73 Cuda LS Swap
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Very minor update. Moneys been extremely tight so i had to do something that didnt cost much. So, i ordered ICT Billet trans line fittings to run the rubber line off of AN but not AN style fittings (dont know the name of them) lol. Cost was around $40 for trans fittings and AN fittings. Im doing this as i just had the rubber line on the cut stock line. Didn't leak but i did that just to get the car running. I knew i couldn't keep it that way especially when it comes time to cover the transmission up. Which, is on the list. Ran out of day light, but snapped a pic. I have to cut a little more of the floor so i can route the top line better. Obviously i wouldn't keep it this way. Or would i... lol. Ill post an update once i do that.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Forgot. I also added some wire loom to clean up the wiring in the engine bay. The wiring on the fender well will get situated a little more but aside from that, thats it. Wish i would have put the relay somewhere else but oh well, maybe ill do that some time down the road. Just want to drive the car already but have plenty left to do and no money to do it lol.
cute brown babies
cute brown babies 
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
Its nothing new to me. I've been teasing this swap since my Challenger last year and im done messing with the Mopar purist for entertainment lol. But one thing i've learned since being in the Mopar world is it doesn't matter what you do to your car, the internet purist are going to whine no matter what. Mopar is all about factory correct cars down to the nut and bolt. I've seen guys complain that a guy didn't leave his factory 6 cylinder car a 6 cylinder??? And i've seen guys go ape sh** over a guy putting a hellcat in a factory original AAR Cuda. And 9/10 the guys that complain haven't owned a Mopar since the 80s. Its the internet and i could care less what a stranger thinks about what i do with my money.
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 231
Likes: 111
Love that body style!
have fun trolling the mopar fanboys!
btw- just driving this car is trolling to some
I built a swapped bimmer and prior to the swap I got involved in the m3 boards….. the moment I mentioned swapping out the 240hp iron 6 …. The bimmers boys got nasty. These are the same folks who go Gaga over sourcing some rare euro seat cloth w the right pattern….
have fun trolling the mopar fanboys!
btw- just driving this car is trolling to some
I built a swapped bimmer and prior to the swap I got involved in the m3 boards….. the moment I mentioned swapping out the 240hp iron 6 …. The bimmers boys got nasty. These are the same folks who go Gaga over sourcing some rare euro seat cloth w the right pattern….
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
No idea, i don't pay attention to auctions. I see prices on Marketplace and Facebook groups and thats plenty ideocracy for me lol. And yet im the dumb one because i did something hot rod and put an engine in a vehicle that was never meant for it? ok... lol
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Love that body style!
have fun trolling the mopar fanboys!
btw- just driving this car is trolling to some
I built a swapped bimmer and prior to the swap I got involved in the m3 boards….. the moment I mentioned swapping out the 240hp iron 6 …. The bimmers boys got nasty. These are the same folks who go Gaga over sourcing some rare euro seat cloth w the right pattern….
have fun trolling the mopar fanboys!
btw- just driving this car is trolling to some
I built a swapped bimmer and prior to the swap I got involved in the m3 boards….. the moment I mentioned swapping out the 240hp iron 6 …. The bimmers boys got nasty. These are the same folks who go Gaga over sourcing some rare euro seat cloth w the right pattern….
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
Totally agree,, I wouldn't mod a really Unobtainium car,, but there are a lot of cars that it just wouldn't matter to me..
I've had some comments from jeep guys about my L33 swap,, my answer is ,,, there is not a single reason NOT to do what i did..
The 2.5 put like 90HP to the ground on a good day.. and got a whopping 12-15 mpg doing it..
My V8 drives better in every way, including mileage in the 22-24 range..
You almost can't find a roadster with a ford motor in it.. Although I do love the sound of a fathead in a Model A or 32 Coupe.
I've had some comments from jeep guys about my L33 swap,, my answer is ,,, there is not a single reason NOT to do what i did..
The 2.5 put like 90HP to the ground on a good day.. and got a whopping 12-15 mpg doing it..
My V8 drives better in every way, including mileage in the 22-24 range..
