71 Cuda NZ

[Tony 73]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiUwV4ZjR74

Morning team,

Had a few days off and gone hard on the Cuda, pretty much finished ,  and ready for certification.

Got 2 more clips to upload but very late here so finish in the morning

[Tony 73]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6XbEY3XaxA

Sounds great up front, got a bit of a crackle out left hand pipe and the fumes are hard on the eyes. Will check plugs to see it running lean or rich.

Got the short dump pipes because exhaust too noisey and I need to find quieter mufflers or add a hotdog style resonator . Also having trouble getting a rear hanger to fit.

Plastic bag beside brake master cylinder because I having trouble stopping a drip leak from rear pot, don't want to ruin my paint. Keep tweaking the nut but scared to over tighten.

Tappet cover breather needs the hose tail I had made shortened.

[Tony 73]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVSIIAHwXD4

Was very nervous but had to test brakes at some stage. New pads and shoes need wearing in but she did stop at the bottom. Handbrake needs bit more adjustment, works but peddle on floor when applied. Have adjusted brake light sensor .

Wife did the videoing and was meant to record trip back up driveway, drove great under load, even managed loss of traction at the bottom of hill.

Am only running on the middle carb at this stage.

[nsmall]

looking real sharp!  Congratulations

[Tony 73]

Thanks nsmall.

I been putting off attaching the trim on door and quarter panel tops . Looked at it a month ago but clips looked near impossible to slide onto the studs. I started a thread looking for help and am thankful for the reply I got. Told me to remove the excess paint on the stud and to apply force down on the clip while using force to slide clip onto stud.
I used broken hacksaw blade, which I could bend to keep off the door paint, to remove excess paint on studs. Clips were tough to get on and I was a bit concerned that the clips middle wings were being forced into a lower position as I had to force the trim down over these wings. Trim took some effort with the heel of my hand and a rubber hammer but its on and on dents.
Trim in good condition , did think about removing the anodisation, but autosol gave it a nice shine.

Took cuda out for another test ride yesterday, to do so I have to move my challenger and park it on front lawn. Just my luck , got caught in a passing rain shower.

[Dakota]

Plastic bag beside brake master cylinder because I having trouble stopping a drip leak from rear pot, don't want to ruin my paint. Keep tweaking the nut but scared to over tighten.

Congrats on your progress.   Looks great.

I had a similar issue with a drip leak out of the brake line fitting at the master cylinder.   I have stainless lines, which turned out to be a real pain to get fully sealed.  I went through a cycle of loosening and retightening that fitting about a dozen times before the leak finally stopped.   From what I read elsewhere in this forum, the loosen/tighten cycle is the better route for stainless to deform and seal than just cranking harder with a wrench.   This approach may apply to other materials as well, but I'm not sure of it.

I wish I'd thought of the plastic bag you used to protect your paint.   The paint on my frame rail under the master cylinder has to be re-done due to this past leak.

[Tony 73]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L495CVxLIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JmNvcFbS7o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smdiN87OtLM

Getting confidence in the car, although the wife did get a bit of a fright.

Have worked out what the rolling resistance is, the disc brakes are sticking on after applying then, if a use my toes to pull pedal back up the car rolls better. Do have to apply a lot of pressure on the pedal so may have to take booster off and investigate

Having fun.

[Tony 73]

A mate came around to check out the cuda. Took it down the driveway. Got couple of photos with his nice 70 challenger.

I am booked in for big test to get car legal in 2 weeks.

[YellowThumper]

Very nice...
Any report on passing your "legal" check?

[Tony 73]

Hi Mike,

I been a bit slack with my updates  sorry .

So I never made it to the NZ Entry Cert appointment I made. I  contacted the guy who issues repair certs and asked if I needed one because the panel replacements had been done in the USA prior to me purchasing the car. He said technically yes which got me worried so I cancelled my appointment to work out my options.  My bad because I should have got the guy to come look at the repairs when I first landed the car. The guy is in the process of retiring and training a new guy.
I have made a new appointment on the 21st April, if they require me to get a repair cert because they find or suspect repairs then I will have to address that. They will inspect the cars brakes, steering, suspension , seat belts etc.   Hopefully any failures will me minor, and I get 28 days to retest .

I have the exhaust off at present , have filled the flange joints smooth and will reassembled with high temp silicon sealer.

Have pulled horns apart and they working great . Just need to buy some rubber tube to get windshield washers working.

Fingers crossed. Will update after test.

[Tony 73]

Loaded cuda on to trailer today and took it into to get wheel alignment  . Entry cert tomorrow 

[Tony 73]

Wheel align done.

Drove car 200yrds from Tire place to Cert place.

Cuda on hoist at moment. They just rang to ask its Tare weight. Was a thread on CC forum . I put weight as 3450lb.

Had an issue with my wiper motor. Have swapped it out for the one in my challenger. The short arm that is bolted to the motor was the same length but I can not get the long curved arm to fit on. The cuda motor wouldn't park but the challenger one does. QUESTION - is the a know difference in the length of cuda/challenger curved arms ?
 

[anlauto]

ALL three speed arms are the same length, different bushing style in the later years.

The two speed wipers have a totally different "curved" arm that you shouldn't hook up to a three speed. 

[Tony 73]

Thanks Alan.

FAILED test BUT only minor things that are quick fix  .

Horn didn't work. Must be loose wire as was going few days ago.
Wipers not working.
Slight weep from new front brake hose. Will replace copper washer.
Steering box bolts loose. Classic me. 
Left hand lower ball joint play  . Funny one as all suspension joints brand NEW, he  even tested it correctly . I have a brand new spare so will swap over.

Really pleased, will fix over weekend and retest on Tuesday morning. Should be driving on Wednesday 

[Tony 73]

Brought car home this morning and about to start on list.
Have had look at horn and have no power to horns. Tested horns in car by running wire from positive terminal and horns honk. Put test light into horn wiring and had mate push horn and no light in test light. Maybe horn relay or even fuse.