Project Psyko Cuda

[FoxGranadaChuck]

Out of mere curiousity, do you have a 340 or a 360?! Looks like a 340 block, but I am just wanting to make sure.

Cool project! The more Pro-Touring Mopars, the better!!!

[Krazed]

It's a 340 Block, not numbers matching though but being a Formula-S 340 I feel it should stay a 340 somewhat.

[EvilDrKen]

Love your Car! you Have a really great Eye for what makes a barracuda look good. me And my freind have 68's and have been playing around with Ideas for a front and rear spoilers and a AAR style hood we would like to get built. I work In 3D for a living and have a 3d barracuda I have been working on for Ideas....If you have and Ideas for designs let me know ...I could render it out for you.

Thanks, Evil Dr Ken

[Krazed]

Hey thanks, I can only hope my car turns out as good as I want it to. It's all Do it yourself stuff for me, no professional help. There's some things that I want to do later on that will require more time, but for now I just want the basic mechanical things done so I can continue to drive it this summer. I slacked alot last winter, and it shows now.

PM Me and we'll talk about concept ideas, see if we can't get a cool rendering of something together.

[Krazed]

Got some more things done. The block and crank are back from the machine shop. They were able to just polish the crank, and hot tank the block. We got it honed and put together, but have to take it apart, as the instructions for the piston rings weren't too clear... we talked to a buddies dad who was an engine builder/machinist for 23 years... he set us strait. Either way, it won't take long.

Other then that, I got some more suspension parts in. Things cleaned up. Painted the K-Frame and the lower control arms. Also welded Lower control arm stiffening plates on and will repaint and install those as soon as I'm done scraping and scrubbing the grease off the front end.

New parts include:
CAP Auto Products Tubular Adjustable Upper control arms
Aluminum Adjustable Strut Rods
Bigger Torsion bars (stock 0.85" new 1.2")
New rear sway bar
New pitman arm
New Idler arm
2" Lowering Blocks for the rear end (Only temporary)
New bushings all around

Also found the exhaust tips I wanted.


Here's some car porn for you guys. More to come later in the week!

[Krazed]

Exhaust tips




Also got a new toy:

Finally got my air Compressor! (Works quite well with all tools, even air drill, die grinder's, and sander)

[beefy]

Hey, just curious... (by the way, Hi, I'm Beefy... and I'm new here )

I was looking for a quick and cheap rear lowering solution to keep my car low until th4 4-link and air ride setup goes in this winter.
Where did you come up with blocks for our cars? Or is it just a generic (one size fits all) setup?

It's great to see other guys who love the old A-body Cudas... I've had mine since I was about 15 and I love it.

It's just a nice modded original right now, but I'm in the (loooong) process of converting it to a 'pro-tour' style daily driver. The big issue I'm working on right now is suspension (aren't we all?) and by the way, you'll be glad you bought the TTI's... NO they're not perfect, but they are still very nice and the fit is about as close to perfect as you're going to get... sure you WILL have to make some "adjustments" but all in all, they fit well and they LOOK great!
I installed mine last weekend.

Sorry for the long post... I think I'll have a LOT to talk to a fellow Cuda guy in the weeks to come (I hope that's ok)
Take care,
Beefy

[70Dustpan]

My I make some suggestions on your set-up?

First off I would fully well all the seams and reinforce the K frame like the ones you can get from Firm Feel.

http://www.firmfeel.com/reinfkfram_a.htm

2ND. I wouldn't go with any thing bigger then a 1.00" torsion bar for a SB street car. Any bigger and you won't get the car to sit low in the front and will ride like a 1 ton truck on the road.

3rd. Go with 11/16" tie rod ends with solid sleeves. No deflection and better feel.

4Th. Get a larger then stock front sway bar if you are going to run a rear bar. A 1 1/8" up front and a 3/4" in the rear work good together.

5Th. For strut rods the ones from RMS are the best ones out there. Adjustable, rod ends, and strong. https://www.reillymotorsports.com/st...6&cat=0&page=1

[Nate K]

A-body cudas are badass! I second everything 70Dustpan recomended.

[Krazed]

Well, got a bit more work done on the car before our camping trip last week.

Got the engine bay painted, as well as the inner fender wells.
New upper control arms (Yes, I know they're on backwards, I just wanted to make sure they fit and get the camber close).

Also got my strut rods installed, they're very solid and easily adjustable. I love the way they look too! Got the K-Frame painted and all pretty, welded some things on to stiffen things up, as well as stiffened the lower control arms with the Braces. Cleaned up the brakes, painted the calipers an aluminum color to match a bit better.

All in all, got a decent amount done, but not as much as I wanted to.

Next up - Drop off the heads to get cleaned and new springs put on (Since my spring compressor doesn't want to work lately) and put it all back together!

and now, the pics!

[Krazed]

Well, I got a bit more done. Haven't had as much time as I'd like to work on it but..at least its better then nothing!

Got my heads cleaned up, new valve springs and retainers installed. Also had my girlfriend paint all the old green parts with gloss black for a temporary fix until I can get around to the body work next winter. She painted the Door jams on the car, and doors as well as the trunk.



Finally got my suspension in, all but the sway bar and steering linkage which will be done this weekend for sure. Power steering box was cleaned and rebuilt, with all the O-rings replaced.

Will be making more progress tonight , and this weekend inbetween looking for just the right new house! Engine should be totally finished and in the car this weekend. Then it's the transmission seals/gaskets and lowering the rear end!

Last but not least - Got my license plates in!

[Krazed]

More pictures.

Suspension installed! Getting closer....

[Roger Poirier]

I'm a big fan! Keep up the good work. Steady as she goes....

R.P.

[Krazed]

Thanks!

The engine should be in this weekend, and tranny work should be done shortly after. My goal is to have it running and driving by the 30th... so I have many late nights ahead of me next week.

[Krazed]

I'll admit, I've been gone a long while. But I promise I have good reasoning! There have been updates, good and bad, on the Cuda over the last few months. As soon as I have more time to post I'll update you all on things.

Don't go anywhere!

[67SSDan]

Dang man, you're going off on that thing! Keep up the good work!

Dan

[BretB]

Cool project! Those cars just look mean. I would love to have one. Have you ever seen the movie called Highwaymen? It has Jim Caveziel in it and he drives a '68 Hemi 'Cuda. Not a bad movie either. Check it out.

[Smock67]

cudas are sweet. your progress is lookin awesome.

[West Texas Z]

Wow, I've never seen your page before. Looking Good!! Keep us updated.

[69camarokid]

Im getting ready to pull my engine and redo my engine bay soon, and i like the look of your engine bay. What did you paint it with, id love to get some.