Dienstag, 30. November 2010

Trying to get a handle on the handle

Sometimes life's a bitch. I found that out by trying to install the passenger side door handle. It just wouldn't fit right. After several attempts, I inspected the new handle and found out that it was assembled incorrectly. The red spring was not in the correct position, clearly seen in comparison to the old handle on top. It wasn't easy to adjust the spring since it's one tight spring, but I managed in the end.

Here's the stubborn handle installed and in operating order!

Donnerstag, 25. November 2010

Hood and doors

Finally got the hood inserts mounted back on the hood. I searced forever for the small screws until I found them...

Driver side door handle back in place.

Before lunch

I finished off the passenger side tail light before lunch today. Since the gasket sealing the light was missing I had to fabricate a new one before the lens could be screwed on the housing.

Both lights on the rear panel.

Mittwoch, 24. November 2010

Progress

Mounted the driver side rear light - as with the side markers, it is a rather complicated incorporating the lens, a chrome frame, the painted bezel and the light housing itself. came together nice though. The lenes have survived the last 40 years really well, I believe mainly because they are recessed so far back so they are well protected.
The first part of the driprail is also installed. Some cleaning was necessary as these pieces are the originals.

Dienstag, 23. November 2010

downforce

I picked up a trans-am style spoiler on the moparts board. Should take care of the downforce on the front end. I still have to check how it looks on the car as the front valance is not fitted yet but the quality of the spoiler is very good.

Mittwoch, 10. November 2010

Blackout

Against all reasonable advice, I did the blackout behind the grille. While standing back from the front of the car, the light paint shines through the horizontal bars of the grille on both sides of the radiator. Because of this, the cars originally had these areas blacked out.
I spent a lot of time masking off the area that wasn't supposed to be painted, taking care not to miss anything and get black paint where there shouldn't be any.


Originally the flat black was blurry at the edges and I tried to achieve that as well. Will look good when the grille is back on!

Badge engineering

Added the 'Cuda badge to the tail panel. I don't exactly know where it should be so I went with the pics I could find and put it where I thought it would look good. The trunk lock is the original piece, cleaned up and in working order.

Freitag, 5. November 2010

Bumpercar

Mounted the bumpers on the 'Cuda! -The shiny new parts make a great contrast to the paint and really tie the car together :-)

It's interesting, the rear bumper really does not fit to the front of the car as it is recessed into the bodywork. The valance panels are still missing...

Montag, 1. November 2010

Side markers

Installed the side markers. They are specific for the 1970 and '71 model years, after that they were of a more simple construction.