73 Cuda LS Swap
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Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
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Ecms belong in the engine bay lol. Also, id rather have a pro charger or super charger but obviously. A turbo is by far cheaper. I just have no clue how to do a turbo set up.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
It was brought to my attention today by the son of Schwartz Performance that I'm the headline for Hot Rod Magazine for the 2nd week in a row! Not sure if its because the car is cool or because its causing an absolute up roar in the car community HA! They just posted it on their Instagram yesterday and of course, the comments don't disappoint. lol
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Finally got carpet in on the passenger side. Just some ebay carpet I cut up and put down. Doesn't fit great but plenty good enough to just cover the heat shield/sound deadner stuff i put down a while back. Really need to get matching seats at some point lol. Also, finishing up the OBS swap i've been working on then after that, I get to start on a 69 Camaro. The Cuda still needs major suspension and exhaust up grades but just need money.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
So, for a while i was debating making a spoiler like I did for my challenger. Well, i found an AAR spoiler for only $270 on ebay with hardware and chose that over attempting another spoiler thatll just end up looking like a 2nd grade art project again... lol. I like it. Id like it to have a little more "custom" look to it with the tie down rods but I may make some type of wicker bill for it way down the road.
I also have no plan to ever put a lower valance on it. Im probably just weird, as you all have probably noticed but I think it just looks cooler with the back end open like that. I do though, want to put tail pipes on it to quiet down the cab. So, unsure of how thatd look with no valance but at some point maybe we'll find out. Wish there was an exhaust shop close to me that i could trust leaving my car at for a little bit for a custom exhaust to get done. But at the same time I think we all have learned by now I probably wouldn't spend that money... lol. So, ill most likely re do the exhaust system myself. Once i get those damn torsion bars out of the way up front, I can find some long tubes to put on which will make the exhaust much easier to do and should help it sit up closer to the body rather than hang down like it does now.
I also have no plan to ever put a lower valance on it. Im probably just weird, as you all have probably noticed but I think it just looks cooler with the back end open like that. I do though, want to put tail pipes on it to quiet down the cab. So, unsure of how thatd look with no valance but at some point maybe we'll find out. Wish there was an exhaust shop close to me that i could trust leaving my car at for a little bit for a custom exhaust to get done. But at the same time I think we all have learned by now I probably wouldn't spend that money... lol. So, ill most likely re do the exhaust system myself. Once i get those damn torsion bars out of the way up front, I can find some long tubes to put on which will make the exhaust much easier to do and should help it sit up closer to the body rather than hang down like it does now.
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The missing rear valance just gives all of the big trucks behind you a bullseye to aim for. LOL.
id replace it personally. But I also like the stock appearance of iconic muscle cars. Either way, it’s still a bad aZz car with LS power!!!
id replace it personally. But I also like the stock appearance of iconic muscle cars. Either way, it’s still a bad aZz car with LS power!!!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Well, quite a while back I bought a set of B Body tail pipes because they were on clearance through Holley. I thought i could throw them on and just cut them down given they'd obviously be longer. Well the way the exhaust routes they wouldn't fit. But I initially wanted to run tail pipes through the rear valance with a pair of those dual tips you'll see on the 98-02 trans ams. So sometime down the road I may still do that. For now, people will just get to see my pretty new tank lol
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Was driving the other day. Cruising about 70mph with perfect oil pressure, water temp, etc and it hit me. I was like damn, im really driving an LS swapped 73 Cuda. I built this car for the exact reason as this moment lol. Just crazy, also wanted to post another pic. I start on the Camaro Wednesday when I pick up the rebuilt 6.0 for it from Oriellys.
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Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
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Been a little bit since I posted here. Havent really done anything worth posting id say until now. I've been dealing with AC install on that 69 Camaro I ls swapped a while back. But anyways, I cobbled together an LS1 intake and put it on the Cuda this weekend. Yes, I know. The stock truck intake flows better blah blah blah. On a stock 4.8, it doesn't matter. But now im going to tell everyone it has an LS1 LOL. I got the intake and it was faded, so I painted it with the satin black radiator paint I used on the radiator a while back and wow, it came out GREAT.
Still daily driving it. The suspension is starting to get beyond the point to where I cant ignore it anymore... Of course I put stock height shocks on it then lowered the front and rear 2 inches so, of course, the front and rear end bottom out CONSTANTLY. I have a hook up for a Magnumforce front coil over kit but have to wait until im able to spend $800 on it. But, i need to figure it out fast because between the suspension and exhaust I don't know how much longer I can take it. Its like riding on bricks. Its so bad that when i drive my 92 4x4 Cummins, that feels like luxury lol.
If you'd like to check out my swaps I have a YouTube. Its Krusty Classics Garage. My Instagram and TikTok are KrustyCuda.
bp locations near me
Still daily driving it. The suspension is starting to get beyond the point to where I cant ignore it anymore... Of course I put stock height shocks on it then lowered the front and rear 2 inches so, of course, the front and rear end bottom out CONSTANTLY. I have a hook up for a Magnumforce front coil over kit but have to wait until im able to spend $800 on it. But, i need to figure it out fast because between the suspension and exhaust I don't know how much longer I can take it. Its like riding on bricks. Its so bad that when i drive my 92 4x4 Cummins, that feels like luxury lol.
If you'd like to check out my swaps I have a YouTube. Its Krusty Classics Garage. My Instagram and TikTok are KrustyCuda.
bp locations near me 
Just wanted to stop in and say i love your build. I was following your challenger "build" on facebook and was excited when you started this one. Hats off to you for building it while you drive it, and enjoying the car for what it is, a fun bad *** car.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
THANK YOU! Yes, I wish more people would build and enjoy at the same time and thats what i've tried to advocate since I started doing this back in 2010! Not many know about the challenger unless they were on Facebook which I assume youre in my Facebook group Pro Touring Buildz. So its better known to you as the "fiberglass challenger" lol. Crazy to think thats already been 2 going on 3 years. Thanks again.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Well. Tried my hand at window tinting. Not for me, I only spent $100 doing the whole car. Attempted the rear window 3 times. I was done and its plenty good enough for who its for. Next time, Ill just pay the tint guy I talked to $200 to do it. But, the car looks so much better with tint. Even if it isn't perfect. I know there a specific way to do these rear windows but not matter what, trying to put the tint on while being inside the car in awkward positions just wouldn't have made it any better.
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
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I keep forgetting about this whole thread. Un sure if anyone even cares about it anymore after seeing I just cobbled it together as cheap as possible and didn't take years building and perfecting it along with a paint job lol.
Well, hopefully within the next couple of months I can post some actual updates as I re do the whole front suspension with coil overs! but for now I've just been doing the YouTube thing with customers LS swaps and daily driving the cuda. So, if youre interested in seeing LS swaps done. Check out my YouTube. Heres a recent video of the Cuda.
Well, hopefully within the next couple of months I can post some actual updates as I re do the whole front suspension with coil overs! but for now I've just been doing the YouTube thing with customers LS swaps and daily driving the cuda. So, if youre interested in seeing LS swaps done. Check out my YouTube. Heres a recent video of the Cuda.