Mpc 1971 Plymouth Cuda

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Most Mopar muscle car enthusiasts have no doubt heard of XV Motorsports by now. Their Challenger is featured in the current issue of Car and Driver. With the release of the Revell AAR, the Cuda is getting lots of attention on the message boards. While I ONLY have one MPC 1970 Cuda, and a resin promo body at that, I got out one of my built MPC 1971 Cudas and gave it some attention.

I got this one about 5 years ago. I think I only paid about $10 for it. I stripped most of the Testors yellow when I got it. The body is pretty clean with some minor glue damage that still needs repaired. One area that I feel is kinda weak on the otherwise nice MPC body is the taillight and backup light area. The taillights are nice, molded in clear red. The backups are molded into the body. BTW, this body is my second MPC '71.

BTW, this body is my second MPC '71. I drilled out the molded in backups.

Then, I took a pair of Revellogram 1971 Hemi Cuda taillights and filed them down to fit the openings. Here's the result.

I'll be sending these lights to be cast in clear resin. I've also modified the Revellogram Cuda street machine hood to fit the MPC Cuda.

My intention is to build a scale replica of this XV Motorsports development vehicle.

Enjoy!!!

Edited December 30, 2007 by Marc @ MPC Motorsports

[scubadiver411]

WOW... I can't wait to see this one built I'm a MoPar guy at heart, and I love the 'Cudas. I hope you will continually post updates on this one because I'd like to follow this build.

STEVE ALLEN

[Frank Steffens]

Ditto, I can't wait to see this one progress

[Rob Hall]

Cool...I've been gathering the parts to do an XV style Challenger eventually...6.1 Hemi from a Magnum kit, Aoshima wheels, etc..

[Tonioseven]

Hmmm.... *goes off to find the Challenger T/A that hasn't been seen since relocating to Florida* Nice project as always, Marc!

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Cool...I've been gathering the parts to do an XV style Challenger eventually...6.1 Hemi from a Magnum kit, Aoshima wheels, etc..

So am I, Rob. I got a nice built MPC '70 Challenger this year. I'm even contemplating using the AMT Challenger chassis and interior on this one and doing a full detail build with the 6.1 Hemi from the Magnum. The Cuda will be a curbside.

[Rob Hall]

So am I, Rob. I got a nice built MPC '70 Challenger this year. I'm even contemplating using the AMT Challenger chassis and interior on this one and doing a full detail build with the 6.1 Hemi from the Magnum. The Cuda will be a curbside.

I'm trying to figure out which Challenger to use for mine... I have a couple of built MPC '70s, but I like them the way they are... I may use a Reliable Resin body with the AMT Challenger innards..

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Hell must be freezing over...MPC Motorsports is building a chassis WITHOUT metal axles!!!

I've changed direction on my XV Motorsports '71 Cuda replica. I really want to put a 6.1 HEMI in it instead of building it curbside. Modifying the MPC chassis like I did on my Green Cuda is a lot of work too. So, taking inspiration from KDog and others, I'm going to use the chassis and underhood details from the AMT '70 Challenger.

I'm starting with a kit that I bought in 2001 to use with what was my first resin body, a JF Challenger R/T SE. I lost interest in the project a long time ago, but not before I did a mild minitub on the chassis to allow slightly wider than kit stock rubber. The work I did six years ago was not to my current level and did not allow enough room for the wide Pirelli tires that I plan to use. So, I fired up my trusty Dremel and went to work. The first finished wheel tub is on the left.

The white is a strip of .040 x .156 Evergreen styrene. The tan is some Squadron white putty that I used in 2001 to finish out the original minitub. In total, the tubs have been widened 3.5mm from stock. I left just enough room for the leaf spring. I'll have to narrow the diff to fit once I get the other side finished.

Finally, after the other tub is widened, I'll have to shorten the chassis about 2-3mm to match the Cuda wheelbase. My current plan is to have that done by the end of the weekend.

Enjoy!!!

Edited October 12, 2007 by Marc @ MPC Motorsports

[MrObsessive]

Looking great so far on the body work Mark!

I'll be taking notes on how you shorten the chassis, as I want to do sort of the same thing on a 'Cuda build down the road............but maybe using the '71 Charger as a starting point.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Looking great so far on the body work Mark!

I'll be taking notes on how you shorten the chassis, as I want to do sort of the same thing on a 'Cuda build down the road............but maybe using the '71 Charger as a starting point.

Thanks Bill. I started with the '71 Charger chassis, but it will take a LOT of work to get it to fit. Besides having an even longer wheelbase, the rear is too wide and has too much rear overhang to fit the 'Cuda. I started to cut one down to get the rear width to fit inside the MPC body and switched to the Challenger when I saw how far it stuck out the rear.

[Gray Smith]

Hmm I was wondering why I had a snotsickle hanging from my nose this morning.....lol

As always Marc, your builds are top notch and this one will be no different. I'm looking forward to seeing that 6.1 under the hood of this one. Have you decided on wheels and a color yet? I'm guessing red since the XV Motorsports car is right?

Keep up the good work bud,

Gray

[MrObsessive]

Ahhh! Thanks for the heads up!

I never took the time to actually test fit the floorpan..............just a quick glance at it when I bought it. I knew the '71 Chrysler lineup used pretty much the same floor stampings and cowls just different wheelbases and overhangs.

