'70 Vert - waited long enough...

[Cuda416]

Nice work! Looks mighty strong and capable of supporting anything thrown at it.

Thanks! i think I've made my goals for having it adjustable and collapsible as well as being stout enough to trust putting my car on it.

A standard box would have been WAY easier obviously but I hated the idea of building one, then having to scrap it, or having a huge box laying around until the next car.

 

[Cuda416]

Alright, made one last change. This time to the feet. I realized how high the car was going to be when mounted and decided it was better to have it lower to the ground. I lopped off the feet I'd tacked on and went with this instead. Much simpler and a little over 4 inches lower overall.

 

[Cuda416]

Well, aside from needing to paint a couple of small parts (cold got in the way), here is the jig in all it's glory. I was a little concerned with the overall rigidity but after having a floor jack under one corner and seeing the whole thing lift without any twisting, I'm not concerned. The bolts weren't even tight.

The one thing I need to do is to add the "toggles" to the mounting posts, but that will be a fairly easy thing to do.

 

[Cuda416]

Alright, the time has come so I'm putting this here to help keep me honest. I have no more excuses to not get the cuda on the jig. By Saturday evening I plan on having it mounted and put into place so I can start working on on it...

Now, a thought I had as I was stripping the dash etc out the other day. Since I'm NOT worried about making it "stock", I am considering cloning a 71. I'm going to have to get the entire grill area anyway, and my fenders are "OK" but not perfect. I'm thinking making the changes required to achieve the "look" won't be that much more considering I have a 70 header panel to sell/trade and fenders to so the same. Regardless of how I get the parts I think I'd need....

Grill and mounting hardware
Fenders/gills
Headlight assemblies
Wiring harnesses
Misc trim
Tail Light lenses/trim/Buckets
Front valance etc

Remember, I'm not going for the full monty, just the "look" , and there will be small things I've not lister, but overall, is there anything I'm forgetting?

 

[moparlee]

What are you doing with the rear? 70 or71?

 

[Cuda416]

Alright, the time has come so I'm putting this here to help keep me honest. I have no more excuses to not get the cuda on the jig. By Saturday evening I plan on having it mounted and put into place so I can start working on on it...

Now, a thought I had as I was stripping the dash etc out the other day. Since I'm NOT worried about making it "stock", I am considering cloning a 71. I'm going to have to get the entire grill area anyway, and my fenders are "OK" but not perfect. I'm thinking making the changes required to achieve the "look" won't be that much more considering I have a 70 header panel to sell/trade and fenders to so the same. Regardless of how I get the parts I think I'd need....

Grill and mounting hardware
Fenders/gills
Headlight assemblies
Wiring harnesses
Misc trim
Tail Light lenses/trim
Front valance etc

Remember, I'm not going for the full monty, just the "look" , and there will be small things I've not lister, but overall, is there anything I'm forgetting?

What are you doing with the rear? 70 or71?

It would change as well. As far as I know the only difference is the tail light buckets and lenses. As far as the sides if I stripe it then it will get bill boards

 

[Cuda416]

Well it was a good weekend. Buckled down and got the rear end, leaf springs, valance, bumper, k-frame etc off the car and lowered it onto the jig!

 

[Cuda416]

Alright folks, let's try this again.....

Last time I was here I had gotten the car on my jig. Well it's still there, right smack where I left it.

Life kicked us in the ass a few times but that's all in the rear view mirror finally and it's starting to get to be what I call "Barn weather" or in layman's terms, weather that won't results in my dying of dehydration while working in my uninsulated metal building in south Texas.

Been looking, scheming, planning, watching videos and seeing pics of E-Bodies being worked on at least as bad, if not worse than mine so my optimism has risen to productive levels again.

As I mentioned, I've been thinking and I am wondering how many of you have opted for inner rockers and floors from the 71-74 platform instead of the 70 version. Looking at it, it seems not only easier to install, but stronger. Conversely, how difficult is installing a floor on a 70 vs 71-74 in reality? I am looking at the 70 and it what I see is a LOT of reliance on the spot welds from a sheer strength issue, but the 71-74 floor seems to sit on top of a "ledge" that's part of the inner rocker itself.

Obviously there is an "originality" issue, but I'm not really concerned with that when it comes to this sort of thing, especially if it's that much better.

Thoughts?

 

[Cuda416]

More parts are showing up, barn/shop is getting back in shape and things are moving along. Won't be too long now.

 

[larry4406]

Nice!

 

[340challconvert]

Don't get discouraged; take it by one task at a time!

