Hello from NJ

7E-Bodies · November 30, 2019, 10:59:00 AM

Welcome from Peoria Illinois. Nice Cuda! Love the color combo and drivetrain. Best ever tail lights and grille IMHO.

71-440 · November 30, 2019, 05:10:35 PM

Welcome aboard from Atlanta! Cool projects you have.

jimynick · November 30, 2019, 09:05:45 PM

Here's another welcome from Ontario,

and I can't imagine a rust free Cuda in Joisy! Congrats on the score and good luck also with that red-headed '62, you either like 'em or hate 'em.

nsmall · November 30, 2019, 10:30:28 PM

I would ask, is this a car I want to keep forever? Then do whatever you want. Including color change, I like TB3 but couldnt stomach spending 45k restoring my 73 Cuda and using a color on a fender tag I only like.

Is this a car I want to unload within a few years? Try to Not spend any money on fixing stuff. You will be in the hole quickly.

A barn find 73 is not a big dollar car in my opinion. Keep us posted and good luck to you.

Dakota · December 01, 2019, 03:23:08 AM

Welcome to the site from Buffalo, NY. I've gone with the sink hole approach on my car.... just stated on "one thing" and pretty soon the car was totally apart. It will be nice when done (I hope), but I'm in year 7. Maybe there's a middle ground where you can fix enough to be happy and drive it but not burn a pile of cash in the process. I couldn't find it.

340challconvert · December 06, 2019, 09:04:43 PM

Hello and

from another New Jerseyite
Nice Cuda pickup!
Like the Exner project too.

Mr Lee · December 06, 2019, 09:43:42 PM

Cool to see some jersey people here. Me too. Central NJ
Welcome

Did you do any work to those other mopars you owned? If so, then you already know the 2 questions to ask yourself. How much time do i have to spend on this? And how much money do i want to spend. Lol (then double it)

Sweet rides ya got there. And hell yes you are lucky to have found a clean body. You're WAY ahead of the game already. The cuda was stored in a dry garage i assume? Maybe climate controlled? Sounds well preserved.

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mopartaz · December 10, 2019, 08:13:14 AM

yeah, time and money. some days less/more than others. All i can say is that parts are available these days well at least for the Cuda. Fond memories of parting out like 3 darts to get parts for my 69 GTS (back in the 80's early 90's) Cutting a car in half with a torch and sawzall to get a complete quarter panel ( wheel well and trunk floor included) to bring to my body guy. I used to have an amazing stash in the attic! lol. Now all i have to do is go online. And pay $$$.. Even used parts for these cars are out of control. It seems they're worth more parts than whole ...Amazing how times have changed.
I did do some work to the 62: rebuilt the front end, 73 disc brakes, manual steering box and MP brake booster. Stainless lines front and back. 68 b bod 8.75 rear w/ 3.55 gears, new gas tank, 69 HP manifolds w/ dual exhaust w/flowmasters. Re-cored orig radiator, jacobs wires and coil .MP electronic ignition. Edelbrock performer carb. Still has the original 361. Plans were for a worked / stroked 400 .Seems like a decades long project. Been trying to get it painted for a while now. Just talked to a new body guy so we'll see if that works out.

Mr Lee · December 10, 2019, 05:14:42 PM

What to do with a car is definitely personal preference.

I would say for the average joe, fixing up any car that's not a high dollar, high value car, just get it mechanically sound, put a decent paint job on it (if it really needs it), a nice set of rims and tires and enjoy it! Sounds like that's what you're doing and I would say thumbs up to that. Drive it to the store. Drive it in the rain. Don't worry about door dings and getting it wet / dirty. Thrash it. Do burnouts. Get it sideways. ... When you've put tons of cash and labor into a car, you'd probably be afraid of someone so much as leaning up against the thing.

I got my car when I was young... 16. Before I even had my license and just started taking it apart cause I found a bunch of rust. Many years and dollars later... after working on it in stages, I've still never driven it cause its not done yet. Like you, I cut two challengers up into little pieces to make one car. Sold roofs and frame rails at swap meets. Had a basement full of dirty parts. Stripped my car down to nothing. Now, every nut and bolt on the car has been detailed by me before it went back on, and I'm in the home stretch, and it's coming out beautiful. But it's taken too damn long. lol I'm over how much money I've put into it, but wish I'd been enjoying it when I was younger. Although I have to say, building it has been a lot of fun too of course. Not sure what I'm gonna do when its FINALLY done. I guess show it off haha (and maybe look for another project. I sure do like the '68 barracudas or maybe a Volkswagen dune buggy or pickup, hehe)

Good luck with your cars. They're both pretty sweet. I like the round tail lights on the cuda as much or more than the 70-71's.