b-body-bob
Well-known member
It's getting terminal to my sanity --- it's always there. Silence is a relative term for me.
Rusty's not very quiet cuda progress
- Thread starter mopar_man
- Start date
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
I'm working off a 40 year old transistor radio, one of my early service vans had no radio, I had it hanging off the ash tray!
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
A few deliveries came, torque wrench which I will use a little on this car & they go to deep storage.
super zilla which turned out to be a super dud, I had to try, did much of nothing on the rust on those seatbelts!
& the proper bass blockers.
super zilla which turned out to be a super dud, I had to try, did much of nothing on the rust on those seatbelts!
& the proper bass blockers.
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Then it was on to the dash, weeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllll, didn't start off too good, the new speakers don't fit the holes in the dash frame, last thing I wanted to do was cut up anything on this car!
old speakers were tiny compared to the new!
that's the pass. side, worse on the drivers side, there's framing in that one.
Had to dig out the sawsall to finish that off
Had to go back & cut a little more on the pass side, the magnet was rubbing on one side
Wires ran nicely over to the radio area with the main harness
Starting to look like a dash, hope it works like one!
I think these 2 blue ones go to the little seat belt warning light, found the schematic , it doesn't show 2 blue?
old speakers were tiny compared to the new!
that's the pass. side, worse on the drivers side, there's framing in that one.
Had to dig out the sawsall to finish that off
Had to go back & cut a little more on the pass side, the magnet was rubbing on one side
Wires ran nicely over to the radio area with the main harness
Starting to look like a dash, hope it works like one!
I think these 2 blue ones go to the little seat belt warning light, found the schematic , it doesn't show 2 blue?
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Lately nothing is going easy, figured I better get the new A/C vents, well it was a fight & they fit crappy.
The bigger one is decent, but just doesn't look flush to me, the small one is worse & the bottom is showing some metal,
Now the angle it's at may not be seen when in the car, I guess if it bugs me I can dab a little black paint on it. even the duct is off a tad, small one the clip catches the vent, larger one no way I could maneuver it to catch. it's about 1/8" higher than the vent? 
The bigger one is decent, but just doesn't look flush to me, the small one is worse & the bottom is showing some metal,
Now the angle it's at may not be seen when in the car, I guess if it bugs me I can dab a little black paint on it. even the duct is off a tad, small one the clip catches the vent, larger one no way I could maneuver it to catch. it's about 1/8" higher than the vent?
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RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Never got an email on this one, drop shipped direct I think, carpet & underlay, the underlay is nothing like what I got with the carpet on the other car?
It's kinda rubber mat like stuff, box weighed a ton!
The goop also arrived, I'll put a blob of that on the back of the rivets & continue praying!
It's kinda rubber mat like stuff, box weighed a ton!
The goop also arrived, I'll put a blob of that on the back of the rivets & continue praying!
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
What I'm hoping is that with the blue carpet & my blue strip on the panels that the blue seats I saved won't look terribly out of place with everything else black???
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
I'm not sure what's happening here, but something's got to be installed wrong. Reupholstering the dash pad doesn't move the holes in the metal. The AC vents are supposed to be recessed; they're not flush with the pad surface. If you can't get it worked out, I'd suggest calling Bob on Monday. I'm sure he runs into stuff like this now and again.
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
& now that I have a real dash pad I can chuck the cheapo cover that car with the car & I've been moving around for 15 or so years! chopped it in half so it would fit in my recycle can! 
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
The pic of the smaller one is upside down, there seems to be a lot of padding inside the top of that one, but it's still pushed tight up against the top of the pad itself?
I actually took one out & tried to reverse it even though I did that the first time I laid them in to see, they can't go the other way the ducts won't go.
I actually took one out & tried to reverse it even though I did that the first time I laid them in to see, they can't go the other way the ducts won't go.
Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
This is what they should look like installed:
That's an original dash pad, not my reupholstered one from ABC. I got curious about that, though, and compared the two. I have a similar problem on mine. It almost seems like the structure moved down during the vacuum-forming process and the padding is off a scosche. Also, the foam backing is too thick in that area. I did get mine installed (and then removed them for the above photo) but a little work will be involved to get the fit I want.
From what I can see, trimming the pad material away from around the bolt holes should help, as might rat-tail filing the bolt holes themselves to allow the vent to sit lower. A little trimming of the upper area might be required, but do anything there with extreme care. The problem is not insurmountable by any means, though.
If you're going to make any cuts, make sure you use a brand-new X-Acto blade (so it's sharp) and don't make any sharp inside corners or overcuts. Do the corners first; change the blade after each one if you must. Patience is a virtue here; a sharp inside corner or overcut will eventually become a crack. If you're paranoid about corners, find an old .38 or .45 handgun shell casing. Sand or file around the edge to make it a little sharper. Rest it on the vinyl and hit it with a hammer. It should puncture the vinyl cleanly, making a nice, round hole. Connect that hole with any others using straight cuts. Voilà!
