I have been working on this car for about 4 years making incremental progress. The idea is to have it look pretty much like an AAR with modern attributes in the areas of suspension and drive train. By "modern" I dont mean transplanting a 5.7 and a 5 spd necessarily, I mean more modern better engineered equipment. Like most projects this has changed slightly since its inception but currently is at the point where I intend to run a 340 (I have a 68 motor), A833 4spd w/OD (Passion), 4 link rear w/coil overs, heavy T bars, tubular upper CA, adj struts, poly bushings, FF stage 3 box, flaming river column, etc. I also intend to run a EFI 6 pac, custom dash, electric windows (all), Corvette C5 seats, etc. Right now I am replacing all of the bad sheet metal and have widened the rear tubs slightly (want to run a 315 rear and 275 front). I having issues aligning the new rear qtr skins currently but like everything with this car it takes some ingenuity to make it work.

More pictures

My intention for this car has changed slightly from the beginning but for the most part has stayed essentially the same. The overview of the car will be;

Lime Green
AAR hood
AAR rear spoiler
sport mirrors (L&R)
keyless entry
electric windows
4 link rear suspension
"improved" front (still being researched)
Corvette C5 seats
315 rear tires
275 front tires
wheels (TBD)
custom dash w/Auto meter gauges (5" tach and speedo, 2 1/6 fuel, water, oil pressire, volts)
340 - aluminum heads, EFI 6 pac, electronic ignition, Rhoads lifers, cam (TBD), shorty headers, sheetnetal valve covers, electronic water pump, gear drive,
A833 4 spd with passion OD
Pistol grip
8 3/4 with rear brace and 3:55 posi
3/8 or 1/2" fuel line
Viper front brakes
rear disc
electronic fuel pump
flip lock rear cap (under license plate)
trunk mounted battery
aluminum radiator with electric fan

There will be more and some may change but this is what comes to mind.

Here are some more pictures

it appears that the lady I bought the car from thought it was a bumper car as every corner was smashed. The only panel unharmed was the pass. door.

Here is what it looks like now.

Here is the door that I am working on now. turns out that there was some rust under the skin.

I like the original petty blue

I am going with sublime as that was the color of my 70 AAR.

UPDATE: 1/2/10
Finally got back to the car, started working on the 4-link. I had to fabricate the frame connection points (will post pics soon). I need to finish the upper mounts and locate some shocks. Then I can install the trunk floor, rear quarters and make some real progress.

Update 7-6-11

Lots been going on since January. I made some sacrifices and came up with some money, therefore the Cuda soaked it all up (about $12K worth). Here is a list of what I was able to get;

416 stroker kit from MRL (awesome)
Comp roller cam with lifters (MRL)
Billet timing chain (MRL)
Wilwood 13" front rotors & hats
Wilwood 12" rear rotors & hats
22 circuit wiring harness
Viper front calipers
93 Cobra rear calipers
Aluminum radiator
full set of autometer gauges
Kevko roadrace oil pan
EFI 6 pac intake
6 pack aircleaner
Firm feel stage 3 steering box
Firm feel fast ratio pitman and idler arm
Firm feel adjustable struts
Firm feel tubular upper control arms
Firm feel knuckles
Firm feel 11/16 tie rods
Firm feel 1.14 torsion bars

I built a new lower radiator cross member to tie in the front end.
Installed a 26" radiator side (was a 19")
installed the upper inner fenderwell support braces
finished installing the trunk floor
working on the front brakes now

slow but steady going.

Here is my homemade AAR hood. started with a AAR scoop that I bought out of Canada and a free fiberglass hood that used to have a snorkle scoop on it.

Here is my new radiator. I had to open up radiator support to accept a 26" radiator.

Here is the custom dash I am working on.

Here is the new radiator support I made. Basically it replaces the sheet metal piece that is normally under the radiator. This is actually 2 pieces of 3.5" wide 1/8th inch flat stock. It does have internal gusseting from strength and is 360 degree welded to the frame. it doesnt extend below the K frame. I am also going to tack in the K frame from rigidity.

Here is the cam I removed from the engine. was in good shape but now dont have a use for it. Pretty good thump to it as I recall.

Here is the stamping on the engine. It is a 69 340, out of a Dart I beleive. its at the machine shop now getting cleaned up, bored out and rebuilt to a 416.

Here is the crank. It appears to have 1984 stamped on it. I beleive this was a rebuild engine (like gopher rebuilds) as it has a round plug on one of the freeze plugs that said "warranty void if removed". The crank is 10/10 but otherwise ok. I might sell it or use it for something else.

Here is the pile of engine parts, crank, pistons, rods, cam, lifters, timing chain. This picture represents about $2500...

Here is a picture of my suspension parts awaiting install. Another $3K or so gone...

Here is the front horizontial braces I made and installed. it is made from 2" x 3" rectangular steel.

