71 Cuda SRT-10 (Update 5-12)

[cderekw]

So, this is my 3rd build following 2 Mustangs. I'm really enjoying this. I promised to post this a few days ago, but work just hasn't allowed me to do that or to make very much progress on this build thus far. BUT! I got out of work early today so I had a few spare minutes to work on the build and take some pics to post.

So first off I sprayed the body once and then i decided that I wanted a "cleaner" look, so I ordered some putty and styrene and some sandpaper. I'm getting rid of the marker lights, door handles and the mold lines from the roof to the quarter panels. This is my first time working with putty so I hope it works out. Once everything is sanded I'll repaint the body, but for now this is how she sits.

The front bumper and grill is pretty much done, got a couple of things I need to touch up. Thought about going from the back and actually sanding out the grill inserts and adding mesh, but for this build I'll leave it as is.

Also got the engine assembled and wired up (in the correct firing order, I think)...had fun with that. I painted to block red and I tried to mix up a Hemi Orange for the oil pan. I know it's not historically correct, but that's not what I'm going for. Just doing what I think looks nice for now.

Ahh, and the chassis, it's painted and I painted to molded in fuel and brake lines, too. Still have to paint the exhaust pipes, though. I'm waiting on the brake discs and calipers and wheels to get in so I can get to work on those. Thought about ordering the scale 23" wheels to put on the back but that would mean lowering the axles and tubbing it out, want to research and practice more before I get in to that.

And when I build I have a few curious (sometimes) onlookers from 1 of my 4 fish tanks through out the house.

If anyone has any tips for me....please....tell me. Also, I want to do a pretty detailed interior but I don't really know where to get the decals and stuff for the gauges...so if anyone can point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for looking. Hopefully I can find some time somewhere in a dark dusty hole or under the couch cushions to work on this beauty some more and finish here up and move to the next one.

Edited May 12, 2012 by cderekw

[Bonekrosha]

The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Counter-clockwise rotation.

Looks nice!

[cderekw]

The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Counter-clockwise rotation.

Looks nice!

Well, I got the firing order wrong. I searched the web for a while and what I found more than anything else was apparanly wrong. I really don't know as much as I should about cars once you get under the hood, but I'm learning. Hopefully soon I can get to work on my 1:1 real life project of fixing up the 5.9 R/T Dakota a lil' bit.

[Dr. Cranky]

Charles, I like how you brought out those lines. Very nice. Keep it going.

[george 53]

Not to be picky, but if your GOING to draw attention to the chassis with extra detailing, you need to remove the company trademarks from the chassis, it'll clean up that chassis, and WON'T draw attention from all your nice detail painting. This is NOT a dig, just some free advice. Your doin a GREAT job so far!

Edited April 3, 2012 by george 53

[Bonekrosha]

I always loved those Dakota RT's.

I had a 98 dakota and my wife had a 2003 Quad-Cab.

The firing order for all Big Block Mopars is the 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 in that counter-clockwise rotation.

Small & Big Block Chevies have the same firing order but the distributor turns clockwise.

I was getting my 440 powered 69 Road Runner ready to fire, got everything done, ready to go.

I turned the key and it just sputtered and coughed.

After about 30 minutes of fooling around with timing, chasing wires & spark, etc. I discovered the problem...

I was working in a race engine shop and had been doing mostly chevy motors.

When I set up the plug wires on my 440, I used the correct firing order but I forgot that Mopars turned the other way!

Switched 'em back around and presto, the motor roared.

[zaina]

everythings lookin really good so far. one tip thought, when you put the two block halfs together put a little extra glue in there so that it seeps out, then sand the seems smooth. this makes the seems disappear and make it look a little more realistic. as far as the interior goes, this kit doesnt have much for details, some flocking for the carpet and a little detail painting goes a long ways. im a actually building this kit right now and also going to paint it yellow (making it more stock with steel wheels and dog dish caps). maybe in the next couple of days i will get some pics up and show you how i did the gauges...just used a silver sharpy, then a black wash over the top leaving the raised area silver. keep up the good work.

andy

[cderekw]

everythings lookin really good so far. one tip thought, when you put the two block halfs together put a little extra glue in there so that it seeps out, then sand the seems smooth. this makes the seems disappear and make it look a little more realistic. as far as the interior goes, this kit doesnt have much for details, some flocking for the carpet and a little detail painting goes a long ways. im a actually building this kit right now and also going to paint it yellow (making it more stock with steel wheels and dog dish caps). maybe in the next couple of days i will get some pics up and show you how i did the gauges...just used a silver sharpy, then a black wash over the top leaving the raised area silver. keep up the good work.

andy

[cderekw]

Thanks man. I've been dying to find a way to get some detail in those gauges. I think ill do some seat belts with this one though. Also thinking about doing a viper-ish style hood scoop on this but Idk if that will work out for me.

