The Crusty Cuda: Whole lotta Shakin' (N96) Goin' on!

[big gear head]

Keep em comin.

[A12pilot]

Crusty is coming back together! Should be here in about a week!! Kid in a candy store? That's me! Drunk in a brewery? That'd be me again! But only in a craft brewery....... I'm kind of beer afisheun..afficioal..affic...eh, what's that college word for snob? Well, unless it's free, then I'm all over it! After all, I am a cheap pilot!

Cheers
Dave

[flyingn]

wow Dave! Its going to be an amazing Cuda when its done. I cant remember last time I seen a shaker on a 275 ho 340 either. Very nice!

[A12pilot]

Jim,

Drums have the paint so I'd assume it had them too. Car gets picked up today and here Friday! More pics shortly.....oh, I know you'd notice that bezel! BTW...I need a pair of original 340 3-Pin Shaker Hood emblems. You have a set? Should be easy to find

Cheers
Dave

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

With the red drums in evidence - it could have either 14 or 15" Rallye wheels....or 14" Road wheels.
Is the original spare in it? If it has a space saver then it was more than likely 15" Rallye wheels.

I'll ask around on Shaker Emblems....check Ebay...but be careful!

Have a look at Barry Washington's site....lots of good info.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library.shtml

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/...racuda0032.jpg

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/...ries%20(3).jpg

[A12pilot]

Jim, yeah, good info. I talked to Barry a few times. His site is a great source of info. No original spare in there, which leads to debate on the wheels. And the spare tire mounting stud is long gone which would have indicated if it were space saver or steel wheel based on its mounting positon. But..... two 14" Ralleye wheels on the car are dated 3-23-70 and Crusty's SPD is 4-30-70, so good chance they are original to the car. Speedo gear is for 3.23 F70x14, which adds to the 14" conclusion. I do have past owner info I can contact and see if they may recall. Second owner had the car from mid seventies on, so he might know. But James is a pretty good sleuth and think he'd have already tried to figure it out and his conclusion is 14" Ralleyes with full sized spare. But I'll keep digging! I'm thinking it's 14" Ralleye as well.

She's on her way here! Picked up last night and should be rolling to TX tomorrow or Saturday!!! And so it begins.....

Cheers
Dave

PS: Yes... bubble shouldn't be black!

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

Originally Posted by A12pilot

PS: Yes... bubble shouldn't be black!

Dave - Contrary to the current urban myths - Shaker bubble could be black or argent in 1970. Lot's of examples of both on good, original cars

Good sleuthing on the speedo gear!

[CTBob]

Originally Posted by RS_COPO_Canuck

Dave - Contrary to the current urban myths - Shaker bubble could be black or argent in 1970. Lot's of examples of both on good, original cars

Good sleuthing on the speedo gear!

The first is regarding the shaker scoop (bubble) paint. Going waaaaaaay back to Dave’s comment (Post #42, on p. 5), which is encapsulated in Jim’s above comment (#65 on p. 7): Yes! The shaker scoop could be painted either Textured Argent -or- Black Organisol, however, there was one exception. Because the hemicuda feature car in the advertisements was painted FE5 Rally Red, all ‘Cudas with shaker hoods, which were ordered in that color, in 1970, were REQUIRED to have a matching red shaker. In fact, many customers said that they ordered the car BECAUSE of the red shaker! The problem which incurred the ire of those who were in the body & paint department on the assembly lines, was the semi-herculean effort it took to make them look good! The shaker scoops had a rough finish from the factory, with imperfections which were covered by the texture of either the argent, or, black. In order to achieve an acceptable finish which matched that of the sheetmetal, it required quite a bit of sanding, and, filling, otherwise the smooth, glossy red finish would only amplify the imperfections! In an assembly line scenario, where time is money, all that extra massaging was not welcomed!

(Note: The only incident of greater magnitude of design-viewed-with-disdain by factory personnel l of which I am aware was the case of the ’71 ‘Cuda “billboard” engine call-out decals (which I had heard were designed by a college student intern who majored in Graphic Design). I have heard that an internal memo, from production to the design department, was an emphatically stated, “Never make a decal that big again!!!!” (or, words to that effect). …And, I vividly recall the arduous & protracted installation process, back in ’85, on Steve’s EV2 Tor Red 440+6 ‘Cuda droptop. After we spent something like 10 hours per side applying them, I sure can understand why! (They sure did look great, though!))

PS I've included my favorite ad of the era. My next-in-line fave is the Rally Red '70 hemicuda "wearing" the "large economy size" mod floral print tie, emanating from the center of the grille.

PPS …And, finally (for now), if anyone knows the whereabouts of a '70 lenticular flasher promo button which says, "Whats Hot & Shakes? It's Hemicuda!," please let me know! Thanks so much!

[cook_dw]

[scuncio]

Man will that ever be cool when you’re finished with it.