1972 Plymouth 'cuda

[nails3825]

Darn fine work!

What type of sanding sticks do you use? I have a heck of a time with body work.

Thanks! I'm using sanding sticks from Stevens International... bought them at a LHS for under 10 bucks for a four pack (150,240,320 and 600 Grit)

[Nick Notarangelo]

Nice work so far!

[nails3825]

Thanks riknight I got some work done in the last couple of days, here's some updated photos... a lot of "first attempts" going on with this build ~ it's a great learning experience for me, regardless of how it turns out.

The vinyl roof ~ this is my first attempt at such a thing but it was actually pretty easy to do. I taped off the roof line and used the spray adhesive method, which worked very well. Then I used thread to create the seam lines, here's the result.

I also re-scribed the bottom of the door line(as best as I could) and replaced the trim that was sanded away. It's just a piece of .020 syrene rod, for those of you paying attention

The headlights were a mess, a lot of glue and chunks of plastic... so I just drilled them out. Hopefully what I have planned to replace these will work, and look a lot better than the chrome plated orignals that were there. Only time will tell, I haven't gotten to that point yet

I then gave the body a light sanding and primed the whole thing once again... it's now ready for paint ~ Which was done today using Testors "model master" panther pink Here's the end result ~

Of course I still have a lot of work to do but I'm happy with how it's coming along. I'm going to let the paint "cure" for a few weeks and then try my luck with the polishing, something I don't normally do... but I need to learn. Then I'll paint the vinyl top white and do the trim work. Hope you like it so far! Thanks for looking Any comments, critism, suggestions, tips or ideas are much appreciated/anticipated... haha.

[59 Impala]

I just found this thread and am I very impressed. James you have done an excellent job on restoring this car. One thing though, I think you should have painted the top first and then masked it off. The Pink might bleed thru when you paint the white. Also, in the pic it looks like you haven't rescribed the trim around the window. I would have done that before painting. Are you going to use bare metal foil for the trim? I do really like what you've done so far. She looks great. Dan

[Nick Notarangelo]

Ahh nothing like making the yard queen look good again.

[toplessfury]

man that thing is really nice

[AlanNZ]

Wicked colour! I think Ford had a similar colour here in the early '70s called something like "Wild Cherry"

[nails3825]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments! I haven't been around lately but finally had a chance to do some work on this beast Spend the day working on the interior, which I might say was a "PITA" The yellow plastic seemed to bleed through the white spray paint, even after five coats??? Now I'm seriously worried about painting the vinyl top... as Dan mentioned. I'll just worry about that when the time comes

I used sandpaper to make the speakers, cut to size ~ as well as some floormats... a pencil to draw in the 'cuda door emblems and the detail on the back of the front seats, also flocked the floor to give it that fuzzy look (another first for me) I used BMF for the door handles and window cranks... not to mention the gas and break pedals, with some paint rubbed in to add more detail.

(blur blur... ramble ramble)

Anyway, here's some progress photos...

As for the steering wheel... I tried to drill out the holes for a more realistic look but failed I also wrapped wire around the column to better resemble that thing you see on 'cuda steering wheel columns... also added a turn signal lever?

And here it is with everything together...

Thanks for looking! I plan to buff and polish out the body sometime this week... wish me luck

[nails3825]

Well, I got the body polished... and painted the roof white. I tried to do some trim work as well but my BMF doesn't seem to be sticking too well, so it goes. It's over twelve years old... does it have an expiration date?

I'll just have to buy some new stuff and try again later. Here's my progress so far...

I also scribed the rear window molding out and penciled in the panel lines on the body... so far so good, I think. The BMF bugs me though ~ it's just not sticky anymore? Oh well...

Thanks for looking

[KENNEDYJR]

That's a big project for sure but it's worth it for nostalgia sake. I have a 71 Satellite from my youth with the body in 3 pieces that I am debating giving a rebuild as well. This thread and your work in it makes me want to get started.

[Agent G]

Looking real good!

Next time "prime" the colored plastic with a silver colored paint. The metallic particles in a good quality silver enamel or laquer will block the bleedthrough. White will go on just fine then.

G

[mopar01lee]

That looks good....love the color... im kinda doin the same resto on my 73 prostreet cuda.....

i do like what you have done... keep it up...

[charlie8575]

Nice work! That color combination is superb, and I really like the vinyl top method. How long does that spray adhesive take to set up and which one did you use?

Charlie Larkin

[nails3825]

Thank you for the motivation (comments) guys I've been trying to do the trim work on this thing for the past two days but it's gotten me a bit flustered... never have I had so much trouble with BMF ~ it just isn't sticking the way it used to? I've been using metal duct tape instead and had a little success, but the progress is going slow. Hopefully I can get some photos posted within the week to show what's been done

Charlie, I used 3M "general purpose" adhesive spray for the roof... just because it was cheaper. It sets up pretty good within a few days but you have to be careful not to put too much pressure on it when you touch it, as I have found. I'm sure the more expensive adhesive spray would work better (dry harder) but the cheap stuff works fine in my opinion

[Reliable Resin]

wow ... that's some reserection project you have there

[RodneyBad]

That is some Great restoration work.

top and paint looks Fantastic.

Great work..

[caine440]

Man!

That is fine work!

The details are looking awesume!

[mopar01lee]

hey my 73 cuda maybe faster but yours has got a lot of class......lookin real sharp...keep it commin

[nails3825]

Hey guys, once again thank you for the comments I finished most of the trim work over the last few days... still need to do the fenders and paint the front end but I couldn't wait to show the progress! Plus it was a nice day to take (outside) photos

That's it for now... I have an interesting idea to replicate the window seals using black modeling clay, but we all know how "ideas" usually go Guess there's only one way to see how it works.

Thanks for looking!

[rustybill1960]

:D

VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE JAMES!!!!

I like what you have accomplished with this re-build!

I have heard about the 3M spray as another option, glad to see how it worked! Great!

I have also heard that BMF does have an expiration date, in that the adhesive does weaken with time and, that long term storage should be refrigerated. i have had some pretty old BMF that just would not stick to anything at all once I pulled it off the backing.

Like your colour choices for the build! Great!

What type of rims will you use?

I have one last 'cuda to build yet, gonna do it Cherry Red with the white interior.

Thank You for sharing

later

Russ

[nails3825]

A shameless "bump"

Anyway, I haven't been doing much with this build lately... life is sort of getting in the way. I was going to add those white stripes (decals) to the side of it but I'm not sure ~ what do you guys think?

[toplessfury]

i would leave it just like it is! it has a clean look to and if you add the stripes i think it will take away from the look of it.thats just my opinion

[nails3825]

i would leave it just like it is! it has a clean look to and if you add the stripes i think it will take away from the look of it.thats just my opinion

Thanks Jamie, I was thinking the same thing...

I was able to do some work during the weekend, nothing major... just painted the front end and added the headlights. Still needs cleaned up and a few little details but here's the progress.

I ran out of masking tape, the only tape I had on hand was electrical tape

The paint is satin nickel, I painted it silver first but figured it was too bright a color when compairing it to the reference photos. I then painted the headlight area flat black, used pins for the headlight bulbs and put them in place... I'll be using clear nail polish for the lenses.

Also painted the trim around the grill red, still need to add the chrome around the headlights and grill... but right now I don't have any BMF and the metal duct tape I was using for the window trim is much too thick.

Here it is with the hood and bumber You can see where I need to clean it up but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

Thanks for looking!

[HotRodAlex]

Looks really good on the work...But i was the same way when I was that age But keep us posted

[toplessfury]

looking great man keep it up.