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1970 cuda 440+6 restoration #2413045
12/04/17 01:44 PM
12/04/17 01:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
I picked up this car in 2011 in Southern California. It's originally from New York and was sold new at a dealership called Meritt in Freeport Long Island. From what I have found out it was raced somewhat early on. The original engine was pulled in favor of another 440 to do this. Luckily the car was stored inside and not used in the winter months so it is in very nice condition sheet metal wise retaining a good percentage of it's original paint. It has been through several owners including at least one member here, James T. When James had it he didn't have the original motor but knew that a previous owner in Pennsylvania had it and was kind of holding it for ransom. James sold the car to Dan and on his way back to So Cal stopped in PA and worked out a deal for the original motor. That was around 2006. So basically a lot of things are restored at this time and the car is going to paint very soon and I should have it back in February some time for final assembly.

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413046
12/04/17 01:46 PM
12/04/17 01:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
Here is when I picked it up.

IM000426.JPG
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413048
12/04/17 01:51 PM
12/04/17 01:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
Before body work with original paint still on the car.

Six Pack cuda before tear down 004.JPGSix Pack cuda before tear down 003.JPG
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413068
12/04/17 02:26 PM
12/04/17 02:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
Here's the tag. Really nicely optioned car. Included on the build sheet is 15x7 rallye wheels, a rim blow steering wheel, power steering and clock in the standard dash.

20151230_092259 (3).jpg
Last edited by biggE; 12/04/17 03:19 PM.
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413072
12/04/17 02:31 PM
12/04/17 02:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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biggE  Offline OP
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California
Engine and K frame assembly almost ready

20170426_155929.jpg
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413076
12/04/17 02:44 PM
12/04/17 02:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
Original transmission

IM000444.JPG
Last edited by biggE; 12/04/17 04:02 PM.
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413106
12/04/17 03:41 PM
12/04/17 03:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Very nice car! Cool that you got the original engine back, thats awesome!

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413212
12/04/17 07:51 PM
12/04/17 07:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 595
Nashville, Tennessee
Tempest Offline
mopar
Tempest  Offline
mopar

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Posts: 595
Nashville, Tennessee
Nice!

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2413268
12/04/17 09:46 PM
12/04/17 09:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA
Alaskan_TA Offline
Fluffy Balladeer
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Fluffy Balladeer

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Posts: 29,648
Hamtramck, PA
Formerly owned by L. J. McCaffrey Jr. in Syosset, NY

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: Alaskan_TA] #2413301
12/04/17 10:51 PM
12/04/17 10:51 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,089
Georgia
M
Matt M Offline
super stock
Matt M  Offline
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Posts: 1,089
Georgia
Nice Eric
Cant wait to see it done.

That's the car you sold me your 70 340 Cuda to buy, right?

Matt

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: Matt M] #2413310
12/04/17 11:14 PM
12/04/17 11:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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California
Originally Posted By Matt M
Nice Eric
Cant wait to see it done.

That's the car you sold me your 70 340 Cuda to buy, right?

Matt

Yep, This is the one Matt

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2414063
12/06/17 05:12 AM
12/06/17 05:12 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,187
USA
B
big-block-dave Offline
super stock
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,187
USA
Nice cuda!! That's funny, a guy in Cali buying a car from NY!!
I have a similar car from way up state NY. One owner, 35k miles, no winter's!


I'm the CARETAKER of Weinstats '69 440 'cuda registry and have 104 of the 360 cars to date. 84 fastbacks/20 coupes. Always looking for new(REAL M-code) '69 440 'cudas to add to the registry so drop me a note if any are found or known. This isn't a publicly released registry. Thanks, Dave
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2414331
12/06/17 06:56 PM
12/06/17 06:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
M
Morty426 Offline
master
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
E

Looking forward to seeing this coming out paint.

M

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: Morty426] #2420762
12/19/17 01:47 AM
12/19/17 01:47 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,020
Pangaea
B5 Bee Offline
master
B5 Bee  Offline
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Posts: 8,020
Pangaea
ALMOST!

