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

[njsteve]

I tried, but since he blocked me, I couldn't get through! :-)

[njsteve]

I started on the rear differential. It is a 3.23 open and I wanted to at least put in Sure-Grip unit and replace the half-century-old bearings. I was considering upping the ratio to a 3.55 but after discussing it with Cass at DoctorDiff.com he said to stick with the 3.23's. The amount of change would be negligable. The reasoning was that a 3.23 running relatively short 26.45" tall F70x14 tires will be running almost the same rpms as a set of 3.55's with a set of 28" 275/60x15 tires. A real gear change like a 3.73 or 3.90 would result in some actual seat of the pants gains but I am looking for a crusier not a quarter miler with this build.

So essentially I already have the actual performance of a 3.55 with the shorter 14" tires.

So I am ordering a new Sure-Grip "Powr-Lok" unit and the install kit and axle bearings as well. https://www.doctordiff.com/8-3-4-clu...-powr-lok.html

Here's the smelly parts after I got eveything out today. The gear lube was dark but smooth. I had a piquant bouquet with thankfully, no metallic notes. The pattern looked nice.

Looks like the gear set is dated 5/21/1970 and a 1971 casting date on the housing. It appears to be a 29 spline pinion - it takes a 1-1/4 socket on the pinion nut.

[big gear head]

Be sure to measure the backlash BEFORE you disassemble it so you will know how to set it when you put it back together. Also do a pattern check with gear marking compound before you take it apart, and take pictures of the pattern. That way you will know if the pinion depth changed when you installed the new bearings.

[njsteve]

Setting up rear end gears is a magic that I don't have the skill (or tools) for. I will bring them to the local guys in town that set up my other rear ends. They did a great job with the Pontiac 10-bolts I had them do.

[njsteve]

Turns out the guys that I was going to have set up the gears closed up shop and retired earlier this year. So I will be bring the parts to Bontempo Brothers Competition (BBC) Speed Shop in Linden, NJ. Great shop, right out of the 1970’s. It’s just a much longer drive than my earlier choice. I had them do the 10-bolt from my 1972 Trans Am, fifteen years ago.

https://www.racingjunk.com/Services/...OP-SHOP.html#1

[sixt9rsx33]

Its great that you have those guys a drive away. Car looks fantastic!

[CTBob]

Hello, everyone!

Since I’m kinda’ “new to the dance” here (so to speak), I read the thread in it’s entirety (so I wouldn’t be from “The Department Of Redundancy Department"*). Yes! All 91 pages! Wow! Interesting! Insightful! Fascinating! Cool! …And, an absolute tribute to the voluminous & stellar work of Dave -&- Steve (as well as the input of all fellow enthusiasts)! (*With credit to The Firesign Theatre.)

To paraphrase the 1972 Alka-Seltzer commercial, “I can’t believe I read that whole thing.” For the renewed amusement of those who remember, and, the first-time fun of those who do not, here’s da link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFKifpMtlNs

I took notes along the way, and, believe that I can contribute some helpful commentary on a few different things. I’ll try to present 1, or, 2 at a time, as my schedule allows.

[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!

[Lee Stewart]

"Tom Hale (not to be confused with former head-of-design and fellow AAR owner Tom Gale), and he has created the event poster for the BJ auction for many years. He told me that in 1970 he was working in the Chrysler graphic arts department. He had created the AAR stripe and some other stripes, but was bored with stripes and wanted to design cars. While he was waiting for a departmental transfer his boss came to him and told him his next assignment was to design the stripe for the 71 Cuda. Tom was pissed and in a fit of rage he drew a stripe that covered the entire back half of the side of the car. He submitted the artwork and thought, "if you want a stripe I'll give you a f@#$%&g stripe!" To his astonishment management took the stripe seriously and it was approved."

[njsteve]

My new vocabulary word for the week: Lenticular.

Very cool trivia.

I think I still have a copy of that same hemicuda ad that I tore out of one of my grandfather's Popular Mechanics magazines. He always had the latest issue on his mantle above the TV (right next to latest Playboy Magazine). ;-)