New from WNC

[HighSchoolCuda]

Greetings from Western North Carolina! Growing up I heard so many people say they wish they still had their first car. I actually listened and have owned my 74 Cuda since I was 15. In a world of mini trucks and CRXs, I had the most unique and signature ride in the parking lot. After sitting dormant for 30 years and too many people pestering to sell it to them to count, I recently made a horse trade that now has it in a shop being torn down for a long overdue rebuild. I plan to replace the anemic drivetrain with a 392 and upgrade the suspension for improved performance. The goal is to have the classic Cuda styling on the outside with modern amenities underneath. My motivation for joining this group is to glean ideas and insights from the E Body community. I look forward to reading and learning from those of you who are miles ahead of me with your cars and your knowledge. Wish me luck!

 

[fasjac]

Welcome to the site from Arkansas!
Very cool to still own the Cuda. My first was a 70 SE Challenger at 15. It’s long gone but, I’ve owned mopars ever since.
The upgrade you’re doing will be well worth it. Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[Mopar Nut]

 

[1972 AAR Cuda]

Greetings from Western North Carolina! Growing up I heard so many people say they wish they still had their first car. I actually listened and have owned my 74 Cuda since I was 15. In a world of mini trucks and CRXs, I had the most unique and signature ride in the parking lot. After sitting dormant for 30 years and too many people pestering to sell it to them to count, I recently made a horse trade that now has it in a shop being torn down for a long overdue rebuild. I plan to replace the anemic drivetrain with a 392 and upgrade the suspension for improved performance. The goal is to have the classic Cuda styling on the outside with modern amenities underneath. My motivation for joining this group is to glean ideas and insights from the E Body community. I look forward to reading and learning from those of you who are miles ahead of me with your cars and your knowledge. Wish me luck!



View attachment 118817

Welcome to the E-body forum, you're in the right place!!
My story is similar to yours - I also have my first car from High School; (a 1972 Cuda)

 

[DetMatt1]

Welcome to the site from the Motor City!

 

[mrmopar340]

Welcome. I was born in Ashe. Crumpler till we moved to Virginia. Fix her and drive the wheels off her.

 

[Xcudame]

Welcome to FEBO from the desert! Lots of folks have done similar swaps you're doing, so you're definitely in the right place! Cuda looks pretty solid! What's the current drive train?

 

[moparleo]

aboard.

 

[Mopar426power]

 

[Mopar426power]

Very cool you still have your first car!
I can't say I have my first car, which was a 1974 also, but mine was a 74 Duster. However, I still have the first new car that I bought when I was 21 years old. Unfortunately in 1989 Mopar didn't have much in the way of muscle cars, if i remember correctly, they had a hatchback Daytona, so i bought this instead:

 

[Challenger RTA]

Welcome to FEBO. Sound like a very good plan.

 

[Rapidfire]

Welcome to FEBO. Greetings from Nebraska. Nice to have you with us

 

[moparlee]

Welcome to the site from Michigan!
Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Cool that you hung on to the Cuda , I would be careful with suspension upgrades , many are at best a sideways move eating $$ for little or no gain .
Ehrenberg did a valiant corning at over 1 g just improving the stock suspension components without changing the design .

 

[HighSchoolCuda]

Welcome to FEBO from the desert! Lots of folks have done similar swaps you're doing, so you're definitely in the right place! Cuda looks pretty solid! What's the current drive train?

Thanks for the welcome! Car still has the 318/727 combo that was in it when I bought it. Still runs like a sewing machine even after sitting for almost 30 years. Trying to decide on suspension upgrades while the motor is out of the car.

 

[HighSchoolCuda]

Welcome. I was born in Ashe. Crumpler till we moved to Virginia. Fix her and drive the wheels off her.

Thanks for the welcome! I am in Hendersonville but lived in Boone for 15 years and know Crumpler well.

 

[HighSchoolCuda]

Cool that you hung on to the Cuda , I would be careful with suspension upgrades , many are at best a sideways move eating $$ for little or no gain .
Ehrenberg did a valiant corning at over 1 g just improving the stock suspension components without changing the design .

Thanks for the welcome and the tip. Thinking about a QA1 K member to have more room for a Gen III Hemi swap. Exploring all options at the moment but want to do something since the motor is out of the car and things are easy to access.

 

[S Vicious]

Welcome to a great place for advice on your build!
Big torsion bars & sub frame stiffening with good shocks will go a long way to getting you there.....from Boone.

 

[JDMopar]

Hey neighbor! I live in Candler and just joined here myself. I've been on FABO for years, but have 2 E bodies and figured it was long past time to sign up here also. I sold a 74 Cuda 360 a few years ago, triple black automatic car with AC. You could just beef up the front suspension you have and be just as well off as getting aftermarket stuff. Weld the k frame seam solid, reinforce the lower control arms, add a bigger sway bar and torsion bars, add torque boxes and frame connectors, then a little bigger rear sway bar than it has from the factory. A Gen 3 Hemi swap is much easier in and E body than an A body, but think long and hard before you go down that rabbit hole. I got started on a 5.7 swap into my 70 Duster. I had a nice 6K mile motor I bought from a guy in Etowah, TTI headers and mounts and a 545RFE transmission. I started checking on wiring, and that's when I threw the brakes on. I just couldn't make myself pay $2500 for a harness and ECM. Sold all that junk and went back to my original 340 4 speed plan. Anyway....good to see someone else close by on here.

 

[Challenger RTA]

I will wish you luck. There is good luck and bad luck. That comes from good habits or bad habits. Or choices.
The information is good. One can be further ahead by making the best of what they have. Not by by having the best of everything.
If you have gobs and gobs of cash go for it and get it done in 6mo to a year. If not you will be at it for years. Make the best of what you have and enjoy the journey as it comes together.