Rusty's not very quiet cuda progress

As I recall, you can't install the NSS harness incorrectly. Either way it's going to ground one wire or the other. If it needed to be specifically oriented, it would've been keyed so it could only go on one way.

How in the world do you make this wiring look neat!
The factory used all manner of wire retainers that clipped into the holes on the inner fenders. Reproduction kits are available, but I haven't shopped them yet... I'm more than a year away from needing them at this point. I'd suggest the usual suspects: Van's, Mega Parts, etc. If they don't list one for a '74, try to get something as close as possible. Do an image search for the area of the wiring on which your working as a guide; most kits don't include instructions. The factory parts books might have good illustrations, too.

Don't submit yourself to the frustration of trying to sort out some universal loom/retainer kit sold by speed merchants.
 
How in the world do you make this wiring look neat!
See that pair of holes there above the battery tray? I use black zip ties for those. You can buy OE-type retainers for it but there's less crying over cutting a zip tie and there's always one in the garage.

The firewall on my Duster has several fold over clips and the wiring was pretty neat on it before I ripped it all apart. I'd be surprised if your car wasn't as well equipped. You just have to get it laying in the right order so it comes out neat.
 
Started with the trunk mat, couple of spots needed some trimming...........20231123_134912.jpg20231123_134921.jpgLaid out a little flatter after the roll ups.20231123_134937.jpgI soooooooooooo wanted the white letters to show, but she won't go upside right!
1 jack spring is on the way, then the trunk will be done. 20231123_142203.jpg
put the drums & wheels on the rear......................20231123_151330.jpgHad one center cap that was pretty marred up, sanded on it a while & hit it with metal polish, a bit duller than the others. 20231123_145641.jpg20231123_154002.jpgwas going to put the bumpers on, can't find the old bolts, I need new anyway, when I pulled out the guards it was over for now, I got some cleanup work here, again with the nasty chrome part, nothing new till car is done.20231123_154822.jpg
 
Jass, what's your reason for not putting the brake lines on the rear, it would be so much easier to do them now while she's out in the open?
 
Jass, what's your reason for not putting the brake lines on the rear, it would be so much easier to do them now while she's out in the open?
I don't put the rear suspension in as an assembly like you do. There's no reason you can't install them now, assuming you'll have no reason to remove the U-bolts later.

Looking at lug nuts, anyone that says barracuda want about 100 bucks, there's a bunch on amazon & ebay generic at a buck or 2 each.
I need 1/2x20 but how long?
year one has a cheap set, will these work?
https://www.yearone.com/Product/challenger-cuda/mrg1442#prettyPhoto
Mr Gasket part number 1442 is both 7/16" and discontinued. Unless Year One screwed up the part number, I'm pretty sure those won't fit even if Year One somehow has old stock lying around. It's much more likely they screwed up the description. The shipping would be extraordinarily high anyhow.

The last regular nuts I bought were Gorilla 41188, which is a 1/2"-20 solid chrome (no stainless cover or cap) nut with a 3/4" hex. I bought them locally. The only lug nuts I've searched for online were for a very-specific seat type (ET/Ultra). Those wouldn't work with your wheels, so I can't point you in any one direction.

Make sure whatever you get has the same external hex size as the lug wrench you'll keep in the car.
 
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will try 1/2 20 x3/4 gorrilla search & see what pops up.

I will have a 4way lug wrench in the car, I never liked the one that came in the car!
 
Having trouble searching at vans, the other times I got what I was looking for, now the second I put in plymouth it pops to a screen saying they can't find what I want, never gets to model & year?

Got the bumper bolts, ball joint boots & ptfe grease at summit!
 
Holy crap guys I can't even find trim rings.
OER shows part # MW925, I think that's what I need, none of the dealers they list have online stores cept Jegs, go to Jegs & they don't show that #
I HATE searching.
Found a bunch on ebay, but they all show different widths. from 1" to 3"


What the heck am I looking for???

The OER are 14 x6 or 7 2 1/2" deep brushed with polished edge I think the finish is right, have to measure my old ones for the depth?
 
OER = Classic Industries. Same company. As far as I can tell, Classic is the only one with stock (or that even carries) that part number.

I see differing results on the actual depth of MW925, including on the OER site. The header says 2-1/2" deep, while the description says 2-1/4". I think 2-1/4" is correct. Whether or not they're worth a damn, I'm not sure. It seems strange that nobody else has them.

As far as why your spare doesn't fit: Muscle-era Chryslers didn't come with matching spares other than the occasional C-body. They were either space-savers with the inflator bottle or a plain steel wheel. Later models were available with matching spares, so they had a longer hold-down stud for the spare. Chrysler even made a center cap for those applications with a knockout in the middle of it for the hold-down stud:

caprallye-jpg.18739



On the cars that came with them, the knockout center caps were used on all five wheels, but only four of the knockout center domes were included--the ones bolted to the car. The spare didn't come with a center. If you got a flat, you snapped the center dome ("knockout") out of the flat tire and popped it into the hole on the spare. Knockout center cap was used in 1977-'78 on B- and F-bodies. A '75-'79 B-body hold-down stud would probably swap into your car, but I can't swear to that.

