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1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert #1234181
05/15/12 11:46 PM
05/15/12 11:46 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2
Ohio
W
Wade and Mindy Offline OP
member
Wade and Mindy  Offline OP
member
W

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2
Ohio
We are wanting to buy a 1970 Cuda to restore and convert into a 1971 Cuda due to availability and cost. We know about the main differences between the two such as the fender gills, the front grill, and four headlights on the 1971 instead of the two that were originally on a 1970. What are some things we need to know before attempting this conversion and how do we convert the front clip to hold four headlights instead of the original two?

We are willing to put a ton of work into this dream of ours but need some help before we get started!! Any help??

Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: Wade and Mindy] #1234182
05/16/12 03:49 AM
05/16/12 03:49 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,247
Alabama
BigMoneyLewis Offline
master
BigMoneyLewis  Offline
master

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,247
Alabama
My advice is...don't do it . If you want a '71, buy a '71 . Very little diffrence in the buy in price.
But, if you just have to do it , try finding a / 6 or 318 Barracuda to use, and not a real 1970 'Cuda convertible .
Otherwise, you will be turning a potential 50k car into a 30k car .
Just my opinion.
At some point, you (or your kids) will be selling this car .
You might not think that now, but , somebody could have a heart attack and drop dead 10 years from now , or, somebody gets laid of at work , or somebodys investment firm blew your retirement in the stock market , who knows. It's always best , from a collectability standpoint , to keep a car what it is . If it is a '70 , keep it a '70 .
If you took a real 1970 340'Cuda convertible for example and changed it to look like a '71 ,the car will be hard to sell to most buyers, or at least be prepared to take a huge discount in price .Potential buyers will look at it and scratch their heads . "Must be VIN swap" will be most peoples gut instinct .
It would be like building a Superbird clone out of a real Hemi GTX .
Now, if your plan is to find a cheap 318 car to start with , then it's not that big of a deal , and you can just ignore the above ,
but I would strongly advise aginst doing it to a real BS27*0 .




Greg


gregward@mchsi.com phone 256-852-0955
Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: BigMoneyLewis] #1234183
05/16/12 11:39 AM
05/16/12 11:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 739
Anderson, IN
1
1969RR Offline
super stock
1969RR  Offline
super stock
1

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 739
Anderson, IN
Quote:

My advice is...don't do it . If you want a '71, buy a '71 . Very little diffrence in the buy in price.
But, if you just have to do it , try finding a / 6 or 318 Barracuda to use, and not a real 1970 'Cuda convertible .
Otherwise, you will be turning a potential 50k car into a 30k car .
Just my opinion.
At some point, you (or your kids) will be selling this car .
You might not think that now, but , somebody could have a heart attack and drop dead 10 years from now , or, somebody gets laid of at work , or somebodys investment firm blew your retirement in the stock market , who knows. It's always best , from a collectability standpoint , to keep a car what it is . If it is a '70 , keep it a '70 .
If you took a real 1970 340'Cuda convertible for example and changed it to look like a '71 ,the car will be hard to sell to most buyers, or at least be prepared to take a huge discount in price .Potential buyers will look at it and scratch their heads . "Must be VIN swap" will be most peoples gut instinct .
It would be like building a Superbird clone out of a real Hemi GTX .
Now, if your plan is to find a cheap 318 car to start with , then it's not that big of a deal , and you can just ignore the above ,
but I would strongly advise aginst doing it to a real BS27*0 .




Greg



Very well put!! I did some what the same with a 1968 Camaro SS (I know!) all original, number matching, etc...cut the rear, added RS stuff...basically ruined it! Lost $$$ big time in resale. Take care! Jeff

Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: 1969RR] #1234184
05/16/12 12:31 PM
05/16/12 12:31 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2
Ohio
W
Wade and Mindy Offline OP
member
Wade and Mindy  Offline OP
member
W

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2
Ohio
Thank you for your response.

We understand that it will affect the resale value of the car, but that is not why we are doing this. In all likelihood, we will not sell the car and we don't have any children. But if we ever do have to sell it, the sentimental value will never match the resale value anyway as this project will be fulfilling a dream.

We have not ruled out the possibility of us getting an actual 1971 'Cuda and restoring that, but what we are looking for is some help with people who have done this or other converts. We have seen them (converts) out there for sale and we are looking for technical advice. Any help will be appreciated!!

Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: Wade and Mindy] #1234185
05/16/12 03:22 PM
05/16/12 03:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 406
California City, CA
dart440 Offline
mopar
dart440  Offline
mopar

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 406
California City, CA
Not wanting to throw a monkey wrench into your plans, BUT it really depends on how exact you want to make it a true 71. It's not just fenders, hood, grille, headlights, emblems, and taillights. The 70 is a 1-year car in a lot of respects, too many to list here, but some examples are steering columns, door locks, front seats, dash pad, shifter (if auto), console (if equipped), etc. as well as the obvious front end sheet metal and trim, wiring, taillights, etc. There are tons of small detail things that are different between a 70 and a 71. If you want a correct 71, then start with a 71. If you just care about the overall look of it and not the details, then either a 70 or a 71 will work. It just depends on how much detail you want to get into. There are dozens if not hundreds of small differences between the 2 years. In some ways, the 71 is more closely related to the 72-74s than the 70, but because of the taillight openings people think they are similar.


When you work on Spaceships for a living, how bad can a workday be?
Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: dart440] #1234186
05/16/12 03:41 PM
05/16/12 03:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,085
NotRussia
2
2fast4yourBrain Offline
Whack top Dodger
2fast4yourBrain  Offline
Whack top Dodger
2

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,085
NotRussia
If you do this, I hope it's a Barracuda and not a 'Cuda.

You're probably talking maybe $5k in parts to do a basic conversion (grille, fenders, , header panel, valance and insert, parking lights, taillights, trunk lid, and dash pad).

Start with a project car that may need many of the above replacing anyways.

Good luck and I concur, there are more '70s out there to clone than '71s. I mean, just look at e-bay now!

listings

Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: Wade and Mindy] #1234187
05/16/12 07:11 PM
05/16/12 07:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,948
Harlan, Iowa
69CoronetRT Offline
master
69CoronetRT  Offline
master

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,948
Harlan, Iowa
Quote:

Thank you for your response.

We understand that it will affect the resale value of the car, but that is not why we are doing this. In all likelihood, we will not sell the car and we don't have any children. But if we ever do have to sell it, the sentimental value will never match the resale value anyway as this project will be fulfilling a dream.

We have not ruled out the possibility of us getting an actual 1971 'Cuda and restoring that, but what we are looking for is some help with people who have done this or other converts. We have seen them (converts) out there for sale and we are looking for technical advice. Any help will be appreciated!!




I agree with what Greg said. Think of it this way...if you convert a 70, you are removing one more car from the pool that could be used to fulfill somone else's dream. Maybe they always wanted a 70 convertible. Now there is one less for them to be able to buy.

"In all likelihood, we will not sell the car .... the sentimental value will never match the resale value ....."

Sounds good now. Craig's list and Ebay are full of cars that will 'never be sold'.

Please, save up and look for a '71. It will be much easier and cheper in the long run with a lot less hassles on the back end. Plus you won't ruin somone elses dream.


Seeking:

1969 St. Louis plant VINs, SPD, and VONs.
Over 2,000 thanks to you!
Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: 69CoronetRT] #1234188
05/16/12 08:47 PM
05/16/12 08:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 357
The Garden State
LimelightCuda Offline
enthusiast
LimelightCuda  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 357
The Garden State
I also agree with the above and hope you will not cut up a rare '70 Cuda rag top.

How about getting a hartop '71? Aren't there places that can turn hard tops into convertibles? I remember some years ago there was a guy at the 'Nats that was going to sell kits that would turn any E-body hardtop into a convertible. I guess his business didn't take off because I never saw the kits for sale.

I think the best advice is to save up for a '71. In the long run it would certainly seem to be the road of the least aggravation and problems.

Good luck.


Phil

1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe
1970 A66 Challenger Convertible
Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: LimelightCuda] #1234189
05/16/12 08:52 PM
05/16/12 08:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda Offline
Too Many Posts
Pacnorthcuda  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
We're talking E-body verts here. Even a 70 BH27C0 car doesn't deserve the conversion--UNLESS its a basket case to begin with.
Even then--start with a 71

Re: 1970 to a 1971 Cuda convert [Re: 69CoronetRT] #1234190
05/16/12 08:53 PM
05/16/12 08:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 406
California City, CA
dart440 Offline
mopar
dart440  Offline
mopar

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 406
California City, CA
I helped a friend do this to a hardtop many years ago. Took a 70 and turned it into a 71. We had a huge stash of used parts to pick from as we both had parted out several cars, as well as him buying NOS and aftermarket parts for the car. If you start with a complete car, the cost to restore/rebuild the 71 will be a lot less than the cost to buy all the correct parts for the 71 and then restore them. If all you are looking for is the "look of the 71" and don't care if a lot of the parts are correct (70 vs. 71), then either car will cost the same to restore except for the purchase of the front sheet metal, grille, tail lights needed to convert the car...but that is only scratching the surface to make a 70 car into a 71.


When you work on Spaceships for a living, how bad can a workday be?






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