Daily Driver 71 Cuda 440+6 / Shaker / 4 speed / Dana 60

[Craig J]

I am starting with a 73 318 body that I bought with a few months ago. The front fenders and hood are fiberglass and pretty rough. It came with a 494" RB, 23 Spline 4 speed and a truck Dana 60. I drove it about 350 miles home from the previous owners place and it drove "ok" but the cam is too big for a daily driver and the engine builder put it together with a lot of piston to wall clearance, so it has a fair amount of piston slap... for now it will stay but in the end I may just go back to a milder 440.

 

[Craig J]

unfortunately due to covid AMD shipped less than half of the parts I needed for the conversion, but at least this gets me started.

 

[rklein71]

I guess you will be doing this. Welding in my tail panel in my 71 BHG when I replaced the trunk floor.

 

[fasjac]

View attachment 88696unfortunately due to covid AMD shipped less than half of the parts I needed for the conversion, but at least this gets me started.

Yea, backordered parts are a huge problem for us and almost all manufactures. I’ll be glad IF it ever gets back to normal.

 

[Craig J]

Disassembly and some rust covered up by previous bond work.

 

[Craig J]

Figured out that I need to remove the center support or the tail panel will not go in... the factory welds are... interesting.

 

[Craig J]

Test fit of the 70/71 tail panel. Bodywork is not my thing, so I am a bit worried about the fit up, but for a driver it is going to have to be good enough.

 

[moparlee]

Looks like you are well underway. Keep up the good work

 

[Cuda Hunter]

I'll be glad to watch your progress.

 

[gzig5]

Your pics are very timely. I just turned my car around so I can get to the tail panel and driver side quarter. I've got a new tail panel, but if I can get the original one out and patch the lower side and a couple other spots, I may retain it. Not much original sheet metal left on this old girl. Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[Craig J]

Your pics are very timely. I just turned my car around so I can get to the tail panel and driver side quarter. I've got a new tail panel, but if I can get the original one out and patch the lower side and a couple other spots, I may retain it. Not much original sheet metal left on this old girl. Looking forward to watching your progress.

I started with the idea to save the old tail panel... it was not worth it... I spent several hours trying to find a way to remove the spot welds between the quarter panel and the tail panel... eventually I gave up and just hacked it up.

 

[rklein71]

I took a lot of pictures of my 71 during my rust repair. If you need a specific picture of anything, let me know.

 

[Craig J]

I took a lot of pictures of my 71 during my rust repair. If you need a specific picture of anything, let me know.

My replacement tail panel does not have the holes for the trim. I assume this trim is standard on 71, not an option?

 

[rklein71]

The tail trim is part of the Cuda package, you will have to drill the holes yourself.

 

[rklein71]

Closest I could find.

 

[rklein71]

 

[Craig J]

View attachment 88814

Thank you, that is what I needed.

 

[rklein71]

71 Cudas also had upper door trim and rocker trim.

 

[Craig J]

I am not sure if it is done right, but it is not coming back out while I own it.

 

[rklein71]

Here is a picture of my 71 before I took it apart. Had about a 1/4 inch gap. As long as the width of the trunk opening is correct, no worries.