year-old novice at the time, I believe we discarded the fender tag when we painted the engine compartment, Dooohh! Years later I did find the broadcast sheet from the back seat and still have it, but no fender tag.
I have enjoyed driving the car over the last 30 years and had always wanted to do a real restoration, but you know how it goes, time slips by. In 2020 my older brother passed away after complications from battling cancer. My wife told me this was the time to get the Cuda restored in his memory.
My dream car has always been a 71 Hemicuda, so we devised this plan: Build a time machine to go back to 1971 and order a new Hemicuda. Well, we had issues getting the time machine to work, so we went to plan B: create a 71 Hemicuda from the ground up building my car as close to factory correct as feasible. I wanted the car to appear like it just rolled off the assembly line. I have acquired mostly OEM components; but considering the car is not an original Hemicuda and not numbers matching anything, we have used reproduction stuff as well. The plan is to actually drive the car, just like most people would have done in 1971. The exceptions to factory order that I am making are for drivability: radial tires, rear disc brakes, an OE appearing radio but with Bluetooth (so I can crank my Vanishing Point soundtrack). I am sure we have made some mistakes getting everything to factory appearance, but I think close enough for me.
The current plan is to have the car ready for the Detroit Autorama in March. Stay tuned……..
Project summary: My older brother originally bought this car in the late 80’s. After a couple of years of badgering him, he finally sold it to me in 1991.
The car was originally a 340 ‘Cuda with an automatic. However, the 340 was gone and had a 318 when my brother bought it. Shortly after I got it from him, we pulled the 318, rebuilt a ‘71 440 and 727, and dropped them in. While the drivetrain was out, I had the car painted and engine compartment somewhat detailed. I wouldn’t call it a restoration back then, more of a “make it look better and go faster” project.
@Cudahunter: you may want to turn away and not read this part – Not knowing as a 24-year-old novice at the time, I believe we discarded the fender tag when we painted the engine compartment, Dooohh! Years later I did find the broadcast sheet from the back seat and still have it, but no fender tag.
I have enjoyed driving the car over the last 30 years and had always wanted to do a real restoration, but you know how it goes, time slips by. In 2020 my older brother passed away after complications from battling cancer. My wife told me this was the time to get the Cuda restored in his memory.
My dream car has always been a 71 Hemicuda, so we devised this plan: Build a time machine to go back to 1971 and order a new Hemicuda. Well, we had issues getting the time machine to work, so we went to plan B: create a 71 Hemicuda from the ground up building my car as close to factory correct as feasible. I wanted the car to appear like it just rolled off the assembly line. I have acquired mostly OEM components; but considering the car is not an original Hemicuda and not numbers matching anything, we have used reproduction stuff as well. The plan is to actually drive the car, just like most people would have done in 1971. The exceptions to factory order that I am making are for drivability: radial tires, rear disc brakes, an OE appearing radio but with Bluetooth (so I can crank my Vanishing Point soundtrack). I am sure we have made some mistakes getting everything to factory appearance, but I think close enough for me.
The current plan is to have the car ready for the Detroit Autorama in March. Stay tuned……..