 

[Cuda416]

Had some shop time today. Straightening out the warped inner cowl panel from AMD. Looked like a bad press.

 

[Stev-o]

Just ran across your thread, subscribed. My first Cuda was a rough '70, but not quite like yours!

 

[Cuda416]

Just ran across your thread, subscribed. My first Cuda was a rough '70, but not quite like yours!

Well I am finally getting back on the project so hopefully there will be some updates soon.

 

[Cuda416]

After deciding the AMD parts were the better choice ( they seem thicker than the alternatives ) for a structural location, I bought the drivers side part and straightened it like the passenger side. You'd think that after several years of this same part stamping like ****, they'd figure out it. Nope.....

 

[marksmopars]

sweet project and appreciate the information regarding parts sources. I am in the early effort to restore a 1970 cuda and trying to decide where to get all the replacement sheet metal I need!

 

[Cuda416]

sweet project and appreciate the information regarding parts sources. I am in the early effort to restore a 1970 cuda and trying to decide where to get all the replacement sheet metal I need!

Thanks!

Just to be clear, I am perfectly fine using these AMD parts, I'm just annoyed I had to straighten them, lol. it wasn't all that hard once I figured out why they were off.

Basically, the metal is too thick for the die. If you look at that last pic, the raised part in the middle doesn't get formed quite right so in the position it's in, I took an old wedge sledge hammer head and used it as a "form" of sorts. I placed the wedge into the bend/fold and whacked it with a rubber mallet moving it along the crease as needed. Worked like a champ even if it was a bit ham fisted.

The other problems were not enough bend around the openings so a little hammer/dolly work as well as a short piece of 1/4 angle iron used as an anvil made quick work of the rest.

The bare metal areas are where I opted to do some shrinking to tighten that area up slightly. Probably not critical but I did it anyway.

 

[Adam]

Thanks!

Just to be clear, I am perfectly fine using these AMD parts, I'm just annoyed I had to straighten them, lol. it wasn't all that hard once I figured out why they were off.

Basically, the metal is too thick for the die. If you look at that last pic, the raised part in the middle doesn't get formed quite right so in the position it's in, I took an old wedge sledge hammer head and used it as a "form" of sorts. I placed the wedge into the bend/fold and whacked it with a rubber mallet moving it along the crease as needed. Worked like a champ even if it was a bit ham fisted.

The other problems were not enough bend around the openings so a little hammer/dolly work as well as a short piece of 1/4 angle iron used as an anvil made quick work of the rest.

The bare metal areas are where I opted to do some shrinking to tighten that area up slightly. Probably not critical but I did it anyway.

I prefer AMD panels to the others, but they all need massaging. Years ago I noticed on the quarter panels that the bend into the door opening was more rounded than a crisp bend like factory. I cut mine and saved the factory edge. Also, the recess for the gas hole was more of a stamped 45 degree angle, instead of a sharp crease. It did not matter in my case because the gas cap trim panel covered it up, but not all Challengers have that trim piece. I don’t know if they are still like that, but something to be aware of for Challenger guys. Update: it looks like AMD fixed the Challenger gas hole.

 

[Cuda416]

I prefer AMD panels to the others, but they all need massaging. Years ago I noticed on the quarter panels that the bend into the door opening was more rounded than a crisp bend like factory. I cut mine and saved the factory edge. Also, the recess for the gas hole was more of a stamped 45 degree angle, instead of a sharp crease. It did not matter in my case because the gas cap trim panel covered it up, but not all Challengers have that trim piece. I don’t know if they are still like that, but something to be aware of for Challenger guys. Update: it looks like AMD fixed the Challenger gas hole.

Yeah nothing is perfect that's for sure, even the factory "placement" of the stampings is usually off. My factory upper cowl is 1/8" from the edge of the firewall on the pass side and damn near 1/2" on the drivers side. It's a wonder these things ever went down the road in a straight line, lol.

Been doing small things to get my mind right and in the game so to speak. Pulling quarter glass and tracks, removed the doors, power top pump and wiring tonight and the list will go on. After that I'll assess things and start welding in braces.

On other news, I decided to go down the rabbit hole of cloning a 71.

AMD finally got a shipment in so I ordered the firewall, gilled 71 fenders, shaker hood and shaker trim ring should all show up next week. That means I need to go make room in the shop which needs to happen anyway.

 

[Cuda416]

At some point I'm going to have to deal with rust in this area. I'm hoping I don't need to remove that but if that's what it takes, so be it.

If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it.