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I have noticed that there is a reoccurring theme that is taking place with one particular person on this thread. It is not how “correct” the car is but how perfectly we have come to duplicating the original characteristics. I am confident that we have accomplished that objective with about 95-96% accuracy. My analogy of “signing your own name the exact same way twice” is a good example of just how hard it is to duplicate anything exactly. This is even more evident when you try to recreate someone else’s spray paint patterns while having to manipulate the exact amount of paint that is coming out of the gun. There are others who have posted pictures of their work and received instant praise for the appearance and what was accomplished. Rightfully so! With my car (and this person) pictures that we post are followed by a demand for pictorial proof so credibility can be established. Double standards certainly seem to be the norm for some but keep in mind that everything we have done to this Challenger has been thought thru completely. I can assure that certain “individual” that we did not simply overlook the correct spray pattern of the entire trunk area. The car is correct for what it represents. It is hard enough to do an OE level restoration on a vehicle. Compound that difficulty with having to match about 10,000 original characteristics as closely as possible! Even if it the car does not walk it’s own footprint with 100% exacting detail, it is still WELL within the range of being a factory appearing vehicle. Having to prove every little aspect to someone who is just hoping for some kind of mistake or hiccup was not the intent of this thread.
Please correct me if I am wrong Mr. Blues Cuda.....Scott.

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Incredible job on this one. Regarding the exact details and spray patterns, it is unlikely two cars ever came from the factory exactly the same in regards to paint, undercoating, overspray, spray patterns etc. As a design Engineer in the Automotive world today I can tell you that details, inspections marks, patterns etc. change on a daily and monthly basis and from operator to operator. If we have a specific defect or quality issue we are tracking we may add an inspection mark to the product, but that mark may only last a month, if someone restores the car 30 years from now which will be correct? Of course both will be, but which will be accepted, probably the one discovered first. There is also a huge difference from first to second shift in terms of technique, quality at times, defect rates, inspection marks etc. most of this can be contributed to experienced operators are on first while less experienced and new hires are on second and third, also first has the full management, technical and Engineering staff in the plant while the off-shifts have a skeletal staff. With todays technology, vision system inspections and PLC controlled and Robotic process we still have variations, when our Mopars were built we had much more human influence on the process which opens the door for differences in detail.

The best way to determine correct features on a particular model is to study several original and survivor cars and find a common theme and not take one nice car and determine that every 71 Cuda (for example) was built exactly like this, regardless of who was on the line, what month or suppliers were involved. If we start down the road that every Cuda has this detail, every Challenger that and every 69 Road Runner must be like this, then we will turn into the Bloomington Corvette crowd and have cookie cutter restorations rather than exact restorations of the actual car being restored. On cars that are so far gone that the original details are lost, then it is time to study several originals, take note of the details, create a common theme and pattern by averaging the details of the study group and build your car accordingly with the research and photos to back it up.

The car in this picture is an excellent representation of the cars on the lot when new, keep up the great work.

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I have noticed that there is a reoccurring theme that is taking place with one particular person on this thread. It is not how “correct” the car is but how perfectly we have come to duplicating the original characteristics. I am confident that we have accomplished that objective with about 95-96% accuracy. My analogy of “signing your own name the exact same way twice” is a good example of just how hard it is to duplicate anything exactly. This is even more evident when you try to recreate someone else’s spray paint patterns while having to manipulate the exact amount of paint that is coming out of the gun. There are others who have posted pictures of their work and received instant praise for the appearance and what was accomplished. Rightfully so! With my car (and this person) pictures that we post are followed by a demand for pictorial proof so credibility can be established. Double standards certainly seem to be the norm for some but keep in mind that everything we have done to this Challenger has been thought thru completely. I can assure that certain “individual” that we did not simply overlook the correct spray pattern of the entire trunk area. The car is correct for what it represents. It is hard enough to do an OE level restoration on a vehicle. Compound that difficulty with having to match about 10,000 original characteristics as closely as possible! Even if it the car does not walk it’s own footprint with 100% exacting detail, it is still WELL within the range of being a factory appearing vehicle. Having to prove every little aspect to someone who is just hoping for some kind of mistake or hiccup was not the intent of this thread.
Please correct me if I am wrong Mr. Blues Cuda.....Scott.

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Incredible job on this one. Regarding the exact details and spray patterns, it is unlikely two cars ever came from the factory exactly the same in regards to paint, undercoating, overspray, spray patterns etc. As a design Engineer in the Automotive world today I can tell you that details, inspections marks, patterns etc. change on a daily and monthly basis and from operator to operator. If we have a specific defect or quality issue we are tracking we may add an inspection mark to the product, but that mark may only last a month, if someone restores the car 30 years from now which will be correct? Of course both will be, but which will be accepted, probably the one discovered first. There is also a huge difference from first to second shift in terms of technique, quality at times, defect rates, inspection marks etc. most of this can be contributed to experienced operators are on first while less experienced and new hires are on second and third, also first has the full management, technical and Engineering staff in the plant while the off-shifts have a skeletal staff. With todays technology, vision system inspections and PLC controlled and Robotic process we still have variations, when our Mopars were built we had much more human influence on the process which opens the door for differences in detail.

