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1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........
Posted By: KillerCuda
1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 12:59 AM
hey folks! nice title huh? it will make sense as we go along.
i have been a lurker for most of the time i have spent here, but i thought i would finally compose and share my and my uncle's latest project, a convertible 'cuda project. more of a serious 'freshening up', going through the interior, wiring, engine compartment, drivetrain, including a new hemi engine. the body and paint are as purchased.....
a quick back story on the car: it started out as a slant six three speed car, red, with red and white interior. as the story goes, at some point, someone took a totaled out AAR cuda, and built up this car using the components from it. rally dash, engine, tranny, rear end, hood, etc.
we have owned the car for a couple years now, and finding the true history has proven difficult. i have seen this car pass through barret jackson, and mecum, and both back stories varied a bit, but were close to the story we got when we bought it.
i have learned a lot along the way, as far as what is 'real' on the car, and what is not. since the car is a hodge podge of this and that anyway, we decided to just build it the way we wanted, but using all factory 'style' components, ie, anything that was offered, just not maybe all on one car.
so here we have, the one of none, 1970 convertible hemi aar 'cuda.
enjoy!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:04 AM
this car came with a small block, that after a VERY short time in our possession, decided to give up the ghost. lost oil pressure, and before i knew it, rods were a knockin' like nobody's business. so, out it came.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:07 AM
more shots of the removal.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:09 AM
it's out! no surprises yet.........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:13 AM
valve covers off, well that explains the lifter noise?
let's dig deeper........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:16 AM
never seen this one before, the cup broke off the pushrod. that explains the noise, but what about that oil pressure?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:19 AM
ah HAH! i guess a full throttle run when things started going amuck can throw things around a bit. there went the oil pressure!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:27 AM
so, a couple things learned about the motor. it has real ta 'j' heads, a real ta intake and carbs, but the block is just run of the mill 340, no ta here. :/ not what i was told upon buying it. but, i found a block by chance, for not a lot of cash, so i picked it up. i did get some money off the purchase price of the car when this was discovered.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:30 AM
no bearing shell left, that would explain the knock.
(i knew i was screwed, so i drove it home, farther than i should have.)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:31 AM
crank was saved, .020 under on the rods, .010 on the mains.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:37 AM
off she goes! at this point, what we were doing for an engine was up in the air. we had the ta block to go together with these parts, but were thinking about going bigger, and putting this engine together to sell for a more deserving car, ie, a real aar or ta. i have checked with barry, it is in fact a cuda engine, but we could not locate the car this engine came out of.
but, this engine is being rebuilt as we speak, and will be for sale to hopefully, a new home in a ta or aar........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:42 AM
stay tuned for a redo of all the interior....... thanks for looking people!
(and thanks for the endless help in trouble shooting this project along the way. hopefully i can return some knowledge to the wonderful folks here.....)
Posted By: autoxcuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 01:54 AM
Quote:
this car came with a small block, that after a VERY short time in our possession, decided to give up the ghost. lost oil pressure, and before i knew it, rods were a knockin' like nobody's business. so, out it came.......
Typical auction car.... Incorrect claim on T/A block. Not well functioning/running car. I bet it looked pretty on the auction stage or in dealer pictures under the right frosty lights.
Somebody cut some corners and/or did something wrong in that motor to cause that pushrod problem. I bet the motor showed indications of something wrong before you bought it.
Stinks that you had to go through all that.
Posted By: 1cuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 03:31 AM
What's the fender tag say?I believe that could be the only slant 6 3 speed barracuda made. All the best Frank
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 06:10 AM
Quote:
What's the fender tag say?I believe that could be the only slant 6 3 speed barracuda made. All the best Frank
according to the tag, and to the research i did, it was 1 of 65,or something of the sort, but i can't remember all the details right now. i will take a pic and post up if you would like to help decode it......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 06:15 AM
Quote:
Quote:
this car came with a small block, that after a VERY short time in our possession, decided to give up the ghost. lost oil pressure, and before i knew it, rods were a knockin' like nobody's business. so, out it came.......
Typical auction car.... Incorrect claim on T/A block. Not well functioning/running car. I bet it looked pretty on the auction stage or in dealer pictures under the right frosty lights.
Somebody cut some corners and/or did something wrong in that motor to cause that pushrod problem. I bet the motor showed indications of something wrong before you bought it.
Stinks that you had to go through all that.
you are correct on all fronts. it idled like crap, huge cam, motor looked pretty worn out inside, brakes were not up to snuff, lot's of detail stuff. it's got great bones, solid car, good paint, decent parts to work with, it just needs the 'detail' orientated person to make it shine, and perform as it should.
we are getting there, i am happy with it overall, but you nailed it, i got stuck with tons of little problems. (the engine being a big problem of course)
Posted By: 1cuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 06:42 AM
Please post a picture of the tag. It'll be great to see and decode.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/29/12 11:50 PM
hey folks, here is my vin tag, kind of hard to make out the first set of numbers, but maybe some of you are more proficient at deciphering than i am! anyway, i would love some help decoding this, if any of you feel like helping out, or pointing me in the right direction, it would be kind of fun to see what this ol' girl was really born as....
also, do any of you have any idea on how to look up vin numbers on a statewide level? i am thinking it would be nice to try and find the car my TA engine is from, (it is an AAR 'cuda according to barry) if it still exists, and hopefully reunite them. ok, thanks for any input!
D
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/30/12 12:47 PM
Please post the Vin of your motor.
Posted By: Stewpar
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/30/12 02:16 PM
Slant 6, 3-spd trans, bucket seat, AM Radio, Built to US Specs, FE-5 Red with a white top and interior!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/30/12 11:45 PM
Quote:
Slant 6, 3-spd trans, bucket seat, AM Radio, Built to US Specs, FE-5 Red with a white top and interior!
nice! thanks for the throwdown, that looks about what i was told it originated from.....
oh, here is a pic of the vin from the TA motor i am trying to reunite with it's owner as well. the motor is almost finished, .040 over, comp stock specs replacement cam, original valve covers, intake, need to check to see if the carbs ar 1970 vintage as well. any tips on that? which numbers mean what, and where on the carbs? thanks again in advance for any info.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:01 AM
got the interior stripped out, things looked pretty good. i am able to save most everything, but the rear interior panels are shot. original, but in too sad of shape for me to take on. all of the plastics will be re-dyed using sem 'firethorn red'. it's what matches my dashpad, which i can tell used to be black. as i am looking, it appears several trim pieces were black, so i am assuming the original interior was a little toasty.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:02 AM
the gauge cluster went out for rebuild, the engine is being built, so, time for some interior action......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:16 AM
all the vinyl interior is in good shape, but is covered in tons of dye jobs. it looks great underneath that dye, so i plan to remove all of that, and just treat them with a good vinyl care product. inside of the seat material reads "legendary, 1994". so, something happened to this car around then, but not sure all what yet, still piecing it together......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:17 AM
and as it turns out, brake clean comes to the rescue again. stripped them clean as a whistlem not hurting the vinyl at all.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:21 AM
got all the malfunctioning locks, mirror remote, all sorted, everything lubed, and ready to get covered back up when i am done dying door panels.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:29 AM
i took this time to also repair all the heater box functions. all works again. but somehow, i screwed up the 'off heat defrost' section, it's backwards now! so, if i want heat, 'off' it is!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:30 AM
all the red bits dyed!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:35 AM
all the white bits dyed! i used performance years brand, with the slight pearl in it..... i also replaced the rear interior panels, got a screaming deal on a set of palco's, i know people don't really care for them, but my fronts were an older set, not original like i thought. so, the price was right, the fronts were already fitted, and the rears didn't take too much modding to fit as well. i replaced the seat backs as well. i will probably sell all the interior parts i replaced, as all of them are original mopar pieces......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:37 AM
all of the dash/steering metal got re-dyed in firethorn red as well. ready for some re-assembly!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:38 AM
heater controls fixed and complete!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:39 AM
radio working and complete!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:40 AM
floors cleaned and prepped for a little sound/heat mat....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:41 AM
rears as well.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:42 AM
BOOM! all doned up.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:46 AM
rear panels fit, only problem, i had to really offset the rear window crank hole, it was a no go, not even close. the right side went right on. you can actually see the offset to the right of the handle. i had to transfer the holes for the new snap studs for the tonneau cover as well......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:49 AM
i managed to just steam clean the carpets and re-use them, they looked ok after a good cleaning. installed seat belts too, man, a full, matching set of seat belts for a 70 'cuda was really expensive! i was surprised at that. actually, this is my first mopar, quite a few parts were spendier than i thought they would be. what are ya gonna do eh?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:50 AM
the devil is in the details......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:51 AM
backseats complete!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:53 AM
all door panels fitted and complete! still waiting on the dash cluster though.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 12:57 AM
shifter detailed, and complete. i went with aftermaket pistol grips, they are more of a 'burl' wood look. they are smooth as well. i can always go 'factory' if need be, as everything else is, but this is just something i preferred......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 01:01 AM
cluster is back, didn't re-screen the faces, just had modern guts put into the tach, clock, and had the speedo gone through...
a little steering wheel detailing, (not very fond of this one, would love a rimblow, but then again, not very easy to find, or very affordable at this point.)
we went with chrome surrounds on the pedals as well, they were not on the car when i got them.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 01:04 AM
interior FIN! now, time to start detailing the engine compartment, sorting out the conversion to manual brakes, and ordering up a new engine wiring harness........ stay tuned!
Posted By: Daty Rogers
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 01:31 AM
None of the pics loaded btw...
-Daty
Posted By: Mr D21
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 01:42 AM
all the pics look great to me !!! Nice work....
Posted By: moparmike1
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 01:56 AM
Nice work!
Good luck with the rest of the project.
Mike.
Posted By: Rhinodart
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 02:24 AM
Very cool car and nice job on it, hope I can see it in person sometime!
