At V8 Speed & Resto Shop, restoring classic muscle cars is more than just a job; it’s a passion.
One day, a 1973 Plymouth Cuda rolled into the shop, its striking lines a bit dulled by time, and its once mighty 340 cubic inch V-8 engine showing signs of hard miles. This wasn’t going to be just any job. The owner wanted a complete underhood restoration—returning the engine bay and its components to their original glory, if not better.
The first task was removing the tired and greasy engine. It was a beast, but our team made quick work of it, carefully disconnecting all the hoses, wiring, and mounts. With the engine out and set aside, we got our first real look at the underhood area. Years of use had left it coated in grime and grease. The once-vibrant paint that matched the exterior of the car had faded badly, and rusty patches were beginning to creep into the corners of the bay.
After a thorough cleaning, the full extent of the rust and wear became apparent.
Thin, rusty spots were scattered across the engine bay, and the original factory paint was barely recognizable. On these Cudas, the factory had painted the engine bay the same color as the exterior, giving the car a seamless, clean look when it was new. However, years of heat and exposure had taken their toll. It was time for some serious TLC.
The team set to work on rust repair and patch panels. The thin spots were cut out and replaced with fresh metal, carefully welded and blended so that they looked as though the rust had never been there. Once the structural integrity was restored, attention turned to prepping the entire underhood area for a full repaint.
Every bracket, clip, and component that could be salvaged was restored. The alternator and power steering brackets, the coil mount, and even the little things like the battery tray were removed, degreased, sandblasted, and refinished. If a part couldn’t be saved, it was replaced with an exact reproduction to keep the original look intact.
Turning the corner
After the rust repairs, the next step was laying down the fresh paint. Using a premium-grade primer, the entire underhood area was prepped for color. Bodywork was performed in the same way it is on the outside of a show car. The paint mix was matched perfectly to the original exterior hue of the car. We carefully applied multiple coats of paint, making sure the surface was flawless. By the end, the inside of the engine bay gleamed with a mirror-like shine, looking even better than it had when it rolled out of the factory over 50 years ago.
Meanwhile, we had turned our attention to the 340 V-8 engine itself. Every gasket and seal had been replaced, the heads and block were inspected and cleaned, and the internal components were brought back to factory specs. Once the engine was fully restored mechanically, it was time to give it a fresh coat of paint. We mixed up the original light blue color that these engines came with from the factory. The soft hue contrasted beautifully against the vibrant underhood paint.
With the engine now looking brand new, it was time to reinstall it. Carefully, the engine was lowered back into its gleaming cradle. The freshly restored brackets, hoses, and components were meticulously connected, ensuring that everything functioned as perfectly as it looked. Wiring was rewrapped in factory-correct harnesses, and all connections were tested and rechecked.
No more “Open Hood Anxiety” for this ‘Cuda!
The result was outstanding. When you open the hood of the 1973 Cuda now, you’re greeted by a perfect fusion of restored originality and precision craftsmanship. The fresh engine bay is more immaculate than even the exterior of the car, a subtle yet powerful reminder of the care and effort poured into the restoration. The light blue engine, with its gleaming brackets and flawless components, sits proudly in its newly rejuvenated home, ready to roar back to life as though it had never aged a day.
The owner couldn’t have been happier, and the V8 Speed & Resto team? Well, we were already onto the next classic in need of a little love, knowing that nothing beats the feeling of breathing new life into a legend like this Plymouth Cuda.
Check out the complete underhood restoration photo gallery:
