FASTBACK340

We have thick, quilted moving blankets and, like on the transmission, old bed comforters laying about to either lay on the floor on or to drape over body or interior components. The trans is just the late-model overdrive unit that comes behind an LS3. The blanket is just out of the way & off the floor.

I agree. About the '55.....

I hate to post this, but next Wed. & Thur. they will begin filming a test pilot for a pitch to a network. I found out this past Thursday that my shop came "THIS CLOSE" to landing a show on The Discovery Channel 4 years ago when they were in the midst of restoring the GTO for the Marine that was killed overseas. The shop is getting a second chance and I get hired on three weeks before THIS goes down! We're a large organization with about 20 people on a daily basis and the clientele is top-shelf. And the cars are drop-dead beautiful. Who knows…. …and I really don't like most of those shows.

The right side of the scatter shield will contact the rear tubes tucking under the car. And the clutch linkage Z bar required multiple trips to the workbench with a vise and a torch to properly index the link to not hit the header tubes…. I used a Dodge Dakota factory "mini" starter for extra physical and heat clearance. Here's the only profile picture I have where you can see the ground clearance with the TTI system. I really didn't like the Centerlines….

When Gary mistakenly referred to Rich as Charlie made me chuckle. Back in the day when Rich was still on Long Island and we all belonged to the LIARS club, most members had endearing nick-names. Rich's name was Rich "Charlie" Manson. Rich, that old Mopar was looking good in the original shade, but I trust your judgement. If the color you changed to didn't look "right" in your minds-eye, then you'd still be searching and not letting a color be drying becuase you had it handy. Interior looks great as usual, no surprises there! What rolling stock you going with?

As a footnote: I was shocked to hear this past Thursday about upcoming plans next week for the shop. Let's just say 4 years ago he just missed out on a show on Discovery channel, now he's getting a second shot at a pitch. Yeah, my worst nightmare might come true. Wouldn't THAT be a kick in the rump about this "great job"?

Sean, I snap pictures at car shows constantly and never worry about plates. They drive the cars on public roads, right? And as far as theft is concerned, most collector cars are better secured than most peoples front door! Besides, go to the link in my signature and go to our Facebook page and there's more pictures. And the owner isn't blocking-out plates so I'm not too concerned. Back to the `55…. Older gentleman, probably in his 60's, as down to earth and youthful in his excitement over his car as any 20 yr. old. Life-long car guy has his dream car….. and you should hear the noises it makes. Ooohhh…..

This rolled in yesterday for some spring maintenance. While I personally don't get excited over tri-five Chevy's, this one was talking to me. 2dr. post: Check 409 w/2 X4's: Check Bench seat w/ a stick: Check Fenderwell Headers: Check Polished Torque Thrust's w/ cheater slicks: OMG…. this thing was sweeeeeeeeeet!

FWIW: With TTI's you still have to pull the center link and slip it between tubes. If your running a scatter shield that and the clutch linkage will give fitment issues too. The HUGE attraction to TTi's are the thick no-leak flanges, quality materials, and they don't hang low. You still have to " install" them....

The `Cuda is loosely based on the `68 due to the flat header panel, but yet has a GTO hood scoop. The rear side window openings look like they were cut using a hacksaw, and the windshield is waaaay too high. <sigh….> Too bad it wasn't stock like the Chevelle & the others...

Hi, remember this build? I'm back… Tonight I tested the fitment of the interior, chassis, and body. Sweet. Kinda set-up the suspension to check the ride height and half-heartedly installed the engine. I love it.

If your referring to my picture of the modified Hemi headers they are undercar, as mentioned in the thread topic. For fender well headers, the Johann '64 Dodge is your kit. As for big block A body headers, I think TTI are the only company making Mopar headers that are worth buying because of their quality and they fit well. Doug's makes a good small block header that tucks up nice. Hookers are a perfectly good waste of almost $400. They hang so low it almost makes the car a slot-car.

I had been Hybrid certified by Nissan for both product lines. Never saw ONE come in the shop…. People stayed away (thankfully) in DROVES. And the funny thing is it's Toyota's system! Same system they use in their golf carts, er… I mean "cars". The warranty time for replacing an entire headliner in a G37 convertible is .7. In flat-rate language 7 tenths of an hour, which translates into not quite 45 minutes. The headliner…. In a convertible…. Clean,Clean, CLEAN work, no finger prints as the headliners are beige-ish/white. Loose-Loose….. Takes at least 2 hours to do it right. And yes, the more you know, the worst off you are. Your in Hell everyday while the know-nothings rake in the easy work. I'm done with it. Today I spent all day pulling a radiator out of a Corvette and getting a barn-find Camaro running before it gets dismantled. The Camaro is a `69 Ragtop in the Pace Car colors with the checkered houndstooth interior. I'm not sure if it's a real-deal Pace Car or a replica, but it IS getting a ground-up resto. I'm really liking the new gig. REALLY liking it…..