That's an original dash pad, not my reupholstered one from ABC. I got curious about that, though, and compared the two. I have a similar problem on mine. It almost seems like the structure moved down during the vacuum-forming process and the padding is off a scosche. Also, the foam backing is too thick in that area. I did get mine installed (and then removed them for the above photo) but a little work will be involved to get the fit I want.
From what I can see, trimming the pad material away from around the bolt holes should help, as might rat-tail filing the bolt holes themselves to allow the vent to sit lower. A little trimming of the upper area might be required, but do anything there with extreme care. The problem is not insurmountable by any means, though.
If you're going to make any cuts, make sure you use a brand-new X-Acto blade (so it's sharp) and don't make any sharp inside corners or overcuts. Do the corners first; change the blade after each one if you must. Patience is a virtue here; a sharp inside corner or overcut will eventually become a crack. If you're paranoid about corners, find an old .38 or .45 handgun shell casing. Sand or file around the edge to make it a little sharper. Rest it on the vinyl and hit it with a hammer. It should puncture the vinyl cleanly, making a nice, round hole. Connect that hole with any others using straight cuts. Voilà!
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
I had already trimmed the back of where that metal was showing, it was pushing the vent up of all things. I was afraid to even touch the "fat" area at the top (behind the lip of the vent), guess I'll pull it apart tomorrow & do some dicing & slicing???????
I do have a nice big box of exacto blades ready & willing to help!
I do have a nice big box of exacto blades ready & willing to help!
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Well about 3 hours later I got it a little better.
I had already cut it away from the screw holes out front.
Today's starting point.
Foam thickness at the bottom of the big one
the really bad one
I did my best to leave the leather & gouge out the foam behind it, did trim the leather a bit.
Still way off
so I started cutting off some metal at the bottom
Went in a little beeper but you can still see the gap & the tugging on the top leather.
I pounded on the mounting points to no avail, then got out the drill & made lower holes, but there was less metal on one side, poop!
After that I had to go back & sand down more metal off the bottom rail, this is where it's at, I may just call it good enough!!!
The big one I can live with. 
I had already cut it away from the screw holes out front.
Today's starting point.
Foam thickness at the bottom of the big one
the really bad oneI did my best to leave the leather & gouge out the foam behind it, did trim the leather a bit.Still way off
so I started cutting off some metal at the bottomWent in a little beeper but you can still see the gap & the tugging on the top leather.I pounded on the mounting points to no avail, then got out the drill & made lower holes, but there was less metal on one side, poop!
After that I had to go back & sand down more metal off the bottom rail, this is where it's at, I may just call it good enough!!!The big one I can live with.
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
May pull it apart once more to paint the metal that's showing black?
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Changed blades after each cut, still have a couple left! 
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Just one of those little things that some rivet counter at the fri. night meet will bust my chops about!
there' s already plenty of defects in the paint for them to go nuts about!
I just say, did you paint yours yourself in the back yard!
there' s already plenty of defects in the paint for them to go nuts about!
I just say, did you paint yours yourself in the back yard!
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
Putzin around now trying to find things to do in the garage, got the metal behind the vent painted, think I can live with this now, if I had another 1/8" of metal on that lip it could have been near perfect! 
Then I messed with the rusty seatbelt parts
Got some primer on everything I could reach in there, will never be seen & hopefully never get wet again they are under the back seat
Not sure what to do with the 2 slide in ends that do show, I have some chrome paint, might try that? Moved on to a piece of plastic trim, half the texture paint was gone, shot a couple of coats of primer to see if I can sand it flat, good luck on that?
Then I messed with the rusty seatbelt parts
Got some primer on everything I could reach in there, will never be seen & hopefully never get wet again they are under the back seat
Not sure what to do with the 2 slide in ends that do show, I have some chrome paint, might try that? Moved on to a piece of plastic trim, half the texture paint was gone, shot a couple of coats of primer to see if I can sand it flat, good luck on that?
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RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
here's what I'm starting with.
After 2 coats of "chrome" paint!
I'll wait a couple of days & then plug them in, see if the paint comes right off?
not sure if I'll go crazy on these, see if the paint sticks first?
After 2 coats of "chrome" paint!
I'll wait a couple of days & then plug them in, see if the paint comes right off?
not sure if I'll go crazy on these, see if the paint sticks first?
RUSTY Cuda
In over my head!
OK guys, trying to clean up a bit, consolidate some boxes & get rid of stuffthat I will never use.
So to start with I have the windage tray of the 360 from the other car. going to junk yard if nobody can use it, it's FREE
Next is a headlight mount should work on all 72 up ebodies at least. 
2- 2 speed wiper motors, the one I started cleaning was working when removed, the other I have no idea where it even came from? 
& what I think is a fader switch harness with an extra switch. 
All FREE shipping free on all but the wiper motors, I'll just ask for anything over 10 bucks!
So to start with I have the windage tray of the 360 from the other car. going to junk yard if nobody can use it, it's FREE
Next is a headlight mount should work on all 72 up ebodies at least. 2- 2 speed wiper motors, the one I started cleaning was working when removed, the other I have no idea where it even came from? & what I think is a fader switch harness with an extra switch. All FREE shipping free on all but the wiper motors, I'll just ask for anything over 10 bucks!