The knockout caps were by far the ugliest factory center caps ever affixed to a Rallye wheel. The knockout piece doesn't fit well and is always obvious. They're great for a spare, though, especially if you get one with the knockout piece intact (keep it in the glovebox or console).

Regarding the bumper guards: 99% of the world prefers the 1973-'74 cars without the gigantic buck teeth, especially up front. It's a personal choice, obviously. Removing the fronts was one of the first things I did to my '73 Challenger back when I was 17. I just put two more chrome bumper bolts in the holes. I left them out back, though, because there are contours in the valance that match them. You can't just remove 'em and call it a day.

Because the bumpers are an extra inch-plus away from the car starting in '73, the better-looking 1970-'72 rear guards end up hanging out in space. There's a huge gap between them and the valance when installed on the later cars. On my current car, I solved both issues by using 1970-'72 bumper brackets on both ends. They tuck the bumpers in close, eliminating the need for those huge silver urethane fillers between the bumpers and body on both ends. I won't have front bumper guards a'tall, and out back I have the flat chrome guards (no rubber) used in 1970-'71. In my case, I also went with 1970 bumpers to get rid of the unsightly jack slots. I'd never use a bumper jack on the car anyhow. I'll keep a trolley jack in the trunk for emergencies.

Here's a 1972 'Cuda with the factory tucked-in bumpers, no urethane fillers, no front and small rear guards:

1972-plymouth-cuda


1972-plymouth-cuda


1972-plymouth-cuda



Here's the later bumper/guard arrangement used in 1973-'74 only. This guy painted the fillers black, but they were always silver from the factory regardless of body color:

1973_plymouth_cuda_2_lgw.jpg


1973_plymouth_cuda_7_lgw.jpg


1973_plymouth_cuda_5_lgw.jpg


1973_plymouth_cuda_8_lgw.jpg



The bumper guards and fillers weren't installed because they looked good (they don't), they were installed because the Federal government enacted unrealistic bumper laws starting in 1973 and tightening them further for '74.
 
I might have to look into the shorter front mounts, I have a badly broken filler.
Valence slots are a problem. I'm also missing the lower bracket that goes from the frame rail to the lower bolt on the guard extension, not that I plan on backing into anything!
I'm not using the steel fillers behind the bumpers that should bring them in a little?
I lived in N.Y. when I got my brandy new one back in 74, the bumper guards were a blessing.
Had a 66 300, just had the rear bumper refinished & within days it got its first ding in a parking lot!

thought I hit classic, I'll try again.
 
OK, rings ordered, again & again & again, thank you Jass!

Got a bunch of holding up the works parts in, now if they all fit I'll be a happy camper, well at least till the next screw up! 20231124_192503.jpgBall joint boots & bumper bolts due in monday, but there not showing the grease, gotta go back & check the order?
 
I still have to double check the lowers & all the little ones, so far they look ok.

Just got the shipping notice on the grease, it's on the way separate from the other parts?

Well wish me luck today I will check the fit on the kickdown rod & try to put the 360 callouts on the hood, trying one of my glue repaired ones first!
 
I started with something I was fairly sure I wouldn't screw up.
Jack spring in! 20231125_124112.jpg
Then it was on to the rod, I think it's the right one but it may have had some creative bends added.
I could not get it in the second hole on pivot rod, before I messed it up with some bending of my own I remembered I replaced a slightly bent pivot, so what the heck I dug it out & was able to mount it. 20231125_125448.jpg
stuck in the bottom hole at full open it lines up 20231125_124953.jpgBut when I put the throttle connector on it pushes it back a little? 20231125_124910.jpgActually seems to have more clearance going down20231125_125029.jpg
one of the bends, she's cocked quite a bit? 20231125_125108.jpg
Looks like an extra bend going down20231125_130835.jpg
And up around the top?
20231125_130815.jpg
 
In the mean time I had the garage warming up, cleaned up the bumper guards a bit, not great but they will do for now. 20231125_145702.jpgNow I know the chrome paint looks terrible, but is it more terrible than a giant rust spot?20231125_152723.jpg
Got the new rod cleaned up & painted.20231125_153533.jpg
On to the hood, one of the plastic retainers actually split open putting it on the emblem, I did have to at least file out the paint in the holes to get them in.
Managed to get the broken on in without popping the glue joint. 20231125_150308.jpgused the new one on the other side & put the other repaired one & the 2 extra retainers back in the bag for when I loose one of these. 20231125_150754.jpgWith those in I could put on the insulation pad, Hood is done! 20231125_153609.jpg
 
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Me thinks they missed the bends by just a tad! 20231126_134030.jpgWith a bunch of creative bending I got them in, these are the first really off parts I got from inline tube, most of the other brake & fuel lines went in pretty close.
Anyway, not the crispy bends they should be but there in 20231126_140402 - Copy.jpgGot the rear bumper ready to mount when the bolts get here, dug out the front, I may be springing for at least one, not much left in the way of shine & she's tweaked on one end.20231126_153906.jpg20231126_153926.jpg
even found 2 decent old bolts to cover the guard holes up front.
20231126_154018.jpg
Got the kickdown rod ready to go in, the new piece had a one piece lower connector? 20231126_144020.jpg
 
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