Deadline to 2024. The 73 Cuda will be done.

[gzig5]

That is a stress area, obviously from the crack.  I think I'd be looking to unobtrusively reinforce that area.  Maybe it would be enough to run a thin cutoff wheel down the cracks and then stitch it back together.  I guess it depends on the level of original restoration you are going for.

[YellowThumper]

Yes. I have same stress cracking on mine. Been that way for 20 years. I am not hard on car and has not really grown.
I found that my inner brace was not welded properly from factory. Using "properly" as a nice way of saying factory completely missed welding it on that end.
Will weld all back up when I eventually paint it.

[Swamp Donkey]

Now that you mentioned that, the spot welds on the bracket that go from the shock tower to the inner fender had failed.  So on both sides of my car they were doing nothing.  Drivers side missing, passenger side broken welds. I guess that's where all the cracking came from.  Uscartool stage 2 kit and some new gussets should have it fixed up in no time!

[anlauto]

So are you still planning on going with a custom colour ?

[Swamp Donkey]

Yes.  I am really leaning towards a dark metallic green.  The kind that looks almost black in the right light.  I'm struggling with deciding on keeping my stainless trim around the windows and not painting them black Also going with body color front and rear bumpers. And the black rims etc. 

But I also see some pretty nice looking Cuda's out there with the chrome bumpers and nice shiny rims and trim that look awesome. 

[YellowThumper]

Now that you mentioned that, the spot welds on the bracket that go from the shock tower to the inner fender had failed.  So on both sides of my car they were doing nothing.  Drivers side missing, passenger side broken welds. I guess that's where all the cracking came from.  Uscartool stage 2 kit and some new gussets should have it fixed up in no time!

Yea when I paint mine, I really need to talk myself into adding their braces.

[Swamp Donkey]

Got my full Tremec Magnum transmission, clutch etc.  Everything needed from Silver Sport transmission.  Very good to deal with.

[Swamp Donkey]

Got my Dana 60. 3.73 gears, had it powder coated. It is built to early b-body specs of 59 5/16 inches wide on 44 inch spring perches for my Dr Diff 1" leaf spring relocation kit.  A few other goodies. If anyone cares I can let you know what parts are in the diff/axles.

[Swamp Donkey]

Also have my stage 2 USCartools stage 2 kit in my possession.  So I guess it's off to the media blasters to get cleaned up and some primer so I can get after it! I'm starting to drown in parts piling up in the shop.  Maybe I can get it done in a year.  Who knows. I've also put in 3 massive orders at summit and Jegs.  Most of the complete QA1 front suspension and shocks, k-member etc.  Vintage air stuff.  A bunch of Hotchkis parts.  Radiator and fans.  Leaf springs. Also a Holley wiring harness for the engine. Already got my headers from TTI. Just finalizing the rest of the exhaust system order from TTI and am also getting their motor mounts.  Now that I have my rear differential, I can do some measurements and order some brakes.  Lots going on in my world. 

[YellowThumper]

Nice orders there.
Yea probably time to make the piles shrink.

[anlauto]

@Swamp Donkey Where did you order the Dana 60 from ?

[Swamp Donkey]

I had it built from a guy in Carstairs Alberta.  Found him on Facebook.   


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[anlauto]

Did he ship it to you ? Do you mind me asking how much ?

[Swamp Donkey]

$4425 was the total price.  Plus around 150 to ship it to me. 


This was one of the messages he sent me. 


65-67 B is 59 5/16"
68-70 b is 60"
71-74B is 62 15/16

The most popular Mopar width I build is the 65-67 B dimension.

At your horse power level, I would recommend a cap upgrade.  That is really the only upgrade there is for the housing, other than running 35 spline axles.  35 spline will hold your power, easily.
An upgrade to an Eaton tru track may be a good idea too.

So a housing built to 65-67 B(or something else if you like) with spring perches at 44", new crown and pinion(you choose the ratio), new clutch type sure grip, upgraded strange billet caps(300), forged 1350 or 7290 yoke kit, patterned/assembled, new 35 spline axles with green bearings, is 3700, plus 200 freight.
Upgrade to the tru trac adds 500.

No gst or pst applies, I'm not that big yet.

This would be ready to take whatever brake kit you want.  I do not sell brakes, and the diff install goes much smoother if you put them on, with the diff mounted in the car.


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[Swamp Donkey]

I also added around 300 or 350 for powder coating to his original quote. 


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