1968 Barracuda - Let it begin (the last build!)

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Will you be using a factory roller cam block? Cheaper and easier than retrofit roller lifters.
 
Will you be using a factory roller cam block? Cheaper and easier than retrofit roller lifters.
No, I already have a 1968 318 in my garage that's never been bored.... I'll get a retro roller kit.

Jeff
 
I waited until after yesterday's car show, which was absolutely awesome, to start this.

I'm 54 with a bad back and can't keep wrenching forever.....so I'm rebuilding the Barracuda 100% completely to drive the piss out of it for the rest of my life!

By 100% I mean:
Engine
Transmission
Wheels and tires
4 wheel disk brakes
Altercation suspension (almost certainly)
Sub-Frame Connectors
Paint and body
Interior

I'm building it into a great DRIVER.....I want gobs of power, excellent braking, and handling like it's on rails.
Money is there to do this and if I don't do this now I'll regret it forever.
I have some very clear and written in stone ideas for the car that I promise not everyone will agree on. But it's my car, my vision and my dream.

First, let me get this out of the way.....the color.
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Yes, it's going GREEN.
I know it's a beautiful color already right now....and I know some will object to another green mopar.
Since I was a little kid I always fantasized of having a green Cuda. This is my chance and I'm going for it.
Trust me, it'll be beautiful.

Engine will be a 318/392 stroker, roller cam, aluminum heads, and fuel injection.
I'm hoping to work with RRR @RustyRatRod on picking the components etc because frankly I trust his opinion. ..along with input from all of you - I never close my ears to ideas.

Gotta have an overdrive of some sort for nice long drives.
MUST have butt-kicking AC! LOL....couldn't care less about the stereo.
The interior is the business end of the experience. ...like I said, bad back, so it's gotta be very comfortable and look great as well.

I'm not 100% on the altercation suspension but it has to handle, steer and stop as close to a modern car as possible.

I work a lot....a LOT....so I only really have weekends to work on this.....
The only things I'll farm out is the machine work on the engine and the paint and body work. I'll do everything else.

So, I have a great little running and driving car out there in the garage....kinda wondering where to start...
Tear it apart and get the body out for paint and get the engine out for machining is sorta what I'm thinking. .

Thoughts and comments are ABSOLUTELY welcome!

This is gonna be fun!!

Jeff
And they’re environmentally friendly!

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No rotisserie. ...
Oh, forgot to mention it's gonna get sub-frame connectors. ...
Yes, I was thinking about that last night. You definitely want to tie the frame. With my last Challenger I stroked my 318 and that thing was a beast. Good luck Jeff. It will be fun.
 
ask around about hydraulic retro rollers. It seems to me, I heard that, they are heavy pigs and don't handle revs well. But going from memory, they may have improved them in the last twenty years.
Solids will solve that.
The Magnums, IMO, are a better design.
And I have heard that the Magnum blocks have better metallurgy, with longer lasting cylinder walls.
And you can now get heads for them with LA intake bolt angles, so that intake selection is wide open now.
Something to think about.
Plus the last time I checked, the cost of hydraulic retro roller-lifters was ridiculous. For a streeter, I'd rather spend the coin on a solid flat tappet with the specialty foot.
 
You OBVIOUSLY didn't see my old 65 Barracuda then ?? Now owned by another member here BUT Green is definitely sharp on this car

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Ok.....update

I called Brian at IMM Engines in Indio California (just a little past Palm Springs) and talked at length with him about the engine I want built.....
I'm dropping off the block with him this coming Friday.
I'm just going to have him build it top to bottom. ....
318/392 stroker, retro roller cam, 10:1 max compression. ... he'll Dyno it and everything around $7500.
10 weeks to complete it....his shop is pretty busy right now.

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Also ordered my subframe connectors .....

Getting started......

Jeff
 
Congrats on getting to it, and make it like YOU want...you, the only person you have to satisfy.
I like to keep them drivable as much as I can while working on them, just keeps me more interested.
 
Sounds like a great build, Jeff. 10 weeks is not that long.

What kind of horsepower are you looking for?
 
I really like your plan, I would go with the Viper green if it were me. I'm just about 58 years old now, and I've been doing this all my life, so from experience, you're doing it at the right time. I spent most of the last 2 summers in my garage working on my 75 Dart, and this year I have zero motivation to do anything more with it. It runs, kinda, and I have driven it, but it's got some issues and I'm tired of trying to figure it out. I will watch your progress and look forward to seeing you roast the tires in celebration.
I think I would get the mechanics sorted out first before the shiny part, and I think your plan is going to come together really well, go, stop, and turn, all while being comfortable in a car you clearly love.
:thumbsup:
 
I took the spare 318 to Brian at IMM Engines yesterday!

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Brian is a great and very knowledgeable guy....really spent a lot of time talking to me about what I want and how I'm going to use the engine. ......I have 100% confidence in him.
His shop is busy.... it'll be about 10 weeks.
There was Gen 2 Hemi's everywhere. ....freakin awesome!

On another note, to transport the engine back and forth, I bought an engine cradle from Mancini Racing. ....small block mopar engine cradles are almost nonexistent as you might know.
All of the hardware was loose and scattered in the bottom of the box but worst of all, the punched holes in the square tubing were misaligned. ....BADLY. I mean like a quarter inch off.....pathetic.
Damn thing wasn't cheap either.....I expected better for what I paid.....whatever.

Anyway, things are in process. ....whohoo!

Jeff
 
1968 318 factory bore 9.2:1 pistons with full floating rods.

If you are tossing them out, you can toss them my way. :thankyou:
 
Subbed as well!!

I’m a little ahead of you but, going down the same path

Also, my fastback was originally FF1 green like yours and when I get around to the body will go back some green close to it

can’t wait to see your progress!!
 
Here is what she looks like right now....going to paint next week

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Parts are arriving almost daily now...the engine will be ready in a couple more weeks...

Jeff
 
The supply chain may be a challenge right now?? Maybe get a wish list of parts. With each part get a couple of suppliers? Contact them about lead time.
Also maybe talk to paint n body/resto shop to see what they offer as advice?
Good luck!
7 months out on seat covers from Legendary
 
ask around about hydraulic retro rollers. It seems to me, I heard that, they are heavy pigs and don't handle revs well. But going from memory, they may have improved them in the last twenty years.
Solids will solve that.
The Magnums, IMO, are a better design.
And I have heard that the Magnum blocks have better metallurgy, with longer lasting cylinder walls.
And you can now get heads for them with LA intake bolt angles, so that intake selection is wide open now.
Something to think about.
Plus the last time I checked, the cost of hydraulic retro roller-lifters was ridiculous. For a streeter, I'd rather spend the coin on a solid flat tappet with the specialty foot.
"specialty foot" ?
Inquiring minds want to know.
 
Looking good Jeff!!!

Did you select the specific paint color yet? I know green but I may have missed it if you told everyone the final decision… course you may be keeping it secret :)

heard anything on your Alterktion?
im like 11 weeks in and still patiently waiting… this everything on backorder sucks for sure
 
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