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 11:47 PM
Looks really good. Your are doing a great job!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/31/12 11:59 PM
thanks for the nice words folks! one last pic of interior re-do, me, in the middle of "seat cleaning" mode. a few beers, and a few hours of fumes, well, this was a pretty fitting picture at the time.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:03 AM
so, while the interior is done, and still waiting on the motor, i thought we should look at the rear end. sure grip acted a little funny, and was leaking at one end. so, we took it all apart. no chunks in the housing, that's a good first step!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:11 AM
this was the fluid that came out? confused me, looked like atf with some additive in it. i am not familiar with this at all....
the car had the 741 center section with 3.91's. not really what i wanted behind a four speed hemi. my rear end guy had a brand new set of chrysler 3.23's for a 489 center, so i found one on ebay for $75, and i bought it. he built it up and that is what resides in the car now. oh, it has the cone style sure grip as well. the diff works great, running regular gear oil my guy suggested back there now, not the pink mystery fluid.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:20 AM
someone had really done a number on this thing. first the weird fluid that the diff didn't like, (chatter, slipping) the side to side lash was set completely wrong, they bent the axle bearing retainer plates, one lip seal was in backwards, a total mess. i am glad we took it apart. here, looks like someone used a dang wood chisel to get the lip seal out. i think that and the backward lip seal explained the leak.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:22 AM
the brakes were a little bit of a mess, broken springs, missing bits, so new spring kits went in, everything adjusted properly, back in business.........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:26 AM
retainer plates flattened, new bearings, and new wheel studs! (i will have to admit, being mostly a gm guy, i busted a stud off going the wrong direction! the front spindles had been replaced, both with right hand threads, so three wheels into it, they were all coming off fine. then, "hey, this one is stuck!"
not so much. it took me a few to realize what was going on, only one wheel had lefty's! so, all new right handers now.)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:29 AM
rear end complete and ready for detailing! the driveshaft looked pretty decent, no vibrating, so new spicer solid 2 5/8" u-joints finished the job off.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:36 AM
the ol' 833 looked good inside, so, a cleaning out of the case, new seals and gaskets, and back together she went. oh, new mount, and reverse switch, it was leaking like a stuck pig. i found out this, like the rear end, was NOT from an AAR like i was told. (imagine that! well, now it matches the non TA block. turns out, the only AAR running gear parts are the top end of the motor......) this tranny appears to be a 1970 vintage, with a 2.66 first, according to my homework from the brewer's website........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 12:41 AM
stay tuned for the next round, engine compartment detailing, getting ready for it's new tenant, the angry elephant!
Posted By: Mopar Mitch
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/01/12 06:14 AM
very nice photos and write up! good luck with all!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 04:45 PM
well here we go on the engine compartment. before anything got 're-finished', i spent a lot of time fitting all the new components. radiator, my old shroud didn't fit, so i had to mod that, and we converted from power brakes to manual, so new lines had to be made, etc. those were the two big items. here, is the new heavy duty four core 22" radiator we had made. the tanks don't look as 'oem' as oem ones, but, it serves it's purpose well, keeping a hemi cool. i also noticed, on real big blocks, and a 26" core, the top inlet is on the right side of the car. they kept this one on the left, along with the lower outlet. i thought that was interesting, and was not sure why they did it that way. it was specified as a 'hemi' radiator as well. i got to use the small block upper radiator hose, with some trimming. a new lower was purchased as well.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:02 PM
here is a mockup of the now manual brake setup. it was a drum car, so the whole car was plumbed that way. i did not want to replace the whole front brake line setup with 'proper' lines/distribution block/proportioning valve, so i used what we had. the car at some point had an older SSBC power front disc setup put on it. it didn't work for doo doo with the big cammed small block.....
they kept the stock lines, but installed a adjustable proportioning valve inline to the rears, the fronts two separate lines. so, i kept it that way. one inch manual master, fronts sump to the distribution block, then to the fronts, the rears sump to the p-valve hidden under the master, then to the distribution block and on to the rears. i kept the ssbc disc calipers, as they looked brand new, alomg with the rotors, you can still see cross hatch marks. this car did not get driven much. show car kinda thing, which is NOT my thing, i drive the snot out of my cars, and this one will be no different.......
the brakes worked, but not NEARLY as they should. with ever thankful help from dr. diff, he recommended a smaller bore master from a later plymouth with power brakes, it came in at 15/16"s bore, but had the deep indent for a manual rod in back. perfect. the ssbc calipers were fun to sort out for pads. they were modeled after an older kelsey hayes style, used on '65 to '67 mustangs, and some mid 70's plymouths. i ended up going with some red ebc pads as well. now, the car actually stops.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:07 PM
some 'before' firewall shots for reference for me later, when i was reassembling.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:10 PM
other side. i had already done the blower motor along with the interior. i know it's probably not zinc coated correct, it was done up with something gold-ish, so i just hit it with some 'eastwood carb renew' to make it fresh. in hindsight, i would have done this differently. i wasn't really thinking at the time. what are ya gonna do eh?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:11 PM
front area.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:13 PM
the other front......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:14 PM
side.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:15 PM
other side......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:17 PM
k-frame and company. i saw remnants of 'orange' and 'black' overspray down here. so, at some point in the cars history, there was an 'engine in' re-detailing of the car......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:20 PM
i had some rattle can mixed up at the local auto paint store, in the closest hue they could match the body's red. everything got taped off, prepped, and shot with a couple coats of it. the k-frame and company were then prepped as well, and hit with some semi-flat krylon.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:25 PM
new re-pop battery on a freshly sprayed battery box. i love that the fill caps still screw off, and you can see the sealed cells inside. this battery of course came with a stack of warning labels:
DO NOT FILL THIS BATTERY WITH WATER, YOU WILL RUIN IT!!!!!!!
like the ol' label on the hair dryer, 'do not use in bathtub', you know someone did it at some point, hence the need for the label.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:33 PM
BOOM! all detailed and doned up, awaiting her new tenant! i know it's not all 'concourse' correct, but i did the best i could, without breaking the bank. nicely restored wiper motor, date coded voltage regulator, stock master cylinder, factory style wiring harness, all factory style clips, connectors, etc... all the nuts and bolts are not of the correct marking and style, but are all new, and don't jump out at you unless you are a knowledgable cat. (which most of you probably are!) i would love any tips, notes, etc, to make it look more proper if you have some constructive criticisms to add. (yeah, the electronic ignition doesn't belong there either, but it came with the motor. if i had it to do over again, and you will hear why later, i would have gone stock style distributor with a pertronix module......)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:38 PM
forgot one, the turn signal housings. i wasn't sure of the finish here either, so i blasted them, repainted the silver inside the reflector area, (these were painted black ALL over, everywhere) and again hit the outside with the ol' eastwood carb renew........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 05:44 PM
stay tuned for the next chapter, engine install! here is a sneak peak as to what's to come...
Posted By: astjp2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 06:51 PM
I like that you are using a syringe to put on the RTV on the valve covers. I can only hope that my charger looks as good as your cuda. Tim
Quote:
stay tuned for the next chapter, engine install! here is a sneak peak as to what's to come...
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/12 10:27 PM
wow! just found this link on our car, and at least a supposed builders name, i will have to try and look them up. getting closer on the back story, but still not sure what is what. i am kind of surprised at the selling price, i paid a little above half that for the car 2 years ago.....
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=1050&aid=221
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:02 PM
and here she is, the holy grail. an early mopar performance block, stock bore, stroker eagle cranked 472 hemi, done up all 1970 style. built by eddie haines. more on THAT one later....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:03 PM
this motor has stage V heads, rockers, and a single plane 2x4 intake.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:05 PM
it made 576hp, and 543 lbs.ft. of torque, all done by 5800rpm. mild comp hydraulic roller in there as well.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:09 PM
couple of build shots......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:10 PM
rotating assembley ready for going in.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:11 PM
a shot of the aluminum heads and rockers........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:18 PM
shot of the intake.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 04:21 PM
running twin 600cfm eddy's, box stock. perfect a/f ratios across the board on the dyno....
Posted By: sleepyhead416
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 10:08 PM
SWEET I have a AAR & HEMI CHALLENGER u have the best of both. Keep pics coming.
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 10:59 PM
Please paint heater fan black. Filling seal battery with water does not ruin it. At least it didnt mine. You have to 50+ to understand
Posted By: tubtar
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/04/12 11:19 PM
This was my first trip to this forum and it was worth a peek for sure.
Nice job and very cool car.
It's refreshing to see that I am not the only one who was greased and packed when buying a car.
It was minor , but irritating to find that the guy who did all the work was pretty fair with a hammer and not much else.
When you got the front carpet up and find copper sheet and tar paper patches riveted in , you'll know my pain.
I bet there are cars that were well done and honestly described out there.......I just haven't found one yet.
Posted By: HEMIDOG 70
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/05/12 02:05 AM
You might want to check on the fitment of the two speed wiper motor with the large oval air cleaner. I think hemi cars required three speed wipers because the three speed wiper motor lays along the firewall for more clearance. I'm sure others on here know for certain. just trying to help spot a potential problem. Good luck with your project it looks great.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/05/12 04:09 AM
Quote:
You might want to check on the fitment of the two speed wiper motor with the large oval air cleaner. I think hemi cars required three speed wipers because the three speed wiper motor lays along the firewall for more clearance. I'm sure others on here know for certain. just trying to help spot a potential problem. Good luck with your project it looks great.
got ya on that, you are correct if it is a shaker, it would be a no go.must be the three speed. but, i have a six barrel air cleaner that has been modified to fit the two fours, and the clearance works out just great. thanks for the look out though! i am always trying to do the same for others, and i appreciate it when it comes my way as well.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/05/12 04:14 AM
Quote:
Please paint heater fan black. Filling seal battery with water does not ruin it. At least it didnt mine. You have to 50+ to understand
ha! yeah, i will get that baby painted black as soon as i can. like i said, i just wasn't thinking at the time. you can see by the rest of the car, that i am trying my best to make it look 'mostly' factory correct.....
as far as that battery, mine has metal sealed cells inside, there are no openings anywhere to the actual plates or cells, (assuming it's like an optima?) they are completely sealed and contained. water would ruin it for sure, which is why i am sure they were so adamant about the warnings. glad yours is ok though!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/05/12 04:16 AM
Quote:
This was my first trip to this forum and it was worth a peek for sure.
Nice job and very cool car.
It's refreshing to see that I am not the only one who was greased and packed when buying a car.
It was minor , but irritating to find that the guy who did all the work was pretty fair with a hammer and not much else.
When you got the front carpet up and find copper sheet and tar paper patches riveted in , you'll know my pain.
I bet there are cars that were well done and honestly described out there.......I just haven't found one yet.
sorry about your trials and tribulations! most people suck at being honest. really, i lucked out with the body, it's all the running gear and small stuff i had issues with. all in all, i have a good car with good bones, she just needs some detail love.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:23 AM
here we are, going to see if 10lbs. of spuds fit in a 5lb. bag! this is my uncle, (my partner in crime) guiding the engine in for the first time. (more on THAT later.)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:25 AM
wishful thinking, in assuming we could leave that battery and box in place for the engine install.
here she sits while i remove those items. small block came out with it in!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:31 AM
here i am with my favorite tool, my bang stick!
it's in, the schumacher mounts worked perfectly, for swapping the hemi into the small block K member. engine dropped right in, bolts slipped right in.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:33 AM
brewers supplied the new aluminum bellhousing, painted, and ready for action.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:36 AM
flywheel installed, centerforce clutch installed, bellousing and clutchfork installed with no issues.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:37 AM
ready for tranny!!!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:38 AM
go on now, git up in there!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:41 AM
in! yeah, i am liking the looks of this........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:42 AM
a couple more shots. still need to fit the radiator, and check for clearances everywhere......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:44 AM
few more angles.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:45 AM
last one. onto the radiator!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:50 AM
well, it took several 'in and outs' of the radiator to fit the shroud. mine didn't fit the new radiator, so i drilled a few new mounting holes, and made some thin metal tab/extensions to reach on the driver side. (not visible, the right holes worked, the left ones were about an inch to shy of reaching, hence the tabs.) a fresh coat of sem black, and she looks/works as good as new. no clearance issues, yay!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:52 AM
all fitted! now, it's just about hooking up some loose ends, and firing this pig up!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:53 AM
all electrical, linkages adjusted, fluids good, i'd say we are ready to see what she sounds like........
