1970 V Code 'Cuda Resto Progress

[mtull]

   Glad to see some progress.  I'm happy to see your sticking with it and still motivated to get-er-done.

[70_440-6Cuda]

I think the biggest hold up for me is not knowing enough about all of the details to make sure it gets done accurately - but at this point, I am going for good progress, not perfection.

Every time I start something, I find more - had angle iron caulked and screwed to the trunk at the gas filler support - hopefully that is the scariest of what I will find

[70_440-6Cuda]

Moving along - plan is to get the sheet metal dialed in and gaps set, paint the interior shell, door jambs inside, the trunk and engine bay and go from there - hopefully get engine & trans, suspension and brakes done after that and paint for last - not sure it makes sense, but thats the plan

Trunk sheet metal replacement in progress... of course discovered more bondo and scary stuff than first expected, but not impossible.

[70_440-6Cuda]

More cutting...... AMD panels arriving today for the trunk, then repair the shock tower and get the front clip sheet metal straight and aligned....

not sure after that!

[70_440-6Cuda]

Amazed at the crappy work some people do... the more cutting we do, the more issues we find....

Found the package tray has been cut up poorly, and a bunch of sheet metal screws fired through from the inside - makes no sense why you would make a repair like this.

Best guess?  The car was originally had a vinyl top and someone must have replaced the roof skin (albeit poorly) at some point in the cars' life. 

We looked over the entire car again and can find no evidence of a rebody - VIN stamps on the radiator and cowl match, no evidence of patching and cutting in those areas and everything else looks right (so far).  Also have found evidence of the original black paint so still hoping for the best.

Well....back to AMD for some more sheet metal..... 

[70_440-6Cuda]

Thought I would add the broadcast sheet and build sheet decoded from this site for fun.... anything in the mice eaten areas that would be of value - what would I be missing?

[70_440-6Cuda]

Well, following the advice of my fabricator and the folks here, my 1 step forward 3 steps back is coming along to only 2 steps back....

making progress, going to see the car today and get the updates - he is warning me of basically a car molded out of bondo so not sure what I am going to see - stay tuned

[Challenger in NC]

great progress

[Katfish]

Wow,you really got that apart.
Any concerns about bracing?

[70_440-6Cuda]

Whelp....... so much for that...3 more steps back..... 

@Katfish to answer your question about bracing, the answer is no concern because it looks like EVERYTHING is going....

So the inner fender wells are basically rusted to the point of not being salvageable on the edge where they need to be welded to the 1/4 on both sides.  Tail panel ends are also not worth salvaging, and since the package tray was butchered, going to have to remove the rear window deck filler panel.  Deck panel was replaced in the past, which explains the hack job on the package tray, and they just butt welded it to the 1/4 instead of spot welding and filling the seam properly - can't fix the package tray without removing the deck panel so there is that.

Brutal - I was so hoping the trunk floor was going to be a quick and easy fix - definitely unexpected costs are getting super painful - another $1K in parts.  Again.

I will say thanks to the group on the 1/4 panel replacement - the quality seems really good, and I think the gauge of the 1/4s is far superior to the AMD front fenders, but that might just be me.

As always, comments, suggestions and feedback welcome

[Brads70]

Yes they always get uglier and expose unexpected  surprises once you get right into them.  Creative shock mounting going on there...?

[RUNCHARGER]

It's a shame in a way. To me that car is "almost" rust free. But a little rust takes the same effort as a lot of rust sometimes. Be happy the repo parts are available though.

[70_440-6Cuda]

@RUNCHARGER that was my feeling exactly - When I bought the car, I wanted something that wasn't a basket case - so much for that

I was hoping just a trunk floor replacement for the pinholes, but then trunk drop offs, then 1/4s then everything else!

Antonio (my fabricator) was saying "hey, I can patch it up, but it won't be "right" and the way to do it is replace the panels - cost is the same and the result is better"

He basically said anywhere he has to spot everything back together, by the time he cleans and preps the rusted areas it will be too thin to weld, and you end up just cutting back more and more.

He is a master with metal work - I am no expert, but I have seen him do some really amazing work so I know it will be right.  Plus then I have everything documented that the car is solid and correct.

@Brads70 those are "secondary" shock mounts - he took the factory ones out!  Of course, they are another hatchet job install - no tube run between the frame rails, just bolts cranked down and pinching the frame in on both sides - he is going to pull all that off and straighten the rails and fill the holes

And he just keeps finding more and more - the rear window trim was held in place with home made metal strap and copper wire just pushed into the body.  Lot's and lot's of hokey ass stuff

I am getting excited to see the progress though and he is moving pretty quick, rest of the sheet metal should be here next week.

[70_440-6Cuda]

Well, here we go - starting rear outer fender wells on both sides, package tray and trunk filler panel, tail panel supports and new 1/4s on both sides, trunk floor and drop offs, basically a new rear half - all AMD sheet metal.  Remaining parts all arrived this week and the real chore now begins, pics to follow....

Any tips, tricks and or advice on where to start, assembly order or anything else of value is welcome - thanks!