Good luck on the procedure hope all goes well. As for the `Cuda, wow! Nice paint and foil work! And the 383 is going to make it unique. Looking forward to future updates as your able to.

I modified a set of the Hemi headers for use on my small block and they look like they're going to work out fine.

I remember seeing a stock Black one at Maple Grove way-back in the 90's at the Vintage Drags they hosted then. Really stood out in that environment.

I've done the dealer-dance since I was in my late teens. I got an early start with Porsche/Audi and just stayed with it until Infiniti. Granted, when it was "good" I would earn 55-80 hours pay on a 45-50 hour week. Nice money, which was good when I was restoring the `Cuda and putting the house together. I'm approaching retirement in 10 years…. I'm kind of liking the idea of settling in at a slower-paced, quality shop and doing really cool stuff with really cool cars. This job is a big deal for me, this is a NICE place! And as for the "blood money" I'm missing, it's just not there anymore. Those easy-money days are over at the dealer level….. and I'm glad I cashed-in when I did.

Yeah, the rats nest is being yanked out. In there is a BRAND NEW Painless harness installed by a "professional" whom was arrested, thrown in re-hab, and in return created a nightmare for the owner of this cross-dressing Mopar to get his car out of the shop. Starting from scratch with a new harness makes it a 2 day job.

I can post pictures of my boy all day long…. Love him dearly!

We already told the customer that. And the Charger I'm re-wiring we're starting with a fresh Painless kit, as the original Painless kit was hacked to the point of being useless….. Like I posted in the Mutant Mopar popst, lots retired drag cars being converted to "street" use. Lotsa re-wire jobs in my future…… BUT: My Boss charges accordingly. That allows me the luxury of doing an involved job at a more relaxed pace without the constant "are you done yet!?!?!" mentality of a new car dealership. I feel like I'm slacking-off and yet my Boss is very happy with my work so far. It's going to be a hard re-adjustment for me…..

Yes, the engine compartment was removed from the Dart donor kit, as will the wipers and door handles. The Revell Dart kit is essential in doing an early Mopar annual upgrade from those crude AMT offering from the 60's. Yesterday my plans changed at the last minute, but after I get back from food shopping this morning we get back to the `68 `Cuda. The new job is uber-cool. In the 1:1 Car Reference section I have a few posts on the shop projects I'm involved with.

Thanks guys! The new job has me working an hour later than I'm accustomed to so I get home a little later…. which has the domino effect of shifting everything off of our normal routine. Some nights by the time Amy makes it home from Manhattan we're having dinner at 8:00 PM! Clean up, feed the dog, etc. and who has time. I have to get a new routine! So far we got the engine compartment installed, some harnesses routed, I fab'ed up a heat shield for my master cylinder, which gets installed and plumbed next. I made the MSD 6AL ignition box, but botched the decal job. That's getting done over. I also have to make an aluminum radiator cap and coolant recovery tank. Then we drop in the engine….. Here's a few shots from earlier

But…... TWELVE DOLLARS for a resin re-pop of the dime-a-dozen AMT pro-street rear clip?!? If you need one that bad, send PM me your mailing address. $12…. Sheeeesh! That's a good breakfast here in NYC!

…. is that a good portion of our shops repair work is other shops mistakes, especially when it comes to wiring. Here's a `79 Vette that was converted to a one-wire alternator system, done for only the reasons decided in the customers mind. And here's the resulting harness melt-down from another shop. Pretty nice car. The owner is nuts in love with it and has given us carte-blanch to "make it right". Bless his soul…..

Here's one that rolled into the shop that made me gag a bit, but it's a neat Hot Rod. 1969 Charger stuffed with 500 cubes of Scott Schafiroff big block Chevy running 2 stages of nitrous. Ever since Long Island Dragway closed down there's a whole bunch of former bracket cars getting wired for lights and being driven on the street. This is a complete re-wire. I opened the drivers door and found this…... Why do guys wired race cars like a grenade? How much longer, or harder, is it to DO IT RIGHT!?!? ​Needless to say, I'll be installing a Painless wiring kit to make it, er…. "Street Legal". With no wipers….defrosters…..heater…. etc. And here's the perversion: I can see doing this to a Satellite or a Belvedere…. but a Charger? <sigh…> Having a hard time rationalizing this guys decision to cut up a popular car for a race car, but hey…. his money pays my bills as well as a true Mopar enthusiast!