Posted By: Mr D21
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 01:58 AM
looks awesome !!!
But please change out the radiator cap to a correct mopar one
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 02:04 AM
fired it up!!!! no mufflers yet, just head pipes to where the mufflers would attach. sounded KILLER this way!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGhFH91HIQo
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 02:13 AM
Quote:
looks awesome !!!
But please change out the radiator cap to a correct mopar one
haha! got me. i had this one in the ol' car parts stash, it fit, so i used it for fire up. (aaaaaand, it's still on the car. ) what would be the part number for a '70 correct big block radiator cap? i would love to pick one up, and thanks for picking out the little things, i only want to make it as good as i can, with a little help from my friends.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 02:49 AM
ok, radiator cap, and a few other hardware items, purchased through r/t specialties. we are getting there!
Posted By: HEMIDOG 70
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/09/12 02:54 AM
That looks great
Hemis rule. I just got my hemi installed about a month ago. Enjoy and keep the pics coming like a first burnout pic!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:27 PM
now onto the first fun run in with people saying they can do something for you, and falling so completely short you can't believe your eyes. case in point, my exhaust........
i wanted to keep the side exit theme, because i had the mufflers, side exit pipes, and a solid rear valence, so it just made sense to keep the car side exhaust, like a true AAR. i wasn't sure of the tone that would be coming out of the pipes with the hemi, as the small block with no crossover was rather 'farty' sounding, but it grew on me. the plan was, just use prebent stock hemi headpipes, with crossover and adapt to the existing mufflers/exit pipes.......
there is a midas, literally behind my house. i didn't want to drive all over town with no mufflers, so i went and 'interviewed' them to see if they could handle the job. THREE times i went over, before bringing the car in, explaining to them that it was a 'show quality' car, and that this needed to be perfect to match the caliber of the rest of the build, no 'newbies' welding on it, i would be present though out the day, i would supply the materials, you just do the fabbing/fitting/welding. their lead guy, "oh yeah, no problem, we have done all kinds of show type vehicles". i explicitly stated that he do all the work, as i did see some 'new hires' there as well......
the car gets dropped of on a saturday morning, on the lift it goes. i lay out all the pieces on the floor, showing exactly how i want it to go in the car. the headpipes were a little wonky, one was lower than the other, and factory style had one tube with a straight exit, the other was curved to the outboard. i told him, "either make them both straight, or both curved, as i want them to match. and you need to tweak the headpipes, so the exits are level. you see the mufflers from the back, so they need to be perfect. got it?" "yep!" comes the reply. "then i will see you in a few hours". i made it back at closing time, the car was 'done' and off the rack, but needed a few 'pin holes' to be finish welded on monday, and i was to bring the car back for that, and then make payment. i took it home, and put it up on my rack......
what was to come, is nothing short of un believable.........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:40 PM
here is what i found:
the headpipes were as off level at exit as they could be. more than an inch of difference between the two. nothing had been done.
one muffler went straight back, the other was curved. nothing had been done to make them match angles, either both straight, or both angled to the side.
one muffler was literally 'pointing down', while the other flat. from the rear, it looked horrible.
the welding was not welding, but more like roasted bird crap glued to the pipes. cold, no penetration, full blown unwelded gaps, a blind six year old could have done better.
at this point, my blood was boiling. i walk over there, they are gone for the day. (it's saturday).
i sit on it for the rest of the night, but come sunday, i can't stand looking at it. so i see what's what. there is no way i am bringing it back, yet alone paying for anything. i want to save as much of this as i can, as money is dried up at this point, and the car is almost done for summer. so, i bust out the map gas torch, a couple of 2x4's, my tall threaded jack stand with foot lever, and go to town on getting things at least straight, and will deal with the burnt bird crap welds later.......
i get the system straight, and level, but there is no way to rectify the one muffler straight with the car, the other angled outward, with out cutting the entire system apart, and starting from scratch.......
so, i drop the entire system out in one piece, (that was fun on a four post lift!) and get one of my welder friends to come over for beers and repairs, and decide what is what from there......
here is some of what we found......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:43 PM
looks like full coverage here, just a 'pin hole' to fill in.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:44 PM
i call this one the 'burnt worm'.
Posted By: Mr D21
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:46 PM
wow - looks like they gave the job to their rookie welder....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:50 PM
i don't know what the heck was going on here. there was grinding, more burnt worm over roasted bird crap, you name the rookie element, it was here....
(RANT TIME)
are you serious? you do 'show' cars? you thought this was acceptable? how do you effing sleep at night?!?!? did you not see the rest of the car, and you somehow thought this 'matched' the caliber of the rest of the build? are you blind AND stupid?!?!?!?
sometimes, i lose faith in humanity, and am disgusted by it. this is one of those times......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:52 PM
now that i am done complaining about how lame some people run their business, it's time to get down to some of that myself......
friend elliott is taking first round of grinding this crap off, and doing it right.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 03:54 PM
time to tig that bad boy up right.........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/10/12 04:08 PM
well, it came out as good as it's going to be. we welded, filled, ground, welded some more, to fix the utter mess they made. needless to say, it is not 'factory' show quality, but it is tidy, sound, gap free, level, and sounds great! i threw some high temp paint on the headpipes to blend them, and a fresh coat of black on the flowmasters and side pipes......
i went back on monday, they were all "hey, we are ready for you!". i had to tell them as nicely as possible, that there was no way i was bringing the car back. (they know me, i live around the corner, so 'bad blood' wasn't an option, a few guys there looked a little seedy, and i don't need my garage burning down right now.) i told them about all the things that were not done to how they were laid out, and that the welding was completely unacceptable. the manager pleaded for me to bring it back in, i told him i would bring him photos, and then he would know why i could not do that. he then yelled at the guys, while they are giving me the stink eye. i said let's call it a wash, i'm out, you're out, and lets all just walk away from this as is. at this point in life, i have to choose my battles. i did not feel like fighting with a business so close to me, as the repercussions to me and my property would probably put me worse off than i already was.........
like i said, it looks like it looks. not up to my standards, but once again, money is tight, got's to choose my battles. i am ok with compromising on this section of the car for now. if i ever sell the car, i will rectify it proper. but, sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons. this won't be the first time. all in all? it looks GREAT compared to what i had, and i can live with that.
next up? TEST DRIVE.
Posted By: tubtar
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 03:43 PM
I can't weld in my approximation and I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than what you posted.
Those wouldn't get a D in 7th grade metal shop.
I agree fully with the notion that if you look at the rest of the car , you have to know that this isn't going to be O.K.
But then Midas is the Earl Scheib of exhaust work.
I have a guy some 15 miles from the house , so I drive with helium filled shoes till I get there.
Made the trip three times now with no tickets.
But it is worth the trip.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:08 PM
Quote:
I can't weld in my approximation and I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than what you posted.
Those wouldn't get a D in 7th grade metal shop.
I agree fully with the notion that if you look at the rest of the car , you have to know that this isn't going to be O.K.
But then Midas is the Earl Scheib of exhaust work.
I have a guy some 15 miles from the house , so I drive with helium filled shoes till I get there.
Made the trip three times now with no tickets.
But it is worth the trip.
yeah, lesson learned for sure! i know it was a midas, but he talked the talk, and i fell for it. no money changed hands, so there is that, but from now on, helium shoes it is, and i make the trip no matter how far to someone i KNOW i can trust. (found a guy right after this, go figure!)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:21 PM
shakedown runs:
i like to just creep around the block, the neighborhood, to test everything out. first time out of the garage, got her out, and went around the block. shifter catching up in neutral, hard to get to gears. pull back in, adjust one rod, and we are free to all gears. (was fine, i pinned it in neutral to set them, but once i drove it, applied a little torque to things, it needed a tweak....
back out: i had switched to manual brakes, and they SUCKED with the rest of my system, one inch manual master, ssbc discs up front, factory drum out back. back in the garage. after some homework here, dr. diff pointed me in the right direction of a 15/16"s power master from a later duster that still bolted up to all my manual goodies. tinier bit spongy on the pedal, but more pad pressure for sure. (hooked up a gauge to make sure things were right.) at this time, i decided to try some of those ebc 'red' pads as well. now, she stops just fine with the manual setup.......
at this point, i had not gotten the car over 15mph, or out of second gear. it was time to venture farther away, and get some heat and miles on everything. so, out we go. did 15 or so miles, got it up to 50mph, and everything seemed good. i pulled into the garage, and smelled burning oil, like it was on the pipes. figured it was just things breaking in, and left it at that. i also noticed a lot of blowby for a new engine. into the shop, up on the lift...
uh oh, already a half palm sized puddle of oil on the ground from just pulling in, and drips to it on the way in, NOT good........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:33 PM
engine warm, it's almost a drop a second. not happy about this. and i am noticing oil puking out the dipstick, valve covers, there is obviously multiple issues here. too bad for me the engine builder eddie haines lives in florida, and i am in oregon.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k467YaX17TQ&feature=youtu.be
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:36 PM
this, is not where i want the engine to be, after spending this kind of dough. out it comes, time to take a closer look........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:39 PM
for starters, oil is coming out the dipstick........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:39 PM
and the valve covers......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:41 PM
and the front timing chain cover seal as well, but more interestingly, there is some weeping that actually appears to be coming out of the block itself, on the oil passage way.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:42 PM
...and running down. so what i thought was a rear main leak, appears to be a casting issue above the rear main.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 04:45 PM
engine going BACK to florida, to be sorted out. blowby like mad, leaking block, all kinds of fun here. stay tuned..........
Posted By: autoxcuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/11/12 06:40 PM
Quote:
... too bad for me the engine builder eddie haines lives in florida, and i am in oregon.....
There's always someone fairly local that can build a hot street hemi motor. Might not be next door, but closer than the opposite coast.
More things going on in a motor than a paint job, rear end rebuild, or wiper motor re-build, etc...
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/12/12 12:54 AM
Hey man sorry to hear about your motor. That really sucks. When you get finished you'll have a reaaly nice car. Keep your head up.
