My original tie rods

After an evaporust bath and some new boots

The previously shown disc brake set up after a clean up and initial de-rusting

That stuff works great - parts look new!

EDIT: thanks for the positive feedback guys

After several months I finally took the car down off the jack stands and cleaned/drove it.

I had plans and cash but my youngest is nearly ready to drive so I took my car cash stash and added to it as I could. I let the Cuda sit. In a video that follows you might notice a White Neon, that's Leon the Neon. She agreed to learn to drive stick, because she wants the Cuda... she's heir to the keys

VIDEO of my dusty car emerging from hybernation


VIDEO CUDA VIDEO


I believe George has another video maybe a lil better than this one

Our timing throughout the day was great, we ran across some bass ass cars (A Black 70 SS 454 Chevelle) a low rider gathering and had a blast. One guy even had us follow him to show his Dad the Cuda.

The stainless exhaust x pipe and dumps will go in next. I'm upgrading the brake system and as previously shown I've got a 73 E body set up.

I just picked up some new calipers, the rotors are next.

Just a short clip but all we have for today


MO VIDEO>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfqnAPfKotw

So how does the new W2 set up feel compared to how it was prior?

Runs good, pulls at 3K. I have to recurve the distributor and the fatten the secondary jets. I swear this distributor was set for 15 degrees mechanical.... it currently shows 22.

AF ratio looks good at idle etc etc so I'm happy so far

Straightened a few dents in the bottom of the oil pan, I also stripped it in preparation for paint. While tuning the car I noticed play in the distributor (it did cause some issues) I had an MP electronic ignition kit distributor on the shelf for a few years. A dealership sold it as is since the wiring, box and ballast resister were MIA. It turned out the reluctor pick-up was shorted out. I gutted a spare and fixed the new distributor (shown are previous dizzy and the parts mule) my wife bought me my drilled and slotted rotors. See the shiny paper weight in the middle of the photo?

Car sounds great Bob, nice to see that one all finished and running!

Thanks Scott, it's actually been running almost all along I left it on stands while looked for a car for my youngest...scored a Neon so I'm back to work.

I just so happened to thumb through a 1 year old Mopar Action and it had a distributor article. Well it stated the newer MP distributors have a spark scatter issue (my older style low mile MP tuned distributor was doing that) and today just happens to be someone's birthday.

So if Six Pack Performance has a distributor upgrade on the shelf I'll have one tonight, if not I want one of these https://www.customwiresets.com/product.php?productid=16293&cat=308&page=1

UPDATE I called Junior at Six Pack Performance, he provided his personal experience and some customer feedback on the MSD, I'm sold. I didn't want to have to change the ends on my new wires but so what.....
My car already has a hidden 6AL. He'll have an MSD distributor for me on Monday. I highly recommend this vendor, very friendly and knowledgeable and cost competitive .

EDIT: Mondays a long way away so I'll take 2 distributors apart and Frankenstein them into one so I can have it out today. Basically just swapping a new housing with bushings into my old distributor to remove the play and hopefully cure it for now.

The "baby" is at practice and should be coming home with her drivers license this afternoon

Congrats on the new driver!
Good to see continuing improvement on the Cuda. I'm guessing it will never be done, no matter how good it looks and runs!

True Tom, now the list is tune the carb, exhaust, disc brakes, cal tracs, bolt in some frame connectors, some trim. I just took it out for a rip. It needs disc brakes bad I wasn't really on it and the brakes weren't warm but.....

I'm a tad burnt on inconsistency, it wants to run below the power valve value. I mean come on I used a plug and tested vacuum at idle and then vacuum dropped

I once said I wouldn't hammer on a new project build (a 340) until I installed a rev limiter. I was tuning a carb on a dark stretch of road when lights surprised me and we both stopped as we came at each other FASSTTTT. We both slowed and hit the shoulder..... It was a Cobra on Sticky's, turned out we both thought the other was a cop. That part ended well. We raced 3 times. Each time he had me by 1 to 1.5 cars out of the hole but couldn't walk away. We were both butt hurt. Him because his sorted car couldn't waste the un-tuned small block, and I because I lost. When that was over it cost me.... I hurt it.

I said I would upgrade the brakes, and it needs it. I will make it a point to not get tempted to stomp on it if I cant stop it. So not taking it out until the brakes are upgraded is IMPORTANT. Tonight I'll order the wheel bearings n seals,dust caps, brake hoses, I'll go through the entire front end bushing and detail too STAY TUNED

I should have the MSD distributor tomorrow. I just found another modified advance slot, this one must be set to 15 degrees, the current one has 20

My MSD distributor came in today, Six Pack (allot of locals shorten it) had to order one since they had used the last one in stock on a customer car.

I consider myself lucky to live close, and appreciate that I can stop in or call and ask almost any Mopar technical question of them and get a good answer. Kind of my safety net.... so I always try to return the favor. Not many folks impress me anymore, but I feel like a friend there.

Art and the family have been welcoming mopar enthusiasts for years, great folks to deal with and send business to! They were the first place I went when I moved there.

http://www.sixpackperformance.net

Yes they're good people. I usually get their recommendations when I need automotive help in town. If they use someone.....so do I. Everyone they've recommended I was happy with.

Jr is always very helpful. He loaned me a tool for my wires, matter of fact I mentioned my 3/8 Matco torque wrench needed to be calibrated back when I did my intake, and he gave me directions to his place and lent me his brand new snap torque wrench. This is why I will always go there first.


I put MSD ends on my Firecore 50 wires and bought another MSD wire (my old one has a Mopar distributor plug) Car is running better but there's much more in it. I've jetted again and it helped. I like George to ride along to monitor the gauge. If I'm solo quick glances at the A/F gauge can provide scetchy feedback.

I ordered the brake hoses, wheel bearings, and wheel seals, and dust caps and they arrived last week.

I had the car out last night, a civic seriously thought I'd go. I let him roll out a bit then slowly left then just gassed ahead. Later I was just driving and end up beside a BMW at a light and he keeps spooling up and letting off whistling/boosting I was good until this idiot was hopping beside me as I am approaching a car and needing to change lanes. I waved him off rather matter of factly

Now I'm hunting another specific project car for myself project USHUDNT Rosie is getting an angry lil brother wooooooopppssstttt

Oops I got distracted again, my Mopar A.D.D. kicked in.

I paused work on the `Cuda to put together a few bucks to buy my youngest a car and give my wife some needed relief from ferrying her to practice etc.

So I started to look at FWD Mopars for a future turbo project. A coworker is building a first gen turbo car. Theres a neighbor kid with an SRT4 and he has allot friends with all sorts of Neons. I had one new in 97 and was a great car.

I got a 2002 for my youngest and since she agreed to learn to drive a stick shift then she I can inherit the Cuda some day.

I wanted a clean unmolested car. I missed 2 SRT's then found this..... the "baby" wants Dad's Neon

A 4th gen SS tried the Cuda on for size.... he wasn't even close

"Holy $%^& there was no way he was catching you"


It needs a 750 DP BADDDD too

poor Cuda waits again as I got distracted.....