Sorry for the random picture posting, however I hadnt really posted anything for a while and wanted to get somthing up. I will get some brake pictures next. I designed by own set up using stock hubs up front with Wilwood GT 13" rotors and Viper calipers. I used Wilwood 12" rear rotors and 93 Cobra calipers with parking brake feature.

thought I would post some pictures and information on my brakes. As I mentioned earlier, I went with a new system that uses Wilwood GT 13" 1.25" thick rotors and Gen II Viper calipers up front. I havent got to the rear yet but will soon.

Here is the first attempt at making a bracket for the front brakes.

more pics

another view

mock up

there were a couple of problems with this design, the biggest of which was that this positioned the caliper in the front (like the original) however the caliper was designed to be in the rear. I could have used it in the front, but I would have had to change the balance tubes and bleeders (not a huge problem). I ended up stripping out one of the caliper mounting holes which made me rethink the who design. I also didnt really like the overall surface contact area (rigidity).

So, on to gen II. I basically copied another design. It took some work and thank god for a plasma cutter.. Much better design.

a harder aspect of this design was manipulating the 1 1/8" steel block. it was a pain to cut. Forunately, I have a lot of tools and was able to get it cut to the size I needed. Also, I have a harbor frieght mill/lathe I bought years ago, which allowed me to cut the clearance slots and trim down the block. I am not a machinist but was able to muddle through it.

Finished product

Here are pictures of the lower control arms. I made all of the stiffening plates. The three smaller pieces on the side/back of the arms were a result of looking at some 70's era NASCAR examples.

Here is a side view

Here are some pictures of how I built the 4 link

a close up of the upper links. I ran the bracing from frame rail to frame rail. Additionally the horizontal bars are spot welding on the inside as well as supported by 1/8" plate.

Here are some pics of how I did the lower links. I didnt want them to hang below the car because it will be pretty low and the intent is to use this as an autoX driver. For those wondering, I left all of the leaf spring mounting locations in place "just in case".

as you can see, I cut into the frame. I used 2 grade 8 nuts welded together.

here I located the lower link.

I tried to over build this as much as possible.

starting to close it up.

I tried to blend it into the body. the intent was to make it look more like an original component of the car.

in the last pic you can also see the full length sub frame connectors.

Here are some pictures of the shock cross member. The original is not designed to support the weight of the car, thus the shocks would eventually come through the truck.

therefore, I rebuilt it.

Additionally, I braced the interior of it.

Here are some pics of the completed project.

Another one.

and one more.

Man killer work I love E bodies looks good keep the pics coming.

thanks. I am working on the rear brakes now. I am looking at coating the bottom with product from Monstaliner, it is a satin black product that is supposed to encapsulate the metal.

Yes thats my pile.Its next for a redo when I finish my Bee.Keep up the good work

Well the picture looks good... I know the feeling too well, I have a 70 RR and a 1966 Hemi that are next on the line to meet. I also have my 70 RT challenger 440-6 that needs to be finished (all together, just needs to bugs and minor issues worked out). Too little time and too many projects. Now I am looking for a 37-47 pickup to do a street rod... like I have time or $$ for that... its called an addiction for a reason.

Here are some updated pictures of the dash.

I have been doing a lot of work on the car this past summer, got the engine built, revcieved the EFI 6 pac, set up the hydraulic clutch MC, etc. I will post some pictures later. Right now I am working on the PS system. I want to run a remote reservoir system. I am going to run a hydraulic slave cylinder for the clutch fork. still have to figure out the wheels and tires. I have to run 17's at least because of the brakes. I am looking at some Mustang wheels.

Here is a pic of my 416

Another picture, shows my new alt and PS pump.

shows the completed engine.

Here is the intake

this is pic of my modified fuel tank. I cut it open and baffled it as well as adding -8 with 3/8 fuel and return line.

another

finished

got the rearend together.

Hre is my engieered hyd clutch system. Hope it works..

my "retro" dash

Obviously it has been awhile since I posted here due to many factors, however I thought I would try and provide some updates. First, I haven't been working on the car for awhile because I became distracted with a 52 Dodge pickup. I picked it for virtually nothing and had to reconstruct it as it was disassembled. After slaving on it for about a month or so, I had it up and running and then discovered (read rediscovered) that 50's era pickups were never intended to be driven in the 21st century; with max speed of 45 I quickly became a little disillusioned with it but then came upon a 56 Desoto with a 330 CI Hemi, so.... back apart the truck came, the engine off to the machine shop etc.

So, as it stands now, the 52 is undergoing surgery with a 88 Dakota from clip, E body rear end and then the 330 + 727 will be installed. Should I ever happen to get this somewhat done I will get back onto the Cuda.

I did happen to score some Neon SRT-4 seats for it which I think will work well. I also made a center console for it to house the stereo since that spot is now occupied by a switch panel. The car has taken on more of a "race" car flavor which is cool, but now I am beginning to think I should put some type of cage in it, more for the shoulder belts than anything else. I wanted the interior to remain fairly stock, but that is evaporating somewhat. Anyway, here is a picture of the car, basically as it is today.

Here is another.

Your work is outstanding!!!!

thanks. it has taken quite a while and there are still a lot of things to do.