Posted By: HEMIDOG 70
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/12/12 01:12 AM
Sorry to here of the troubles. In the end it will work out. Hang in there keep your chin up. I went through some issues on mine and I'm not sure every thing is totally sorted out on it either.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/15/12 02:46 AM
backstory on this motor, this is an earlier mopar performance block, (pre world product i believe?) it has a full water jacket, not siamese bores......
anyway, here was the deal: the block did in fact have a casting issue, and was leaking out of the main oil circuit. it did not rear itself as a problem until the engine was good and hot. eddie haines had the machine shop bore the passage to 3/8"s, then tolerance fit a thin wall tube that was loctited in. he then epoxied over the repair on the outside, for insurance. that took care of the oil leak......
the blowby issue: the diamond pistons were .0005 under tolerance in the ring gap, they were supposed to have .0015 clearance, and only had .001. is his words, some of the rings seized up in there because of this. he did not notice it on fire up at his place, i didn't notice it until it had run for awhile. so, diamond says they are within their spec, but the total seal rings did not like it. a new set of pistons would have taken 8 weeks, and they said they might be just the same dimension wise. so, a new set of rings were sized a half a thousandth off of the thickness, and used.....
this all took place without any discussing of the matter with me or my partner. the work had been done, and the engine put back together. i told him how i was not comfortable with this, as we were already in it deep enough with the first set of problems, and doing this again coast to coast was not an option, not after this much money has been spent. so, against my gut, i decided it would be ok if the engine were dynoed, cooled down, dynoed again, video'd, pics, etc, to verify everything was coming up good.....
the engine was broken in on the dyno, no blowby, and made 576hp and 543lbs. ft. of torque, at 5800rpm. he said the lifters begin to pump up after that in his past experience, so he didn't take it higher. he thinks there is still another 15hp or so there. there were pics, and vid, and everything looks to be good. it was not heat cycled like i asked for whatever reasons.......
so, engine back from florida, installed, timed, and ready to go. lets try this one more time...
stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of the drippy hemi saga......
Posted By: Mr D21
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/15/12 03:09 AM
all this happened in 2 days ?? Your picture of the motor heading out was on Sunday - do you own a teleporter ??
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/15/12 03:28 AM
Quote:
all this happened in 2 days ?? Your picture of the motor heading out was on Sunday - do you own a teleporter ??
ha! let me clarify: this project is not quite in "real time" on here. i am further ahead than what you are reading, as i started this thread after i already begun the project, (by a couple of months), and am catching up to real time.
i am posting this 'as it happened when it happened in order', and we are almost in real time......
so, i didn't mean to confuse anyone with the time frame of this project, but i still want it to read as a progressive project in retrospect when it is all said and done, regardless of actual time stamps, when people read this thread later.
so, that is why things sometimes happen 'faster' than humanly possible when i post in here, at least for the time being. i hope that doesn't bother anyone, i just want to share all things hemi cuda project with all my fellow car peeps. either that, or yes, i am a superhuman gearhead with amazing super time defying powers. yeah, i like that....
thanks for understanding,
D
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:36 AM
Quote:
looks awesome !!!
But please change out the radiator cap to a correct mopar one
just for you buddy, i hope it's the right one!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:42 AM
my hood is an early repro, according to a few sources, (another item that was not 'real' AAR) so i did not feel bad about drilling a few holes into it, for the hemicuda logo like on the shakers. i figured, the car is a mish mash of available factory options anyway, may as well have some callouts on the hood.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:50 AM
so, even my repro hood has been repaired at the hinges, from the severe bowing the factory ones were susceptible to. i have been reading on here about people removing the spring, or springs, and using a hood prop to stop, or lessen, the 'bow' effect of these hoods. i decided to try it out, and see what happens. here is a shot of the 'before'. you could actually see into the engine compartment on mine, but from this angle, it doesn't look as bad as it really is......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:52 AM
first off i measured what a spring was at 'open' length, then fabbed and welded up some 1/4" bar stock from work into a shape that would hold the hood open. it still needs to be painted, just raw metal right now......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:53 AM
it works great for holding it open! i left the passenger spring on, the driver was the real problem. now onto flattening this pig out.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:56 AM
no spring, and 80lbs. or so of stuff, seems to really flatten it out. i got the car nice and hot, and then parked this on the hood with the spring detached. looks promising.......
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 01:27 PM
I carryed my hood in the house and put it on blocks and put 60 lbs on both sides for over a month. Didnt do a thing. I use a 3/4 pvc pipe paint black for prop pole. The springs have not been oh the hood for 1.5 yrs.I drive this car alot, and the hood has not flatten hardly any at all. I have heard that if you leave the springs off it would flatten out, I dont thinks so.
Posted By: AAR#2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 03:55 PM
Completely agree that once it's set . . it's not being removed.
Since someone was good enough to leave the hood pins out prior to a drive around town, the backing was busted loose and repaired with a nice fiberglass patch, a piece of angle iron, and a couple bolts. This made the decision easy for me to repair it. I started by making templates traced from the fender contours, and set them the width of the hood, creating a tool to be able to work the hood. Not gonna lie, took me a lot of time and some careful planning to correct the hood, but it turned out VERY well.
The reason the hoods warp is a combination of load, time, and resin cure. When composite parts are cured there is much to consider. Unsure if we had any of it down in the US (or world) in 1970. The basic idea that when a bend angle or contour is layed up and cured, the resin drying (shrinking) closes the angle or contour, even though the tool is trying to keep it in it's perfect form. While each company has their own proprietary formulas for figuring the amount it will close, often trial and error prevail. So if Ma MOPAR would have thought this out better, they would have created a tool that was less contoured than the final desired shape. It was appearent this was not the case when I broke the stiffening structure off the back of mine. I had to clamp it to the tool to get it to come down. Then bonding the structure to the back again, the bonding system helps to account for the variations, leaving me a pretty good hood.
Picture the stresses already in the hood, now add load in the direction the hood wants to bow, over years, with additional curing of the resin system (yes they continue to cure, and become brittle) . . . . bang, big open gap.
Sorry for the long disertation, but figured if you understood why, and were presented with a solution, it's easier to fix.
And if it's warped as hell, all AAR savy will just accept it for being what it is
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 04:13 PM
AMEN
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:36 PM
this is what i love about this site, the 'real world' input from folks. thank you all for your insight on this issue, now i have a much better knowledge of how things are working in that lovely bulge of fiberglass.
well, maybe i will still keep the prop rod, but in your opinions, do you think leaving the really warped side spring out will help at all? maybe i jumped the gun and was just 'optimistic', but it seems to sit a little bit better?
either way, thank you all for chiming in, now it's here for everyone to learn from....
D
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/18/12 05:48 PM
Leaving the springs out has not flatten mine, it may keep it from warping more or cracking
Posted By: AAR#2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/19/12 01:53 AM
Taking the spring out will help take the additional load out of the already warped hood (So you may have a LITTLE less bow in it)
If you fix the bow, leaving the springs out will help keep it its best for a longer period of time, but these hoods are notoriously off, so in my world, any true MOPAR contisour expects to see a bit of warp, a badge of honor so to speak. If perfect, it just doesn't look right to me (as long as you cant see in the engine bay)
You can always try the illusion of adjusting the hood lower at the window, bringing the center lower . . . unsure how bad yours is but sometimes this can help.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/19/12 02:31 AM
Quote:
Taking the spring out will help take the additional load out of the already warped hood (So you may have a LITTLE less bow in it)
If you fix the bow, leaving the springs out will help keep it its best for a longer period of time, but these hoods are notoriously off, so in my world, any true MOPAR contisour expects to see a bit of warp, a badge of honor so to speak. If perfect, it just doesn't look right to me (as long as you cant see in the engine bay)
You can always try the illusion of adjusting the hood lower at the window, bringing the center lower . . . unsure how bad yours is but sometimes this can help.
i am all about the 'badge of honor', and have had to explain to EVERYONE non mopar that "that's the way they all are", lol, but few get it. it doesn't bother me to have some bow at all....
anyway, it was/is very severe. you could see into the engine compartment, and i already have the window edge upper corner 'dipped' down below the driver fender, hence the reason for looking to lessen it a little bit if possible. i don't need it 'flat', just a wee bit better than it was. seems like it will be, without the spring. (may not have anything to do with the actual hood flattening without it in, but just letting it relax onto the car more, who knows, but it does look better to my eye right now, so i will take it....)
thanks for the tips!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/20/12 06:02 PM
well, here we go again. engine back from builder, installed, go for maiden voyage of 15 miles, and drip drip drip. this is ridiculous. i can't believe it ran on the dyno and didn't leak, according to him.
i put dye in the oil, to really confirm the leaking area, (appeared to be rear main), and sure enough, no oil anywhere except coming down from the rear main. so, out it comes again.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/20/12 06:06 PM
one more, looking up at crank......
Posted By: AAR#2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/21/12 03:19 AM
This is testiment to using people you can get to within a 1/2 day drive.
Sorry to hear your having issues.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/21/12 03:43 AM
Quote:
This is testiment to using people you can get to within a 1/2 day drive.
Sorry to hear your having issues.
amen, everyone learn from my mistake PLEASE!
he is no longer returning calls, emails, nothing. he stated in a final email, "the agreement between buyer and seller has been met". eddie haines feels ok about this, ie, 'sleeps at night' knowing he is royally screwing me over after paying top dollar for this engine. it runs great now, but come on. it is far from right at this point, and i was willing to work with him on a resolve. i am a very unhappy customer, for practical reasons, and he is not willing to do anything about it. completely unacceptable behavior as a vendor in my opinion.....
note to everyone, BUYER BEWARE.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:23 PM
well, engine out AGAIN, with no help or response from eddie, it's up to my uncle and i to figure this mess out for now. let's take a look at what is what here...........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:26 PM
seals were offset, no problem there, but the rtv looks a little excessive in my opinion....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:28 PM
the other side. like i said, a little excessive in the rtv, but it supposedly did not leak for two hours during dyno time. still wondering why it would not leak there, but it would in the car after a few miles.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:30 PM
there is definitely a little friend off to the side there. maybe something broke loose and got hung up on the lip/face providing a gap for oil?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:34 PM
this is an aftermarket crank, an eagle. i am not sure where the fel-pro lip seal rides on a factory crank, but on this eagle, it's right at the slinger grooves edge, just barely on them. i still don't understand how lip seals are supposed to seal on a grooved surface, in my mind, lip seals should ride on smooth surfaces, like the other end of the crank. i fought this same issue on my blown pontiac engine too......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 04:41 PM
edited for 'family viewing', (hope it's ok) just a pic (that i REALLY wanted to send to the builder)
showing my feelings about having to dig into a new motor myself, that i paid a poop ton of money for, wear and tear on a freshly resto'd engine compartment, not to mention wrecking the new paint on the engine, oh, and that last little thing, all my money, free time, and patience i had left in me.
such is life, carry on!