That's too much work for what may be a basic build for me. I'll stick with your idea of using the AMT Challenger kit's chassis--------I've got one laying around somewhere.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Hmm I was wondering why I had a snotsickle hanging from my nose this morning.....lol

As always Marc, your builds are top notch and this one will be no different. I'm looking forward to seeing that 6.1 under the hood of this one. Have you decided on wheels and a color yet? I'm guessing red since the XV Motorsports car is right?

Keep up the good work bud,

Gray

It will be red (Tamiya? HOK?) with black Fred Cady billboards and an argent silver grille, just like the XV development car. Rims will be Aoshima Koenig Imps with MPC Motorsports deep dish rims and resin Pirelli tires.

Not identical to the XV's rims, but close enough.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Last night I completed the minitub project on my '71 Cuda and began work on the differential. The rear needs to be narrowed slightly(about 3 scale inches) to take advantage of the tubs. The Dana 60 that comes in the AMT Challenger is a little on the small side, so I'm substituting the reinforced 9 inch that is found in the AMT Coronet Pro Street kit. The axle tubes are .125" Evergreen tubing. I still need to relocate the springs, but you get the picture. Should be sufficient to handle the power of the 6.1 Hemi.

Enjoy!!!

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Got lots of quality bench time today and spent that time on the Challenger chassis conversion. I showed you the Ford 9 inch diff yesterday. It is a modified piece from the AMT '70 Coronet Pro Street kit.

Today, I shortened the chassis to match the Cuda wheelbase. The 1:1 Cuda has a 2" shorter wheelbase than the Challenger. I shortened mine about 2.5mm.

After reattaching the separated chassis parts and cleaning up the joint, it was time to remove the underhood details from the Challenger and begin prep work for the Cuda body.

I have the drivers side nearly finished and I'm ready to start the passenger side. I "welded" some .030" x .250" Evergreen strips to the edge of the inner fenders for attachment points. Because of the molded in grille of the '71 Cuda, I'll have to leave the inner fender assembly separate from the body until final assembly.

Can't forget the rolling stock...Aoshima Koenig Imp's with MPC Motorsports deep dish rims and resin "Big n Little" Pirelli tires. Spokes will be black and the rims will get some Alclad Chrome.

Enjoy!!!

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

I now have the AMT 1970 Challenger underhood structures mocked up inside the MPC '71 Cuda body. I finished modifying the underhood parts over the weekend, then I spent last evening with some Easy Lift Off, toothpics, micro brushes, etc, removing the last vestiges of the Testors Gloss Yellow enamel that the purple pond did not remove years ago.

While this has been a fairly simple upgrade, I've taken my time to get the fit and alignment just right. No pics of the front radiator and support but that part has to be modified in order for it to be installed after painting. It needs to be installed separately. I'll probably install the firewall before painting.

The black lines on the cowl are from a Sharpie. I marked the fender lines, then sliced the cowling away from the assembly. This allows the rear edge of the cowl to match the curvature of the MPC fenders. Then the glass will sit properly inside the windshield opening.

Enjoy!!!

[mikelo]

It is coming aolng great so far. The engine bay looks terrific.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Since I'm using the stock torsion bar front suspension, I had to convert the oil pan to a center sump from a front sump to clear the K Member.

I also had to file notches in the pan bracing to clear the steering linkage. Here's how it looks from the underside.

I now need to glue in the inner fenders so I can remove the bracing and check hood clearances. This is a BIG engine!!! I haven't checked it for scale, but it seems closer to 1:24 scale. I hope the intake clears the stock hood.

[Gray Smith]

looking good Marc, looks like a custom welded oil pan is needed for this swap...lol. Glad to see some new progress on this one...are you going to use the stock Hemi intake or will you be making something a little more wild? keep up the good work on it man..

Gray

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Here's the 6.1 sitting in the frame rails.

It's a BIG motor and it will fill the engine compartment of this E Body. While it is a simplified casting, it will look good with some detail painting. It's going to be real close whether or not it fits under the hood. I'm betting it will...by a knat's eyebrow.

I had to modify the K Member and the frame mounts to get it to sit properly. The factory exhaust headers barely clear the torsion bars (whew!) but I probably won't be able to use the Magnum's cat cons. Oh well...

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Well, earlier this week I installed inner fenders and cowl from the AMT Challenger into the MPC body. Once attached, I attached the chassis with Microscale Krystal Kleer so I could check the hood clearance with the 6.1 HEMI. As it sits, it BARELY fits!

I still need to fit the kit air filter assembly and/or scratchbuild a ram tube assembly with a cone K&N style filter. And, while the chassis is "glued" in, I'll be getting busy modifying the stance.

More to come...

[Gray Smith]

Looks good Marc!..while you say its a tight fit..that Hemi looks right at home there...this is coming along well man, keep up the good work

Gray

[Ron]

Nice progress.....I looked through your fotki account, and WOW what cool cars you have built! The silver chevelle is my favorite..I love Chevelles & that silver one is very cool. Where do you get those tires and rim combos from that you have been using on those builds? Nice work man!!

Ron

[gasman]

awesome work as usual Marc. that Hemi looks quite comfortable in that engine bay

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Not going for the extreme low here. Just trying to duplicate the stance on the 1:1.

Looks close to me. The AAR hood is just for these pics. The power bulge hood that I mastered is on its way from Reliable Resin. And since I know someone will ask, the rims are Aoshima Koenig Imps with deep dish lips and wide and wider Pirelli tires. Enjoy!!!