You almost can't find a roadster with a ford motor in it.. Although I do love the sound of a fathead in a Model A or 32 Coupe.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Well got the trans lines re routed. Now i need to figure out how im going to do the transmission tunnel as i've never done one before. Wont be able to do anything else to the car for a little while so these lines are really it as far as an "update".
image storage
image storage Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
So i got the courage to take the Cuda on its first trip around the neighborhood. I actually drove it around 3 times. I didn't want to stop.. lol. I just want to daily drive it already so bad but she still needs a little more love before we get there, and money lol.
99% success. Only the rear view mirror fell off, nothing broke, and as long as I stay in the neighborhood all the gears in the 4l60 work
.
But, I don't think the converter is locking up. I put it in 4th and it works but if I manually shift I can only feel it shift up to 2nd. But I may just not be getting up to speed for it to shift. Only issue i came across is the lower radiator hose leaking. Its half inch end but the radiator is 3/4 inch end. I thought i was slick and stuck a 3/4inch rubber piece on there and stuck the radiator hose in that and tightened it down and it never leaked until i drove it today. Basically the rubber just squishes together when tightened and it leaks. It obviously needs to tighten down to something hard so i need to find an adapter.
Id post the test drive video but its nearly 3min long and no one wants to see that lol.
But aside from that, it actually had good throttle response and ran great for not being tuned. But given its bone stock im not really surprised. Definitely want to take the cheap amazon mufflers off as i have no want for the crazy drone this go round.
99% success. Only the rear view mirror fell off, nothing broke, and as long as I stay in the neighborhood all the gears in the 4l60 work
.But, I don't think the converter is locking up. I put it in 4th and it works but if I manually shift I can only feel it shift up to 2nd. But I may just not be getting up to speed for it to shift. Only issue i came across is the lower radiator hose leaking. Its half inch end but the radiator is 3/4 inch end. I thought i was slick and stuck a 3/4inch rubber piece on there and stuck the radiator hose in that and tightened it down and it never leaked until i drove it today. Basically the rubber just squishes together when tightened and it leaks. It obviously needs to tighten down to something hard so i need to find an adapter.
Id post the test drive video but its nearly 3min long and no one wants to see that lol.
But aside from that, it actually had good throttle response and ran great for not being tuned. But given its bone stock im not really surprised. Definitely want to take the cheap amazon mufflers off as i have no want for the crazy drone this go round.
Congrats on the semi successful test drive. ICT Billet has some really affordable hose adapters. I'd look into those. I picked one up before I found a one piece upper hose that would work for me. What did you end up doing for your driveshaft?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
I actually ordered one of those adapters last night. And it's still the driveshaft with the longer yoke. I asked around some more on FB if anyone else has done it and found quite a few guys that have and was told they've yet to have an issue with it. One guy in particular runs an even longer slip yoke on his dirt track car that spins 7k frequently so we'll just see. Since another member on here gave me a website to order a driveshaft for only $350 I may get a new one made down the road. Not quite close enough to actually driving it yet to need one anyways lol
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
True. The driveshaft only needs to be about 2 inches longer to be "correct". But yesterday just driving around the neighborhood there was no drive line vibration but obviously the real test would be at least 50+ mph.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Yeah back in the 90s the Cudas were pricey always.
I dig your comments about the cost of restorations. Frankly the nicer the car gets the less I want to drive it around.
I dig your comments about the cost of restorations. Frankly the nicer the car gets the less I want to drive it around.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Ive just always only been able to afford the rusted ratty stuff. Like my first Chevelle which started the "muscle car" love for me. It was bad. 95% of the car was bondo and it was just rust under the bondo lol. But all i did was stick a 350 in it and drove it every day. Had MULTIPLE people stop me and ask if id sell it. Even had one guy flag me down on an access road just to ask lol. Maybe someday ill get to fixing rust and making it more pleasing to look at by other people but for the most part i really only care about the rust that lets the elements in to the car lol.
Nothings changed as far as liking them ratty, except if i had known about LS swaps then as much as i do now, that chevelle would of had one.
the nearest chevron gas station