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 06:47 PM
There is a thread on hear by Troy , put a ROPE SEAL in it and be done .
Sorry for your troubles .
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...part=1&vc=1
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 06:58 PM
I was just going to post that thread.
Sorry to here of you troubles.....it sucks, I know.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 07:06 PM
Quote:
I was just going to post that thread.
Sorry to here of you troubles.....it sucks, I know.
haha, thanks guys! i was just going to post it up as well, as i learned a lot from your situation troy, and applied it to mine.....
this thread is slightly behind in 'real time', but almost caught up. rope install is next!
Posted By: autoxcuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 08:45 PM
Quote:
I was just going to post that thread.
Sorry to here of you troubles.....it sucks, I know.
You have an Eagle Hemi crank also, correct?
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/26/12 10:26 PM
Quote:
Quote:
I was just going to post that thread.
Sorry to here of you troubles.....it sucks, I know.
You have an Eagle Hemi crank also, correct?
....yep.
Posted By: el hemi
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/27/12 04:26 AM
Sorry to hear about your engine issues. Hang in there! Happenned to us. Thanks to Chuck @ Best Machine in Detroit. You would not believe all the crap he found wrong with the engine. A big name in the business did our motor the first time. My mistake was taking it back to the first shop just like you did. A waste of time and money. Have someone else DO IT RIGHT and forget about it. At least your problems are only with the motor. We had issues with the tranny as well. Thanks to Brewers in Ohio for cleaning up the mess another big name in the business did/didnt do! In both cases the business that mess things royally had a great pitch over the phone. Beware of this. Good luck! Use the winter months to get it all sorted out so you can enjoy your car come the driving season.
Posted By: TheRamMan
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/05/12 03:21 AM
PUT A REAL HEMI POWER BRAKE UNIT..IT WILL COMPLETELY TRANSFORM THE ENGINE BAY...WALK UPS....SEE SHAKER...VALVE COVERS...AND THAT BIG OLE HEMI POWER UNIT
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/14/12 11:48 PM
FINALLY found the last missing piece for the car, an air cleaner element! it is an original, was used, and needed a little tlc, here is the link on what i did to clean it up.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...c=1#Post7503443i think it will make a nice addition to the project, and make it look proper.
boy, i hope someone, some day, starts re-popping these things! it's craziness what people are getting for them on ebay right now. (hell, it's crazy what i paid for a used one! at least it's an original.)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:11 PM
update: new air cleaner assembly project! i found a stage V 2x4 spaced intake fiberglass aar style pan, from
http://www.hybrid-fiberglass-solutions.com/ to put on the car. i never thought i would find something for my mishmash hemi 2x4 (oddspacing) aar application, but low and behold, i guess i am the second person to order one......
just got it, here are the basis of parts for the new setup: new fiberglass base that will be cut to fit, rubber seal, gently used but original six pack filter, and an aar lid with new sticker(s)......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:12 PM
some more shots, one part removed at a time......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:13 PM
some more shots......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:14 PM
some more.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:15 PM
underside.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:16 PM
trimmed as much as i could before hitting carb tops.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 09:21 PM
STILL had to grind like mad on the bottom of the base, actually had to remove the resin enclosed nuts, (for hold down brackets, i won't be doing it that way. holding it down with the lid alone.....), to clear the carbs. i am as low as i can possiblby go, and she sits TALL in there. fellow AAR guys, how high does your air filter sit? i think i am just barely grazing the hood with the air cleaner lid. yi have yet to measure with clay or the sort, but i feel it slightly as i close it. i am hoping when i get some new all thread for studs, that when this is tightened down, it will suck it down another 1/8" inch or so........ thanks for any replies on stock air cleaner height.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:30 PM
here is the clearance grinding i had to do. carbs just barely fit, and on the car everything just barely fits......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:33 PM
passenger side, there is an optical illusion here, it looks like more space than there is. i'd say i have about .100" clearance to top of carb bulge.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:34 PM
driver side, accel. pump linkage just barely clears!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:36 PM
my dr. suess looking carb studs.
maybe not the prettiest, but they function perfectly! i had to favor them both leaning a little forward, the hood was hitting the back of the lid once fully assembled. the pic makes them look like the tops are crooked, but the part where the wing nut goes is nice and straight from the top view........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:37 PM
now off to the parts store to figure out the crankcase breather......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:45 PM
here is what i came up with. the parts guy was nice enough to let me drag the base and breather into the back area, and try some on for size. this one came in black, i think it will work out perfectly for this modded base.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:46 PM
measured it out, used a step drill to bring it out to size, and viola! fits like a dream....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/31/12 11:57 PM
all fabbing work done! all hooked up, bolted down, everything fits, BARELY.
now, i will have my body work friend clean up the sides a bit, (remove the 'glass' texture a bit, smooth it out.) give a decent coat of gloss black, and have him match the AAR lid to the engine and paint that as well.....
all major projects complete! now, onto the TA motor we are going to sell.......
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/25/13 12:11 AM
any updates on this? i've been following it for a while. it's a great car, can't wait to see it finished!
Posted By: Southern Wolf
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/25/13 01:18 AM
Me too were are you killercuda?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/25/13 04:42 AM
Quote:
any updates on this? i've been following it for a while. it's a great car, can't wait to see it finished!
howdy doody folks! not gone, just having a slow period of work on the car right now....
right now, the air cleaner is at the painters getting 'smoothed' on the sides, painted black, and my AAR lid is getting a fresh coat of paint to match the engine.....
i drove the car with the new filter setup on it, and found it to be rubbing a wee bit right at the peak of the lid. this thing is tall! so, i brought it to work, laid it out on the mill, and pocket ported a few areas to fit the carbs, as i trimmed another 1/8" inch off of the carb openings. this in turn, made the carb hit the baseplate in several spots, hence the pocket porting of it after the trimming of the openings.......
so, when that gets back, i will fit it all up, and take some new pics of the one off AAR air filtered hemi!
D
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:25 AM
update! baseplate and lid back from paint, they came out great. i had him 'smooth' out the sides of the baseplate, so it no longer looks like fiberglass, just a shiny, smooth, finish. here are some pics of today's progress!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:26 AM
the lid......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:27 AM
mock up, looking good!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:29 AM
labels! i did a combo for my car, the 'HEMI' logo up top, but the two lower are proper for an AAR. so, just a mash-up on the lid, like the rest of the build!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:30 AM
front shot.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:34 AM
my only complaint about this baseplate, (well, i had to seriously mod it to fit the car, but it is an oddball setup, so i can't complain too much), is that there is no real 'lip' for the gasket to attach to. i only had about a 1/4" on most spots to attach the gasket, which is not a lot, if you look at the side profile of the gasket. so, a lot of patience, a lot of weatherstrip adhesive, and we got it. i'm happy!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:34 AM
side profile......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:38 AM
on the car! (i am on a ladder, the car is up on top of the lift, so excuse the photo quality)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:46 AM
top shot. (excuse the battery, mopar repop is recharging, dang thing went dead reeeeal fast on me while sitting for only a couple weeks. checked electrical, no draw on system with no key on..)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 05:53 AM
full shot.....
all in all? i couldn't be happier with my one of none AAR Hemi Convertible mish mash! i think the engine compartment looks like something that would have been done back in the day. no, it's not the 'real deal', but it's basically done, it's basically paid for, it's mine, and it's a helluva lot of fun to beat on, no trailer queen here....
stay tuned for some more tinkering updates, and thanks for all the words of encouragement, and the help i got here from the wonderful moparts members...
for now? a cold one is in order for this kid!
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 04:58 PM
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 08:19 PM
so she's up and running and driving? how does she run??
and what did you do to sort out the engine issues?
more complete pix when you can as well!
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/22/13 08:33 PM
How is your rear main doing??
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/23/13 01:10 AM
Quote:
Very nice job!!
thanks a bunch!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/23/13 01:27 AM
Quote:
How is your rear main doing??
sadly troy, i did not have as good as luck as you did with the rope. it's not leaking like it was with the lip seal, literally dripping down the cap, and everywhere for that matter, now, it seems to be just 'slinging' it from the crank. full perimeter wet ring inside bellhousing after a drive. it used leak like a sieve just at idle. it doesn't do that now, but when you drive it, it leaks. and leaks enough to make a big freakin' mess everywhere.
i did what i thought was a very careful install, (pulled it though like you) i cleaned the seal journal by pulling through rope until it was clear of any residue. carefully measured new rope by pressing into the cap, trimming, oiling it then pulling it around the crank. carefully dressed the 'frizzy' ends in the block, dressed up the cap half real nice like, drew the cap down evenly by driving both bolts at the same time. no problems with the cap fully seating on the block. thin bead along the parting lines, solid side seals, filled all gaps with rtv, everything i could think of.
but, i was only rewarded with another leak. not sure where to even go at this point, i think the motor needs to come out again, come apart, and get the crank out, and really study things. thinking about polishing the slinger grooves all the way out on the eagle crank, maybe metal spraying the journal to build it back up, then cut/polish it to a smooth finish, to stock diameter.
bummed about tearing the whole damn thing apart for the third freaking time. i am still very pissed off at the builder, eddie haines, for effing me over like this with absolutely NO help, or support.......
do you have any suggestions? any and all welcome at this point.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/23/13 01:35 AM
Quote:
so she's up and running and driving? how does she run??
and what did you do to sort out the engine issues?
more complete pix when you can as well!
hey! well, she runs like a champ. idles at about 750 rpm with a pretty good thump. (roller cam, low 230's intake, high 230's exhaust, @.050, on a 110 lobe sep, high 500's lift.) she's got 3.23's in the back, we knew we were going to do a lot of highway, so we compromised on a more streetable gear versus the 3.91's i had in it. but that being said, she still gets up and goes reeeeeal nice when you put the hammer down! car drives great, sounds awesome with the side exhaust, (crossover, not quite as 'farty' as the small block with no crossover was) and is a general treat to drive. still need to address getting the alignment done, she is a little 'drifty' at higher speeds, not comfortable with that.
only thing, the engine builder is being a dork, and i have to take the engine out and down for a third time to get to the bottom of my rear main leak. we will get there eventually i guess.....
but, all in all, i am happy about our little monster!
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/23/13 10:53 PM
Hi Davey
How many miles do you have on her?? You might just want to drive it and see if things just wear in together.....this does happen and I have seen it happen. Yes it is a mess to clean up but a lot better that ripping it all apart again.
