Just acquired a 71 cuda. Where do I start?
 

The body is all original except for some lead work done in rear quarters decades ago. Interior is pretty rough, mostly carpet. Neet lots of trim. 318 runs good, all original. Transmission leaks.


So. Any tips out there, as I embark on what is sure to be a long haul to restore it. Not looking for perection, just nice clean updates, keep most originality and maybe gettin more power out of that 318. I hear 400hp is pretty easy.


Thanks.

by relocating this to E body section your car is 2 years to young to be in the abody section

if the interior is the worst start there, legendery auto interiors and year one will take care of the interior and body for little trinkets start with paddock all those places have really good websites aside from paddock there sight is really slow was designed by a gm fan

ya
i would start with interior
then move on

Great tip and makes sense.

thanks

fix the leaky trans first before you walk in it and drag the juice into your new interior

post up some pics

I will.

By the way, what vehicle code does this car fall under?

what do you mean?

Are you looking to start driving it or do you want to start the resto> ,if your starting the resto strip the car get the body work done ,and hve the engine compartment done ,put motor in and then have car painted then the interior jest my opinon good luck.i also jest pick up 71 grand coupe for the wife latter Anthony

400HP at the crank or at the tires? It is doable but I would start with a 340 or 360 and go from there. I wouldn't bother dummping any money into the 318 to reach that number. The 318 is a great motor though and will last forever when taken care of. The truck guys love the 318 over the 360 (I know this for a fact because I am one lol).

Cudaracer: Get a quick once over at your local garage, belts, hoses, rubber, cooling, brakes, brake seals especially, tranny lines, pittman and idle arms, yada yada. I guarantee you got some spooky steering on that '71. Ask the same mechanic who did the once over (point blank) for the nearest Mopar Yoda. Any decent Blue Oval or BowTie wrench is gonna' know where his Mopar counterpart is. Mainly because he was losing to him on the strip way back in 71. Especially ask for a Mopar tranny guy for a good going over and rebuild. He'll have the parts right on the shelf as opposed to shelling out to Year-you-know-who or some other catalog house.
Then, you look him right in the eye and tell him you want a "to do list," you tell him you don't give a damn how long it'll be, What does my 71 need or is there anything that has to happen "right away." What would he do first etc. What's bothering him about the car? Talk turkey, hob nob, shoot the s__t, or just beg if ya' have to.
He'll look right back at you and hand it over. Money in his pocket, it's true, but he does it because he loves the machine.

The smartest thing I ever did was take my '74 to a Mopar Tranny guru who actually raced a '74 back in the day. He just went nuts on the car and she's a blast today.

Like my Dad always said, "If you don't ask, you don't go out."

Thank you jumpugly.
couple of things as I learn about it.

Looking over the body, it is solid and straight and in great condition and from the original owner, and garaged since 1982. Only needs paint, with a couple of dings to be repaired. Most of the trim is in the back seat. Needs windshield.

318 is pathetically weak, but I know that I can easily double the power and keep it original without huge cost. Makes no sense to buy someone elses parts for a bit more power. I am looking forward to the build challenge anyway.

The trans needs attention, but I don't have the skill to do, so looking for suggestions there. Rebuild or swap? BTW, what kind of trans is there stock in this 1972 cuda (I mistyped 71)? I also have a spare 727 trans that is basically new. Will that mount up? If not, anyone interested?

The interior is my second worry. Have never attempted it, but does not scare me too much. Just sourcing parts.

Anyway,
thanks to anyone and all.
I will post pics as I get them.

A 71 Barracuda would fall into the "E" body category. All 70+ Cudas/Barracuda and 70+ Challengers are E-bodies.

69 and pre Cuda/Barracudas are A-bodies.

As far as trying to get 400 hp out of a 318, not going to happen without alot of cash. Or a turbo, which also requires alot of cash. As Tim said, start with a 340/360, or just get rid of the small block and put a big block in it.

Start with some basic tuning on the motor to get it running nice and smooth. Cap, rotor, plugs, gas, fuel filter, air filter, ect.

And for your Transmission, where is it leaking? Front pump? Input? Output? Pan? ect ect.. I believe in 72 Barracudas, they all came with a 727 TF, i could be wrong. Any 904 will mount up to a small block, and any SMALL BLOCK 727 will mount up to a small block.

Blue!
Very, very nice ride!
Everytime, I see anyone mention a 340, I long for the days of my old 340 Duster.
Although, mine was bone stock and very stout I couldn't match your times!
Although I did see the north side of triple digits a few times at the digs on a few Friday night invitationals. Then things got scary! It was damn fun though!

Lookin' at a 360 for my Barracuda right now and yes I agree that 400hp out of a 318 is a bit of a dream. However, there was a great book on Mopar Smallblock Performance enhancements that put the idea of big HP into a 318 a reality. I think it was Larry Shepard's book "How to Hot Rod Small-Block Mopar Engines."

Athough, My Mopar Tranny Guru has a 273 in an ancient 64 Belvedere that runs in the 10's.
All in all love that Dart and I am sure you've shut down your share of Nova'.s

Best regards, Guy

Hello Guy,

I have a 440 in my Dart. A few years ago i had a stock 72 340 in it. Mild cam and header, with a 650 and 3:55's it ran 13.80s all day.

Unfortunately, my car gets called a Nova sometimes, and I own a 69 Nova. go figure.

Sorry for the Hijack.


-nick

is it a conv't?? white interior? Ever see the TV show "Nash Bridges"? if so you know where I'm headed w/this....

Not a convertible.

I am actually thinking of a 440 engine I found, that is a marine motor rotating LH. It is dirt cheap and I am trying to understand all that is needed to turn it into a RH.

A marine motor? I think most of those got 413s..

I'm not positive, but i think on marine motors, they have some special addition on the back of the block for some sort of extra cooling. My 413 (A 66 Chrysler replacement block) has that.

any pics?

-nick

well I know where you can start....by selling it to me :) I'm looking for a cuda trying to get my nephew to like real cars and not the mazda miata and Mitsubishi Eclipse :(

Can you post some pics of the 71? How is the grill?

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