I saw VIN on your FT and thought I found an extra BS for it, an extra I found in my car.
Unfortunately not, but similar.
BS23V0B157224
BS23V0B157442

I sent the 157442 BS to Barry.

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: Alaskan_TA] #2420791
12/19/17 02:54 AM
12/19/17 02:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,268
NY
7
70440+6bbl Offline
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Posts: 5,268
NY
Originally Posted By Alaskan_TA
Formerly owned by L. J. McCaffrey Jr. in Syosset, NY


Here's some more of the history:

Ernesto owned it from around '81-82, until 1986. He sold it to Leonard McCaffrey Jr. in order to buy a Pontiac Fiero of all things. He offered the original 440 long block to Leonard for an extra $500, but he passed on it, in order to have the cash for a front end rebuild...

Leonard kept the car at his parents house and a fellow named Rich saw the car sitting outside in the driveway sometime in the mid-'90's. He told his friend Greg Tombolo about it and he purchased the 'Cuda around '95. I really liked the car and every time I spoke with the owner, I'd ask him if it was for sale. One day out of the blue, Greg called me to say it was up for grabs and he kindly gave me first shot at it. Within a week or two, the 'Cuda was in my possession. I embarked on the idea of performing an OEM restoration and proceeded to buy as many date coded correct NOS and good used parts. Many were sent to RestoRick and Pete Bloathner.

In 2001, after a long search for Ernesto's information, Daniel Banker (RIP) somehow located his phone number for me. I ended up speaking with Ernesto about the 'Cuda for hours, before I even inquired about the original 440. Sure enough, he still had it sitting in a garage. I met him and he took me to see the engine. The wind was knocked out of my sails when he told me he wanted $9,500 for it. Mind you, it had dropped a valve in the early '80's and there was no guarantee on the block. I had paid $7,500 for the rolling body a few years prior and complete '70 V-code 'Cudas were only selling in the $30-40k range at that time. By 2006, I had burned out on restorations and was burning up with Viper fever and posted a for sale ad here on Moparts. The car sold quickly to another member and he flew out and trailered it back home to San Pedro, California. I satisfied the Viper itch (lasted for a year or two, before I got bored and sold that off, in order to buy another ‘70 6bbl 4-spd ‘Cuda wink

I'm glad the 'Cuda is in very capable hands and can't wait to see the finished product!

Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: 70440+6bbl] #2421418
12/20/17 01:22 PM
12/20/17 01:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,827
Houston, Tx
hemi68charger Offline
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Houston, Tx
That is going to be one nice car when done..............


Troy
Houston Mopar Connection Club
'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi)
'69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana
'70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: 70440+6bbl] #2421561
12/20/17 08:06 PM
12/20/17 08:06 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 82
New York
6
64 Sportfury Offline
member
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Posts: 82
New York
You forgot one part of the story. I offered to buy the car from Greg and he declined. I asked that if he ever wanted to sell the car to contact me. I would've bought the car for the price you ended up paying it for. I was happy to sell the engine to the new owner and see the car again. I did not hold the engine for ransom as someone stated.

Last edited by 64 Sportfury; 12/20/17 08:09 PM.
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: 64 Sportfury] #2453577
02/18/18 06:49 PM
02/18/18 06:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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biggE  Offline OP
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California
Just got back from hanging the doors and deck lid. Paint and body look very nice. I should be able to pick it up by next weekend.

20180218_115022 (2).jpg
Last edited by biggE; 02/18/18 06:59 PM.
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2453581
02/18/18 06:55 PM
02/18/18 06:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,671
California
biggE Offline OP
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biggE  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,671
California
Driver side

20180218_114939 (2).jpg
Re: 1970 cuda 440+6 restoration [Re: biggE] #2454015
02/19/18 05:19 PM
02/19/18 05:19 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,127
tennessee,usa
mattsmopars Offline
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,127
tennessee,usa
That looks Fantastic!
Matt

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