[cderekw]

Well I'm changing it up a bit. Ordered the p/e kit for it and got a Viper ACR kit to use as a donor kit. Plan on using these parts from the Viper: Motor. Trans. Wheels. Suspension. Seats. Part of the dash. Steering wheel. Rear suspension and axles. Maybe the tail lights and part of the hood. I figure I'll be in it for a while so I'm gonna do it up the way I would want a real one if money was np issue.

[zaina]

here is the pic of my cuda's dash

also a pic of the dash on the nova that im working on

hope this helps

[geordie]

Good work.....I like the gauge detail

[cderekw]

here is the pic of my cuda's dash

also a pic of the dash on the nova that im working on

hope this helps

How did you do/where did you get those gauge decals?

[martinfan5]

I think they come with the kit, I know the 70 challenger kit comes with gauge decals

[zaina]

No decals just detail painting. Just color everything with a silver sharpie and then go back with a black wash. The raised areas will stay silver. Then paint the needles red with a toothpick

[martinfan5]

Wow, thats some good work on the guages then

[cderekw]

Well, I like I said before I ordered the Revell Viper ACR kit, got home today and had a package at the front door, I opened it up and it was a kit....just not the Viper kit I've been waiting on so I can continue this build, instead it was a '69 Camaro SS 427 Baldwin Motion kit. I called the company I ordered it from and told them what happened and they said just to keep the Camaro and they'll send me the Viper also since the mistake was on their end instead of mine. WIN. So now while I wait on this Viper I'll start on this Camaro. Good Day.

[cderekw]

Well after some downtime on model work I have gotten some done since my last post on this. Also been working on the Camaro kit.

So upon deciding to drop the Viper Motor in this thing, I decided on a lot of other changes, too. Gonna co with chrome-less bumpers, sanded out the grill openings so I can add mesh, starting getting everything set up to transplant the scoop from the viper hood onto the cuda hood and bought some things for this car. I ordered some Pegasus Torque T's in 23's for the rear and 19's for the front, the challenge will be getting them to fit and lowering the car as well.

One huge inspiration for this build is David Thibodeau's 71 Charger "GTS" Pro Tour Build which can be found here: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18678

That guy does magical things.

So here is the front end with the chrome bumper removed, it's getting ready for paint, and the grill openings sanded out from the back.

Here is the Viper engine in early stages of assemble, the valve covers aren't glued on, still need some work on those. Ive drilled my 5 holes on each side for the plug wires and I've done my research and got the proper firing order for this beast. Although I will have to scratch build the distributor, just can't seem to find any good pictures of a 1:1 distributor to go by, would love some help on that. I plan on doing and engine shroud for this, so the distributor probably won't be seen on the finished build, but I'll know it's there and it's good practice.

Here's the plug wires and boots for one side.

These are the SRT wheels that came with the Viper donor kit, not gonna use these on this build, but I will save them for a future build of another mopar.

And here's the Viper hood, the highlighted area is what I'm going to cut out and graft on to the Cuda hood once I get a chance to pick up a cutting disc for the dremel.

And this is the Cuda hood with a rough outline of where the Viper Scoop will go on it, I'm gonna sand off the Plymouth logo and the hood pins for a cleaner look with the Viper hood.

I'm trying to find somewhere that has the billboard decals for the 71 Cuda in vinyl rather than waterslide. It would be great to get a negative cut of the decal so I can paint it on rather than use the decal.

[Hedgehog]

The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Counter-clockwise rotation.

Looks nice!

Ehhh guys I happen to have not enough knowledge (yet) of what and how the firing system works. Can someone explain this to me please so I can start working in detailing my engines. Thank u

[cderekw]

Ehhh guys I happen to have not enough knowledge (yet) of what and how the firing system works. Can someone explain this to me please so I can start working in detailing my engines. Thank u

Their is a lot of great stuff in the "How Do I?" forum, also check out the tips and tutorials section, too.

[brodie_83]

This looks to be a very interesting build. Great work so far!

[cderekw]

Today, I've got the engine wired and assembled (Slightly)...and I've also cut both of the hoods and made one hood out of them, pics coming later.

[Trucker_tim]

I hope you will show us some good details of your Vipre engine. I am in the process of doing a Dodge L700 COE and putting in the Viper rt10 engine. I have been trying myself to get some 1:1 photos as well but can never seem to find them.

[bodeen2012]

great job so far . just so you know the viper v10 didn't have a

distributor it used a direct ignition system . and the coil packs were mounted under the intake .

Edited April 28, 2012 by bodeen2012

[cderekw]

great job so far . just so you know the viper v10 didn't have a

distributor it used a direct ignition system . and the coil packs were mounted under the intake .

Thank you, I actually just found that out a little bit earlier after reading up on the Viper engine, I had no idea these things even existed, lol. From what I've found it has a 6 lead coil pack and a 4 lead coil pack, is this correct?

Anyway, after finding this out I did give up on scratch building the ignition system since it wont even be seen on this build and I just drilled a couple of holes on top of the block under the intake and ran the wires into there to get them out of the way. Pics coming in a few.