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/25/13 08:01 PM
Quote:
but, all in all, i am happy about our little monster!
good to hear!
post some more complete pictures when you get a chance.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 02/28/13 01:49 AM
Quote:
Hi Davey
How many miles do you have on her?? You might just want to drive it and see if things just wear in together.....this does happen and I have seen it happen. Yes it is a mess to clean up but a lot better that ripping it all apart again.
troy, i've got about 250 to 300 miles on it. hard, mellow, all kinds of driving and rpm's. she's dripping as steady as it was the first day running, so my hopes for it 'breaking' or 'settling' in are starting to vanish. but, i am going to put some more miles on it, before taking it apart again. i just want to drive the dang thing! lol........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 03/10/13 05:49 AM
got the car all cleaned up and detailed for the annual portland roadster show! took it to a friends shop, he let me park her in his showroom until he trailers it down to be loaded in with his cars. good weather today, got a nice drive in, detailed it, and dropped it off. i will post some pics of the show if i get any decent ones.
take care!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 03/18/13 03:09 AM
my uncle and i took third place in our class at the portland roadster show! there was some serious tough competition there. i drove it in, and i drove it home. no trailer here, and that felt pretty dang good. thanks again to everyone who helped me make it all happen with the wonderful tips i got on here at moparts.
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 03/18/13 07:17 PM
Quote:
my uncle and i took third place in our class at the portland roadster show! there was some serious tough competition there. i drove it in, and i drove it home. no trailer here, and that felt pretty dang good. thanks again to everyone who helped me make it all happen with the wonderful tips i got on here at moparts.
congrats!
well deserved, that is an awesome car!
and again, some more pictures would be great! i'd like to see some detail!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/06/13 01:43 AM
hey folks! long time, no see, just been putting some miles on the ol' girl, and breaking her in. here is an update:
i still have a rear main leak with the rope, it has not 'settled in' at all after 750 miles on the clock. (probably 650 on the rope). at some point soon, going to try removing the pan while in the car, and dealing with the rope.....
in other recent news, this weekend, we had our first real heat of the summer, low 80's. she handled the weather just fine below 70, but this is too much, and it over heats.
i am running a us radiators either 'high efficiency' or 'optima' 22" four core, a mister gasket high flow 180 thermostat. like i said, she is rock steady at 180 to 190 all day long idling or not, in cooler weather. but, i tried letting her run longer today. (got hot yesterday too) 40 minutes drive time in, if i am standing still, or feathering along @ 50mph, 1800rpm, she still gets hotter and hotter. pulled in the driveway, 230. let it idle for ten minutes, 250. then i high idled it to move some air, no change. (once she gains a few degrees, there is no coming back down, moving at speed or not.) i shut her down, puke puke puke all over......
so, does anyone have any suggestions for me? i would like to keep it stock appearing, ie, no electrical fans. i know the real hemi's had a 26 radiator, was the core support different? because my opening is only so wide! i am thinking trying a standard thermostat, to maybe slow down the coolant or more time in the radiator. i don't believe it's a flow issue, because even at higher engine speed and car speed, there is no change. if it was flow, it would seem the the more air i moved across it should make a difference. also, i am not really a believer in the 'no thermostat' argument. but, i will try anything at this point!
thanks for any input folks,
D
Posted By: rowin4
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/06/13 04:43 AM
What's your timing set at? could be the cause of your heating problem,also check the radiator cap, might need one with more pressure. I think I would have shut it off at 230 , not 250
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/06/13 05:12 AM
Quote:
What's your timing set at? could be the cause of your heating problem,also check the radiator cap, might need one with more pressure. I think I would have shut it off at 230 , not 250
timing is 10 initial 30 all in. carbs are in tune as well, run in on a dyno, af's checked out across the board. i feel confident it is not the tune. factory style cap, not sure what they were rated at? 15lbs?
yeah, i know i pushed it on the temps, but i already had it at 230 the day before without puking, and i wanted to see if it would peak out temp wise, but it didn't. i cut my losses at 250F.
Posted By: 2fast4yourBrain
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/06/13 03:01 PM
22" kinda small perhaps for that huge Hemi?
How far is the clutch fan to the radiator? may need spacers to get it real close to the rad.
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/06/13 05:31 PM
there are a number of threads out there about putting a 26" radiator in there. i would. you can modify the right radiator support and put the correct one it for the 26", but that is welding work, repainting, etc...
even though 4" or so of the radiator will be blocked from air flow, i think most people have reported success with putting the 26" in.
i did in my b-body, but changed the support. engine was out, so it was a different deal.
i would try something like that first. to me, it's a shame to have a stock looking engine compartment with a big ol aluminum radiator sticking out like a sore thumb. just my opinion though...
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/07/13 02:11 AM
Quote:
22" kinda small perhaps for that huge Hemi?
How far is the clutch fan to the radiator? may need spacers to get it real close to the rad.
well, it's been fine so far, but i see your point as far as size goes. it is a nice four core heavy duty piece......
the fan blades sit an inch inside the shroud, which is what i have always had work best.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/07/13 02:13 AM
Quote:
there are a number of threads out there about putting a 26" radiator in there. i would. you can modify the right radiator support and put the correct one it for the 26", but that is welding work, repainting, etc...
even though 4" or so of the radiator will be blocked from air flow, i think most people have reported success with putting the 26" in.
i did in my b-body, but changed the support. engine was out, so it was a different deal.
i would try something like that first. to me, it's a shame to have a stock looking engine compartment with a big ol aluminum radiator sticking out like a sore thumb. just my opinion though...
thanks! i will do some more research on that mod. hate to spend that much more on a new radiator, but it might come down to that......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/07/13 03:11 AM
so, i have an update:
same heat out today as yesterday, 80 degrees. i pulled the thermostat out, with surprising (to me) results. it cooled MUCH better! after warm up and idling in the sun for 15 minutes, it was @ 175 degrees. small drive to heat soak the motor, same as yesterday, about 25 minutes, and it was riding @ 190 to 195. that is about normal for me. (yesterday, i was 215 and rising by now).
then i pulled over on the side of the road, it got up to 200 to 210 or so, but with high idling, i could see it lower. as soon as i was moving on the road again at about 45 mph, right back down to 175! i then came home, and just let it idle in the sun. it peaked at 224. raised the rpm's up, and it started coming back down. yesterday, nothing would bring it back down.....
so, although it goes against me theory, i believe this is happening:
my radiator IS efficient, but has a smaller area of cooling. therefore, moving the water through it FASTER, was helping to dissipate the heat better than the water moving slower, which would give it more time to dissipate. (in my mind, slower meant cooling it off more. maybe it would in a bigger radiator. but obviously, the motor is heating the water faster than the 22" radiator with a thermostat could cool it. so goes my guess....)
so, i am going to run it like this for now, no thermostat, and see how it goes.....
oh, and a bonus, my damn core support is cracking apart! it appears that someone has already done a half assed braze repair in the past, but who knows. so, not sure how i am going to attack this one yet, thinking of a temp repair for the summer, (which i wasn't going to admit to), but what the heck, i might try it just to see how it goes. i promise it doesn't involve sheet metal screws or duct tape.
thanks for the replies folks!
D
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/22/13 02:34 AM
well, cooling system has been decent, but, that rear main isn't........
soooooo, took the steering linkage down, and off came the pan, and seal cap. (bearing too, wanted to check it, and i may put the mancini one with oil diversion to the front of the engine in it's place). it appears that one end of the rope seal may have just gotten a little too 'frayed' when pulling it through, and i don't think i had enough compression at the parting line when installed. to me, that is good news, as it is most likely the seal causing me grief.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 05/22/13 02:39 AM
i still don' trust the lip seals after two having issues, and i am going with the graphite rope seal this time. cuts nice, installs a bit cleaner in my opinion. (put one in my pontiac, is working great with a troublesome rear main there too). i got this one from best gasket, and it comes with the good fiber side seals too! i made a special tool to actually trim it once it is in the engine, shim stock behind it, and i will trim it against the crank with proper crush height. the cap will be a breeze of course, compared to that operation.......
more to come in a few days......
d
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/21/13 04:12 AM
"i'll never use a lip seal again after having two fail".
famous last words of mine! well, i DID end up using a lip seal again. i could not 'roll' the graphite seal in with the crank installed, (engine in car, oil pan only off this time in car)
so here's how it went. we couldn't get the graphite to roll in, tried several different tools. i like them, have one in my gto that had a pesky leak, and it was the only seal that worked. (engine out 6 times for that one!)
there we were, car apart, seal wouldn't fit, so we started checking the lip out again. i installed the block half, greased the crank, and rotated it. i had a nice witness mark all around, with it just barely riding the 'ridges' and 'smooth' section of the crank. the witness mark was literally half on half off. i lightly rtv'd it all around, spun it in 1/4" offset, just a small dab of rtv on the seams at the outside edge only, and rtv'd the side seals and perimeter of seal cap, and on it went......
oh, the one big change, i used a mancini rear main bearing, the one with v grooves diverting oil to the front of the motor. it is a full groove bearing, not just half groove like the clevites i have in there now. plastigauged for clearance, looked good, so in it went. one other thing, my oil hole was really enlarged in the upper half of that rear bearing that came in the motor, and that main oil feed was the one that was sleeved due to porosity in the block. it has full 3/8"s tube diameter on that main. so, i left the stock oil feed size hole in the mancini bearing, hoping to maybe 'control' oil flow to that main a wee bit. we hoped that the oil diversion, smaller feed hole, and a proper install, might pan out for us this time. i was running out of ideas, so we felt it was time to think outside the box for fun......
all buttoned up, have driven the car for 300 miles on these latest mods, and the result is:
FINALLY A DRY REAR MAIN!!!!!!!!!
very happy about this latest turn of events. more to come.......
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/21/13 08:50 PM
wow! congrats! that is nice to hear.
i forget who, but someone had a one piece main seal on the drawing board. probably would be harder to install with the crank in the block, not sure.
anyway, looks like you are there!
Posted By: Silverbullet2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/21/13 09:49 PM
I was pretty interested in your heating concerns with the Cuda. Especially about how removing the thermostat seemed to cool her down. I've got a 525 hemi in a 68 GTX that seems to be pushing the envelope too. I had the original 2 row radiator rebuilt with a high efficiency 3 row core. A napa jaguar fan clutch, and 160 degree thermostat. It's never boiled or steamed but the gauge will get 2/3 to 3/4 of the way over (Never out of the normal range but close.) and once it gets up there it doesn't wanna come down. I don't like seeing it run that warm. If you guys think removing the thermostat is a good idea I may try it!
