Matt's 1970 'Trans-Am' Cuda

[Dave999]

Hi Dave Bishop,
Thanks so much for the offer of loaning the oil pickup - I'm hoping mine will actually arrive at the start of April, but if it doesn't I'll be in touch


Dave999 let me know if you want me to draw a plan of the gearbox crossmember for you ? It bolts to the front of the car crossmember rather than wrapping around it

IMG_2149.jpg

ah looks like they use the same rear mount cross member for A and B/E bodies
in an A body i reckon that goes where the original did clamped around the chassis rail...

been looking at this just waiting for better exhanchange rate

http://store.uscartool.com/67-75-A-Body ... p_141.html

i reckon if a 518 fits in so will a t5

the non welded tray for the mount also lets me put it on where i need it with self tappers and take it to a man who can weld better than i can for finishing

i might get in touch with SST to see if they will flog an A body version that's all set up for the job

Dave

[Matt]

Got back from China last Saturday , so time to crack on !

The schedule has slipped somewhat though. For various reasons the car wasn't ready to go the to paintshop when I left on holiday, so I've got a bit of catching up to do.

Checked the Summit delivery date on the Milodon oil pickup pipe (which was ordered in October last year..) and it's just moved back *another* month. Called Tom at Milodon and he's like 'Hey, like, we're at the mercy of our suppliers - looks like another 3 weeks'. Whatever, dude. Dave Bishop has very kindly offered to lend me his, so I'll collect that on Saturday and Dave Billadeau can finish the engine build.


The date for the painters to start on prep and paint of underneath, interior, engine compartment, trunk is now end of next week, and before then there's a load of jobs to finish off on the shell.


Hood hinge mounts.

I'd never paid this location much attention before, but the reinforcement plate creates a double-skinned area on the inner wing. Naturally this has rusted through.

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Plate cut to fit flush in hole

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butt welded in and ground off

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fabricated new reinforcement plates

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finished

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[Matt]

Finishing repairs to bulkhead area. This area was later primed, painted, and the fresh air inlet turrets seam-sealed around their bases.

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Outer cowl panel finally welded in place. AMD part, good fit. The front upper edge has ended up about 6mm lower then the previous panel but I'm not too bothered about that. Don't have a wiper motor available to test fit, but am presuming the crank will still clear the bulkhead.

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More double-skin rust at front of inner wing. Fortunately the other side was intact so I had something to copy !

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[Matt]

Roof skin off

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Roof skin on !

AMD part .
I cannot believe how good the fit is . It is absolutely perfect - everywhere.

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One minor point though - the tapering detail around the rear window reveal is not replicated in the roof skin. I'll fix this later on.

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[Matt74]

Nice work Matt. Do you not have a power file? I've just recently started using one and they are great for taking the welds down quickly with out touching the parent metal. Zirconium belts are a must though as they cut faster and longer than ordinary belts.
They are also good for getting to tight areas.

[Matt]

Hi Matt,

yes I do ! great tool and really useful.

The welds will be further finished before paint. Just trying to get the bulk of the welding itself done at the moment.

Cheers

Matt

[autofetish]

Amazing work Love watching this !!!!

Keep the pictures and updates coming !!!!!

[Matt]

Hi Will, glad you like it ! I'm following your drag bike build closely.

Cheers

Matt

[ScottyDave]

Nice work

[andyrob]

CRACKING JOB MATT !!
the most interesting thing happening on here for me

[MattH]

Love that roof skin. I have a sunroof to fill in so a similar task looms.

[Blue]

Great work Matt, must pop in and have a look if I'm in your neck of the woods. What a pain the roof skin isn't correct, what is it with repro parts, it's almost like they deliberately make them wrong it happens that often....

[R.RUNNER]

[Matt]

Right time for a catch-up

The car went into the painters a couple of weeks ago to have the underside, engine bay, and interior painted. The unit is only four doors down from my Wembley workshop, so just another short trundle for the rotisserie.

I'd previously spent about a day filling imperfections in the underneath of the floorpan, before I realised I was just getting far too anal about it all and had to stop myself doing any more.

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Soon after , the first painted bits appeared. Always a boost. This colour is a 70s Alfa Romeo grey (the painter is Italian....)

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then the shell

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Nice to have something clean to work on at last . The rear quarters still need doing, but that will be the last of the major bodywork,.

[Matt]

Built up the rear axle last Sunday.

3.23 Sure grip that I've been saving for years. Finally found a home for it !
Stock halfshafts
Dr.Diff 10.7" rear disc conversion. Calipers supplied are from '94-'04 Mustang Cobra, and racing pads are readily available. There is handbrake cable provision on the calipers, but I'm not fitting one for now.
Moroso long studs

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now under the car, mounted on Hotchkis lowered leaf springs .

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