73 Cuda 340 4 speed. Bought off the car carrier in 1972. I drove it 7 years than parked it. Now bring it back to life. Having it restored. First part of restoration the bottom of the car. The bottom of the car has been taken apart, no engine, trans, rear. cross member, nothing left. All sheet metal parts are being taken down to bare metal than primed and painted factory color. (More money than I thought it would be, weeks stripping paint) Now the engine compartment is being done to. The engine is going to be painted the factory color (blue). Here is the question. With the engine out. Do I put this original engine back in or do I get another engine and put that one in and keep this one on the stand. Doesn't seem like a lot of people like crate engines. Which is better, never have done anything like this before. I don't want to ruin the original engine because it has about 85,000 miles on it. They haven't said anything about reworking the engine. But than funds are running a little low. If you had unlimited funds would you do it differently. Once I get this part of the project done I will have to garage it awhile because I don't have the funds to paint the body or fix the interior it needs a head liner, carpet and repair the bucket seat bottom material. Anybody have ideas. I am just trying to save money in the long run.