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/21/13 10:39 PM
Quote:
I was pretty interested in your heating concerns with the Cuda. Especially about how removing the thermostat seemed to cool her down. I've got a 525 hemi in a 68 GTX that seems to be pushing the envelope too. I had the original 2 row radiator rebuilt with a high efficiency 3 row core. A napa jaguar fan clutch, and 160 degree thermostat. It's never boiled or steamed but the gauge will get 2/3 to 3/4 of the way over (Never out of the normal range but close.) and once it gets up there it doesn't wanna come down. I don't like seeing it run that warm. If you guys think removing the thermostat is a good idea I may try it!
check your gauge first. my factory gauge reads 10-30 degrees high on the top end. new autometer gauge shows 190, factory shows a good 210, sometimes more.
get a solid base first before you make any changes.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/22/13 02:27 AM
Quote:
I was pretty interested in your heating concerns with the Cuda. Especially about how removing the thermostat seemed to cool her down. I've got a 525 hemi in a 68 GTX that seems to be pushing the envelope too. I had the original 2 row radiator rebuilt with a high efficiency 3 row core. A napa jaguar fan clutch, and 160 degree thermostat. It's never boiled or steamed but the gauge will get 2/3 to 3/4 of the way over (Never out of the normal range but close.) and once it gets up there it doesn't wanna come down. I don't like seeing it run that warm. If you guys think removing the thermostat is a good idea I may try it!
well, normally, i would NOT recommend it, but, as i was shown with my car, it actually liked not having one. now with that being said, i am not sure how she will behave when it is colder out. it gets pretty cool here up in the northwest, so i will let her ride this way for now. this winter, i will find out if it can handle it, if i don't experiment before then.....
i think it may just come down to poor flow with the factory style water pump/blades, with the extra demand from the more built motors. i too have a killer four core 22" radiator, and the more water i got through it, (no thermostat), the more the engine liked it.
that being said, i did pick up a new water pump from a company called flowkooler, it has cnc'd blades, supposed to up the ante with water flow. part number 1679 i believe. i thought maybe with that pump, and a high flow thermostat, i might be ok if i need to run one someday. but, i haven't had the heart to take her apart yet, it's summer weather here, (which is short!) and she's runnin' real nice!
if i were you, i would go pick up a couple of gaskets, take that thermostat out, and give it a try! also, my engine builder said he runs all of his hemi motors without one, but he lives in florida. also, he said if i did run one, to run the high flow mr gasket version, which i was.
hope some of this real world feedback helps you!
D
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/22/13 02:33 AM
doh! of course i concur with the above statement, find out what temps you are really dealing with first. (i just assumed)
i used a thermal temp gun on the thermostat itself, among other locations on the motor to confirm the higher heat.
Posted By: Silverbullet2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 06/22/13 11:27 PM
Thanks Mick and Killer! I think I have access to an infared thermomter. Gonna take her for a drive and check her with that first!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 07/27/13 02:09 AM
hey folks! just been putting some serious summer miles on the ol' girl, just rolled 1300 miles on the hemi, and things are still dry underneath, thank the car gods!
one kind of unsettling thing has popped up, a loud lifter noise. started out as 'tick tick tick', then got really audible. i got spooked, so i removed a valve cover, (THAT was fun.....n't.)
she was rtv'd reeeeeal good on there. anyway, exhaust valve on cylinder number two was about .005 out, all the others on the comp hydraulic roller rockers were at zero lash, as recommended per comp cams.
the adjuster was tight, so not really sure why one rocker got loosey goosey on me. i adjusted it, and it sounded fine, but i have a slight 'tick tick tick' again, which scares me a little more. it has stayed steady right where it's at, so i am just going to ride it out, and see what happens. anyone else have an issue like this?
i tried to contact my engine builder with a few questions on troubleshooting/remedies, as it's his engine, he would know, and i thought it a fair question for such an expensive investment. but, eddie haines stuck to his M.O. of not responding to me at all, with any help or suggestions.
HORRIBLE customer service, end rant.
stay tuned for the next adventure!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 08/31/13 08:07 PM
well, my antique auto battery brand mopar replica, (the glass mat version), took a dump on me. it had a loose negative post, and would not hold a charge anymore. it would charge, and show fine, but it would not recover once a load was put on it. crank on it more than a few times, and it would be dead. tried several methods of trying to help it get it's 'memory' back, but to no avail. contacted antique, and they were STELLAR to work with. i was out of the one year warranty, but they said pay for shipping one way, and they would take care of it. got a brand spankin' new battery, and it works great! while it was out, i put in a new battery hold down setup, mine was too short, and was looking it's 40 plus year age, even after refurbing it a bit.........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 08/31/13 08:10 PM
finally found an air filter! it only took me a year plus, but i got a fram for the car, and i will save the factory original filter i have now, for show. who knows, maybe i should pick up one of the new repops too. but dang, that would be a lot of cash spent on air filters!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 08/31/13 08:11 PM
here she is, all dolled up with her new air filter, battery, and hold downs. (still chasing a few valve cover leaks, but aren't all hemi owners doing that?)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/02/13 06:54 AM
hemi down.
as soon as i got her going, another hiccup. started running like crap on the way home from a drive, missing on at least one it felt like, but intermittently. by the time i got home, a steady miss on cylinder one....
checked plugs, ignition, wires, and oh, had lifter noise again. it didn't seem like a slightly out of adjustment lifter could cause this, but i had no other ideas, so off comes the valve cover.....
everything seemed right, zero lash on all holes at tdc. then, i pushed on the exhaust rocker on number one, and it compressed over a 1/4"! it felt like the lifter didn't/wouldn't pump up, and hold oil....
i managed to get the pair of roller rockers out of the head hole with a magnet probe. (wonder if i can get the new pair back in! sure would be nice to not have to tear the top of the engine off). i found a teeny tiny piece of rtv stuck in the oil feed hole. since i have chased this rear main leak so many times, and the engine has been out and apart several times, i must have missed a piece, and somehow it made it past the filter.....
anyway, it appears it got plugged, ran dry, and beat it self up, breaking the valving plate in the lifter, rendering is useless, and not really opening the exhaust valve......
well, at least i figured it out, and hopefully i can get it sorted out quickly......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/02/13 06:57 AM
a close up of the debris, this is a 'macro' pic, it is actually very small......
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/03/13 05:21 AM
.....What brand of lifters are those??? Good luck on the repairs.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/03/13 02:08 PM
Quote:
.....What brand of lifters are those??? Good luck on the repairs.
they are comp 8921's, (i broke the ladder bar off so i could investigate, can't get the plunger out when they are together). it doesn't appear to be any fault of their own, i am hypothesizing that the little piece of chewed up rtv i found in the feed hole starved it out, and that somehow caused the little valving plate to break due to lack of oil, or pump up...
the fun part, will be trying to fish the new set in through the head without taking the intake off, like i got them out!
but hey, i have no rear main leak now! lol.............
Posted By: RoadRunner
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/03/13 10:35 PM
Quote:
Quote:
.....What brand of lifters are those??? Good luck on the repairs.
they are comp 8921's, (i broke the ladder bar off so i could investigate, can't get the plunger out when they are together). it doesn't appear to be any fault of their own, i am hypothesizing that the little piece of chewed up rtv i found in the feed hole starved it out, and that somehow caused the little valving plate to break due to lack of oil, or pump up...
the fun part, will be trying to fish the new set in through the head without taking the intake off, like i got them out!
but hey, i have no rear main leak now! lol.............
If you can get the lifters into the valley through the head, then you can use a magnetic pickup and a 1/4" piece of wood doweling. Use the wood stick like chop sticks to move the lifter into position, then hold it in the bore and pull of the magnetic pickup tool. I have pulled many flat tappets out for inspection and replaced them. I'm not sure what type of chellenges the rollers may add though.
Good luck.
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/04/13 05:47 AM
but hey, i have no rear main leak now! lol............. Very Good!!
Pull the distributor out and feed the lifters through the hole.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/06/13 03:17 AM
good tips, thanks fellas!
parts should be here in a few days, i will let you all know how it goes.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/09/13 03:12 AM
all ready for surgery. dang, i love the looks UNDER these valve covers, wish i could see it while it's running!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/09/13 03:16 AM
here they are, and the tools i hope to get them in with.......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/09/13 03:22 AM
target locale, cylinder number one, off to the left. the exhaust is a shoe in, but that intake one is in a real blind spot.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/09/13 03:26 AM
whew! got 'er done, but not how i envisioned it, just had to roll with it, and do whatever worked. ended up being a mishmash, long needle nose, stainless wire, long screw driver, and multiple lights. finally got them in and seated, all put back together, primed, and fired for a few seconds to verify all was well. all doned up, just waiting for the rtv to dry, and maybe take her for a test drive tomorrow!
Posted By: haddixj
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/09/13 09:30 PM
man your brave if I lost a lifter I would tear the motor down searching and cleaning the whole thing out. Were all the pieces there when you took them out to out the lifter back together?
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/10/13 12:40 AM
Quote:
man your brave if I lost a lifter I would tear the motor down searching and cleaning the whole thing out. Were all the pieces there when you took them out to out the lifter back together?
in short, the only thing i 'lost' was the diaphragm inside the hydraulic roller lifter, it just wouldn't stay pumped up. all the bits from the diaphragm, 4 or 5 pieces, (see pic) were contained inside the lifter still when i took it apart. everything looked perfect, the roller, lifter bore, pushrod cup, pushrod, no marred surfaces, and nothing could get out of the lifter, due to the pushrod covering the hole on top, which also looks perfect....
i too would have torn it down to parade rest if it were an actual metal wear problem on any surface, but it really doesn't appear to be anything like that......
D
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/11/13 04:20 AM
Good Job!! Keep us posted.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/16/13 04:33 AM
got her all back together, and fired her up. i had a real bad miss in the rear cylinders, but couldn't nail it down to one hole by unplugging spark plug wires, so i figured it was fuel related. ran fine under load, but part throttle and idle sucked......
tore the rear carb apart, cleaned it all out, put it back together, and it ran great!
stay tuned for the next un fun filled chapter. pics downloading as i write.....
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/16/13 07:11 PM
Quote:
got her all back together, and fired her up. i had a real bad miss in the rear cylinders, but couldn't nail it down to one hole by unplugging spark plug wires, so i figured it was fuel related. ran fine under load, but part throttle and idle sucked......
tore the rear carb apart, cleaned it all out, put it back together, and it ran great!
stay tuned for the next un fun filled chapter. pics downloading as i write.....
i like the BFH in the picture there, knock some sense into that carburetor! 