The best way to determine correct features on a particular model is to study several original and survivor cars and find a common theme and not take one nice car and determine that every 71 Cuda (for example) was built exactly like this, regardless of who was on the line, what month or suppliers were involved. If we start down the road that every Cuda has this detail, every Challenger that and every 69 Road Runner must be like this, then we will turn into the Bloomington Corvette crowd and have cookie cutter restorations rather than exact restorations of the actual car being restored. On cars that are so far gone that the original details are lost, then it is time to study several originals, take note of the details, create a common theme and pattern by averaging the details of the study group and build your car accordingly with the research and photos to back it up.

The car in this picture is an excellent representation of the cars on the lot when new, keep up the great work.

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Dave, Fantastic job on the car!

In an earlier post you claimed to not have used any reproduction parts. Does this mean you came up with an NOS battery? I'd like to see a picture of the baked bubbley primer residue you must have recreated on the battery tray.
Also, curious what type of paint you used.
Thanks!

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Dave, Fantastic job on the car!

In an earlier post you claimed to not have used any reproduction parts. Does this mean you came up with an NOS battery? I'd like to see a picture of the baked bubbley primer residue you must have recreated on the battery tray.
Also, curious what type of paint you used.
Thanks!

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I also asked about the battery several posts ago, but there was no response. I know there are some originals around that could probably be "restored". I would also love to see a close up of both sides of the trunk mat.

Also as it pertains to the engine. Does the motor have the original pistons and bearings?? Does it have a nylon cam gear and link chain like the originals had. Does it use a rope rear main seal and a leather front damper hub seal?? Is it using an NOS(or original) cam and lifter set?? Let's get some details about the engine build for the gearheads like myself.

MB

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I have found NOS date specific batteries for my GM and Ford cars but have had one heck of a time trying to locate a correct Chrysler style. Does anyone have an opinion or information as to why they are so hard to find?
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Also as it pertains to the engine. Does the motor have the original pistons and bearings?? Does it have a nylon cam gear and link chain like the originals had. Does it use a rope rear main seal and a leather front damper hub seal?? Is it using an NOS(or original) cam and lifter set?? Let's get some details about the engine build for the gearheads like myself.

MB

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Great stuff.
What an amazing job. I wouldn't give a hoot about those guys that are ridin' you for some of the details. Keep posting pics and info for those of us who enjoy seeing the results of your efforts.

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Thanks for the input Rob! There is a very, very, very small segment that have a problem with what we are doing or (in actuality) the way we describe what we have accomplished. Ed Norton on the "Honeymooners" had a problem with being called a "sewer worker". He relabeled his position as "an underground engineer." Same exact job, but calling it something other than what it was made him feel better. To help those negative people who need to feel better about our project, let me go on record by saying:

*We have screwed up this project 98.9% and haven't come close to restoring a factory correct vehicle!

*All the features of the car look home made!

*The details fall far short of what we intended them to be!

*Many of the parts are reworked reproduction junk!

Maybe now EVERYONE can feel comfortable with the specifics regarding this thread. Lord knows classifying things for what they are really seem to offend some folks.

(Sorry to deviate from the post Rob....here are a few more pics.)

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not to pick ,but the heater hoses almost look TO GOOD

You can tell in the picture the OE 's were stamped / and look smeared as opposed the stenciled look on the repops shown

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You think it looks TO GOOD? Im stayin' out of it.

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not to pick ,but the heater hoses almost look TO GOOD

You can tell in the picture the OE 's were stamped / and look smeared as opposed the stenciled look on the repops shown

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I have to say, I agree. Don't get me wrong it looks good, but I wonder if you could smear it a little

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not to pick ,but the heater hoses almost look TO GOOD

You can tell in the picture the OE 's were stamped / and look smeared as opposed the stenciled look on the repops shown

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I have to say, I agree. Don't get me wrong it looks good, but I wonder if you could smear it a little

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Beam me up Scotty!Wow something must have happened when I was teleported back,I didn't look this good in 1970.

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I think to fully get an idea of what is created, some imagination must be used. I am sure engine heat and years must take a toll on many original markings.

Ever see a tattoo on an old person?

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I never did see a good tatoo on a old person,but anyways does heat make the numbers move or up or down so that they are not in line any more,my engine must have got really hot because my VIN stamped on my trunk gutter is really crooked and smeared.