I just bought a 73 Cuda, the person i bought it from didnt maintain it very well. Im changing the oil and filter tomorrow and ive already changed out the coolant, is there anything else that should be done to prevent it from breaking down?

The engine is a 340 out of a 71 challenger, 727 tourqeflite with a 2800 stall converter

Thanks

 

check ALL the fluids. All the oils (mnotor, tranny, rear axle), check and grease all joints (replace those that need it), check the brake fluid and lines, all hoses, belts, fiilters, and gaskets. make sure the tires don't have dry rot.

I'm sure that others will chime in.

 

Make sure that you put an oil with zinc in it, or else your motor won't work.
What kind of igniton system do you have on the car?
Welcome to the forum!

 

X2 on the welcome!

 

Welcome also 340CUDA

 

Thanks yall
Um the ignition is stock, the oil ive got is Mobil 1 synthetic and a purolator filter,...as for the other filters ive got a new K&N under the hood and im going to get the transmission serviced soon

oh and the tires a new...once again thanks

 

No problem
good luck!

 

welcome to the forum, nice car, I had a 4spd. the stock ign, for 72-5 was electronic ignition.

 

 

that is nice!

 

that is a sweeeet ride. Im drooling.

 

thanks everyone, the paint isnt what it used to be but thats the least of my worries

Im wanting to an electric overhaul in the next month or so,...optima battery(red top), cables/terminals, spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor button, etc.

any suggestions on the plugs, wires, and cap?

 

for plugs in a mopar, i'd only rn champion. as for the wires and cap, I have gotten two different sets that summit racing makes and have been pleased with them. plus the price is not bad. For higher performance though, i'd go MDS. you just can't beat them.

 

I am going to try out the accel u-grooves when I finish my build, heard some good things about them. I have been using the accel extreme heat wires cause of my headers, but they are some good wires.

 

your car looks amazing
i love that green

 

That is sure one sweet lQQking cuda , i personally would not run full synthetic in her tho i would run vr1 or the valvoline high milage oil for better protection as the full synthetic oil cleans your engine tooooo good and it will start to have alot of blow by if the engine is not just freshly rebuilt it has way to much cleaners in it and not enough zinc and believe me i know , you might even start to burn oil as it will seep through your valve seals into your cylinders but thats just my two cents anyways welcome and keep the pic's coming

 

i never liked running synthetic oil in old cars
their tolerances weren't built very tight, so that oil can seep into the combustion chamber, and not to mention fowling up the plugs
but, the synthetic oil does have a lot of zinc, which is what these cars need

 

I run desiel oil in my j10 with the AMC 360. I will never run synthetic oil in another one of my vehicles. Its just not worth it to me.

 

Hey 67 you are going to make me look arn't you hehehehehe but if i remember the full synth: only has 850 ppm of zinc and like the vr1 that has about 1600ppm so to me the full stuff does not have that much you can go on valvoline's web site and ask to talk to a rep and he will even tell you its not a good oil for the older cars as it was not meant to really be use in them but were for the hp small 4 bangers and ohv engines but im sure they have come along ways since ive checked a few years back but ill stick with the vr1 and high milage oils for my cars and the rottela for my diesel engines

 

P.S agreed 78 but the diesel oils might have alot of zinc in them but they also have alot of unnessasary cleaners in it also that were meant just for diesels to keep the build up of sulfur at bay

 

lol
i know that the vr1 racing oil has a lot of zinc, but there isn't any near me
does anyone know the minimum zinc our cars need?

 

I would not go with any thing under 1000ppm of zinc and you mean to tell me there is no store like walmart or anything around you that sells valvoline? i would stay with the high millage valv: oil for your car and you cant go wrong >jmo< and like 78 says its just not worth running that full synth: for the price

 

thanks for the help yall, im sure i'll have to replace the oil soon, its still leaking pretty bad,...valve cover gaskets, gonna get some new mopar valve covers soon

would yall know how to go about fixin a power steering pump? mine is leaking like a faucet

and i'll be sure to post some more pics soon, thanks

 

more pics in my album

 

Where is it leaking from on the pump or are you unsure of that? I would start with the hoses and connections as the pump is pretty much contained, as should be the reservoir.

 

well when i was changing the oil (had it on a lift) one of my friends came up and said it looks like your power steering pump is leaking, i had never paid any attetion to it. I looked at and its too hard to tell exactly where its leaking unless i cleaned it...but last weekend i checked to see how much fluid was in there and it was bone dry. I'll most likely end up buying a new one.

 

has anyone heard of any kind of zinc additive to add to an oil?

 

Yes I have, I have also heard that they are very expensive as they come in stick forms mainly used for racing boats.

 

oh, really?
i wanna try to find like a liquid one, so when I run out of break in oil bottles, i can have something to add to my oil

 

just get you a case of HM valvoline and run in your car 67 it has additives in it allready




and for 340Cuda run some power steering stop leak in it and see if that helps but if not its just as easy to get a new reman: and put it on