Posted By: HEMIDOG 70
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/17/13 01:35 AM
Wow this hemi has really put you through the ringer. I hope she's all sorted out now and you get some good cruising fun before winter. My rear main has a drip too not ready to tackle it yet unless it gets worse. The only thing I've done since the install was check timing, new plugs and lash the valves after running it a few hundred miles. Good luck with the Cuda I hope your good to go now.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:03 AM
man. i don't even know what to say at this point. shifting into second on my test drive after carb tuning, boom, lost a bunch of power. limped it home a few blocks, to find that the number one intake valve is not moving. rockers were, valve wasn't. it pulled the keepers right through it, having broke the tip of the valve off. piston smacked it, and up it went and stuck, bending the exhaust valve too. never seen anything like it to be honest.........
here we go again!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:04 AM
here is the part that broke off. (peen marks in center of valve stem are from me removing it from the head....)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:05 AM
more damage. you can see where it was contacting the piston, like it stretched out before letting go.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:07 AM
the exhaust valve keepers don't look right either, not sure if this is from what happened with the intake hitting it, or if it is on the way out too....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:10 AM
everyone else looks happy, just those two. i wonder if my lifter collapsing effected these two valves somehow? throw your best guesses at it, i am!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:11 AM
my work bench is full again...... (just got it cleaned off!)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:14 AM
keepers were still in place. found the lash cap in the bottom of the head.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:17 AM
chamber looks undamaged, taking it to my local machinist to be checked out though, cracks, valve guides, reassembly, etc.....
Posted By: HEMIDOG 70
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:18 AM
Sorry to hear this. Man this thing is being nasty. Who's valves are you running? Barton used Manley valves in my heads. I can't remember who's locks and retainers I'd have to find the slip. I'm getting nervous reading about all the Hemi issues. Hang in there it has to get better.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 03:19 AM
not really what i planned on thinking about on my vacation i am leaving for in 48 hours...
Posted By: Topcat
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 05:49 PM
I would recommend you get the spark plug tube oil inserts installed on your heads. These help from oil draining into your cylinders whenever you change spark plugs.
Mancini p/n: MIL27500
http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mihehetuseki.html
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/18/13 07:29 PM
wow, so sorry to hear that! try and get done what you can, get it out of your mind, and enjoy your vacation!
see you when you get back!
Posted By: Troy
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/20/13 05:45 AM
Posted By: rdrnr6970
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 09/28/13 08:06 PM
sorry to read this!thats a awesome motor.im sure yull have it running again!
a valve dropped in my 5.7l hemi truck,but off course it was under warranty so they fixed it.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/08/13 01:17 AM
one ever so slightly bent intake valve guide. called stage v, and they sent out a replacement asap......
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/08/13 01:18 AM
the rest of the head checks out ok! very glad about that...
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/08/13 07:06 PM
Posted By: Silverbullet2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/10/13 08:17 PM
Buddy, you have really been through the mill with that engine. Hopefully it was the issue with the hydraulic lifter that caused your valve damage and you are on the downhill side now. That car/motor OWES you a few thousand miles of no hassles/issues driving!
Posted By: 11secaarcuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/11/13 07:42 PM
Quote:
off she goes! at this point, what we were doing for an engine was up in the air. we had the ta block to go together with these parts, but were thinking about going bigger, and putting this engine together to sell for a more deserving car, ie, a real aar or ta. i have checked with barry, it is in fact a cuda engine, but we could not locate the car this engine came out of.
but, this engine is being rebuilt as we speak, and will be for sale to hopefully, a new home in a ta or aar........
Please PM me the VIN # on the block
Posted By: 11secaarcuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/11/13 07:51 PM
Sorry, I just saw it in an earlier post.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 10/26/13 11:35 PM
good as new! got the head back, got her all put back together, and minus a timing snafu which resulted in what sounded like a dead battery/hard cranking, (bumped the dizzy a BUNCH of degrees off and didn't realize/remember doing it), she purrs like a kitten. no more ticky ticky sounds, oil filter looked great after cutting it open as well. i think we are all good mechanically.
also, i managed to find the machine shop that did all the work on my engine, he was really helpful with helping me sort out the head and whatnot. so, let's hope this beast stays together for awhile!
today i am taking it for another test drive, and getting a quote on some paint work for the black areas, (a little rough, would like to bring it up to the caliber of the rest of the car).
stay tuned for the new rear springs/torsion bars/ride height saga!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:32 PM
sooooooo, long story short, this car is low, and i have a hard time driving it without hitting exhaust/tips constantly. if i put people in it, forget a bout it....
i had my original springs re-arched, hot and cold something or other, they said they would be waaaay taller, as they were showing a two inch higher arch than normal when they were done. springs back on the car, and boom. same exact ride height, and i still managed to drag some tips around a corner.
the suspension shop was being very cool with me, but the company they used to re-arch them were not being reasonable at all with the shop. the best they would do, is try to re-work them a bit, with no guarantees, at an additional cost. i was not willing to take another chance of spending more money on the springs, and more R and R at the shop for removal/install.
so, i spent more money, and bought espo's AAR ride height version of leaf's, and while we were there, put in new torsion bars as well......
the front will still be tweaked down about an inch, but the rear is where it is staying.
here it is for now!
new tires are in store as well, as money will allow....
next up, the freshening up of the aging black accents, worn grill, and rework that 'glass hood a bit!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:34 PM
old ride height. looked good, but i could not carry passengers, and it drug all over the place. this car gets driven hard, and it needs to be up to the task!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:37 PM
the grill all stripped out, and getting the car ready for paint. redoing all the black on the car.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:39 PM
this hood is getting a serious makeover as well........
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:42 PM
the rear had cheap, plastic stick on molding for the chrome tail panel surround. ordered up some new trim and clips, and that will get fitted and applied, after the tail panel black is re-shot as well.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:45 PM
some of my grill shots, the paint was bubbling up real bad.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:45 PM
another shot....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:46 PM
some small damage/cracking, but not too bad all things considered....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:47 PM
broken headlight bezel mounts, going to try to repair them....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/02/13 06:52 PM
bob, my painter/friend on the left, who will be doing all the work at his body shop, and my uncle/partner in the car, larry, on the right, going over the plan as i document.
we are doing the chin and rear spoilers as well as all the black accents on the car, including reworking the hood a bit to clean it up as well. this will really finish the car off in our opinions....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/24/13 03:12 PM
car is still away at paint. i got my new tail panel trim, and some new tail light gaskets to bring there, so they can install them after paint.....
also, we got our new wheels and tires! wheel vintique 15x8 rears, and 15x7 fronts, to go with our new goodyear polyglas tires. L60's out back, and F60's up front. can't wait to see what the car looks like with the old school rubber on it!
Posted By: Stewpar
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/24/13 03:16 PM
Quote:
car is still away at paint. i got my new tail panel trim, and some new tail light gaskets to bring there, so they can install them after paint.....
also, we got our new wheels and tires! wheel vintique 15x8 rears, and 15x7 fronts, to go with our new goodyear polyglas tires. L60's out back, and F60's up front. can't wait to see what the car looks like with the old school rubber on it!
It's going to look great, but you had better keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times!!!!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/24/13 04:01 PM
Quote:
It's going to look great, but you had better keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times!!!!
hahaha, yeah, i know that is a possibility, but we both felt the car deserved them. i have heard it both ways, folks saying it is not that big of a big deal driving on them, and others saying they handle like crap.
i will update on the handling once we get it all back together, with some real world comparisons between these and the ta's on there now....
Posted By: Silverbullet2
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 11/25/13 01:51 AM
I ran bias belted tires on my b-body mopars about as long as they were available. I finally tried a set of TA radials in the late 80s. To be honest I just couldn't tell much of a difference. These cars were after all designed for bias ply tires. It'll look and drive fantastic with the new polyglas'!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 05:40 AM
update!
the hood is getting a royal makeover. ends up, there was about .060"s of rattle can paint on this baby. :O so, much stripping, and they got to work on the well worn glass hood.
it's taking shape nicely, and the paint on the fenders/doortops/rear panel are next!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 05:41 AM
another angle....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 05:42 AM
and another.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 05:43 AM
last view, side angle....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 05:45 AM
sneak peek on the new wheel/tire combo, 15x8's out back with L60-15's, and 15x7's up front with F60-15's. can't wait to get this baby back together..... AGAIN!
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 09:09 PM
wow, what a project! this thing has kept you on your toes… but i know the general feeling.
fan belt came off on a 6500 rpm run, and didn't notice until it was 230 degrees. pressure blew my old heater core. so, car is down again!
just gotta laugh, or you'll go crazy, you know?
Posted By: 71TA
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/03/13 11:50 PM
Quote:
sneak peek on the new wheel/tire combo, 15x8's out back with L60-15's, and 15x7's up front with F60-15's. can't wait to get this baby back together..... AGAIN!
I love the look of those old Polyglass but I remember how bad they handled. Might have been that I was a kid and couldn't afford to make sure everything else wasn't worn out. I'd like to put those on my Challenger but...
Let us know how they handle.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:06 PM
black paint goin' on!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:07 PM
front ready too.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:08 PM
grill repaired, spoilers painted, ready for action....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:10 PM
man, this looks SOOOO much better than what was on there. hood looks like steel practically! much better fit and finish than before, but still has that aar 'bulge' we all know and love.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:13 PM
closer shot...
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:15 PM
front end with newly chromed inner trim, new park/blinker lenses, and freshened up grill, she looks fantastic.
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:20 PM
3/4 shot, (top up, 30 degrees here right now!) with new goodyear poly's.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:24 PM
side shot of new goodyears, and ride height with new rear springs. (wee bit high out back, but she might settle a bit). L60's out back fill it up nicely. yes, it's a tad on the 'big and little' look/side of things, but i love it that way. i had bigger tires in the rear before, and wanted them bigger with the new poly's as well.....
Posted By: PasiR
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 05:32 PM
Looks good
Any rear shots?
Posted By: 1972CudaV21
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/26/14 06:45 PM
Love your car man!....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/27/14 12:18 AM
Quote:
Looks good
Any rear shots?
here's a couple of the bum!
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/27/14 12:19 AM
new chrome trim surround as well, in place of the cheap plastic that was there.....
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/27/14 12:20 AM
down loooooooow.
Posted By: mickm
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 01/27/14 09:44 PM
would love to see this car in person! (or, in car….)
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/13/15 08:01 PM
howdy gang, the car has been running great, been to lots of shows, and overall, enjoying it now that all the bugs are sorted for the most part. thought maybe some of you might have some insight, i noticed all my build pics in this thread are now an "attachment" window only, and no pics, without downloading them. any idea why this has changed from how this thread used to be? where you could actually see all the pics on the page? kind of a bummer, it was nice and easy to see the growth, now you have to download every pic. maybe because this thread has been dormant? any ideas welcome!
davey
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/13/15 10:37 PM
It's the site's new upgrade...All old threads are like that...
Posted By: KillerCuda
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/14/15 02:58 AM
thanks for the info!
Posted By: screamindriver
Re: 1970 Hemi 'Cuda AAR Convertible Project........ - 12/14/15 03:16 AM
You're welcome...I've enjoyed following your build...Hopefully there's a future update for the system to recognize the old pics making the wealth of older info a little easier to access...
