Cuda update!
I finally got it back after about 7 months in the shop. COVID slowed stuff down, especially we had to wait on some parts longer than expected. Full list of what we did:
Pulled the engine (383) out and sent it up to WCH Racing Engines in Midlothian for a full rebuild: bored, new pistons, rings, valve and springs, gaskets, cam - everything. They crated it and sent it back basically a fresh engine.
While the engine was out, repainted the engine bay to match the body color - also did some minor metal work around the firewall where there was some corrosion
Replaced the stock torsion bars w/ Hotchkis bars appropriate for the big block
Replaced the brake lines with new stainless lines
Replaced the master cylinder
Pulled the steering box and sent it to FirmFeel for a rebuild, with tighter gearing
Replaced the idler and pitman arm with a fast ratio arm - much tighter steering! Took a full revolution out of the wheel from lock to lock
Added a FiTech TBFI system
2 new fuel pumps (one high pressure to feed the FiTech, one lower pressure to grab from the tank)
New air cleaner
Added a VintageAir A/C system
Relocated the battery to the truck and installed a bypass switch for both security and if it's going to sit for any period of time
New MSD distributor
New high displacement water pump
New Hedman headers, required to fit the fast ratio pitman arm
Shaved the lip in the rear quarters where it risks cutting the tires since I have really wide tires on this thing
Installed the MSD box to get it to talk to the factory tach, which we later found out doesn't work and needs to be replaced
Probably other stuff I'm forgetting
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! However, we've now discovered that the cooling system can't handle the heat load. The prior own had a 22" crossflow radiator. My 1970 Cuda shop manual suggests that a 383 w/ a 727 trans and A/C comes with a 26" radiator. It's been a little scary - it cools find as-is when I'm going down the highway, holds between 190-205. But when I'm at a light, it shoots up - FAST. I was going to QT to get some gas the other day and it went up over 250, not good. When it gets that hot, the starter doesn't want to turn over on restarts b/c it's also overheated. So, I have a 26" Griffin radiator on order from Summit, plus a fan shroud, and we're also going to wrap the headers, and put in a hood to radiator and hood to cowl seal. Hopefully that will solve the heat issue!