Restoring a 65 Barracuda
This is a continuation of my restoration thread started earlier in the year. A lot has happen since then so I finally have written an update. The engine is next.
It's been 4 years since I started the restoration of my 1965 Barracuda Formula S car. This was my first A-body resto and it proved challenging to say the least. A significant number of my challenges were caused by an array of incorrect restoration parts collected by the person I bought the car from. After this person had collected parts for 3 years, he decided the restoration was more than he could handle and put the car up for sale as a package of car and parts. Here is a lesson I learned: when a seller says, "I have all the parts to complete the restoration", don't believe it.
In addition to the Formula S package, the car was optioned with a 4 speed transmission, power steering, factory A/C, bumper guards, backup lights, radio, remote outside mirror, wood grain steering wheel and Barracuda silver buffed paint.
The car spent all of its life in the west which means rust was minimal. However, it appears the CO owner of the car back in the 70s and early 80s lived on a dirt road and had several driving mishaps that resulted in body damage to the front end sheet metal. Quality of the repair work was a joke, the car was repainted in an awful blue-green color and the beatings continued. Fortunately for me the sills, engine compartment, door jams and inside trunk areas were not painted. By the time I bought the car, the front splash shield was junk, driver side fender was crumpled, hood was twisted and somehow they managed to rip a 3 foot long gash in the floor board.
But, like so many of us, I just had to have this car because of the options and color. My obsession to own it should have been tempered with more caution, more questions and a lot less trust in the sellers description. Oh
20/20 hindsight. President Regan said this about the Russians back in the mid eighties
I believe what they say as long as I can verify it. Unfortunately in my case, the car was 600 miles away, so verification was via pictures, phone calls and emails. You dont really know what youve got until the restoration process begins. I know now I paid way too much for what I got
my obsession was expensive, but I got what I wanted. My wife was supportive, so I have no complaints.
There were a couple of other tidbits about the car that fed my buy this car obsession. Somehow after 45 years, the car retained its original engine, transmission, rear end, radiator, distributor, carburetor, radio, fender tag, and 75% of the build sheet. I knew this before agreeing to purchase the car. The western PO (previous owner) was not a kind and gentle steward for this car, as he/she made no modifications to the car. (Uh ..well other than installing speakers in the rear trunk divider and mounting a CB antenna in roof . When I got the car, the interior and exterior looked like death warmed over from sitting many years outside in the CO sunshine.
Im sure a lot of readers have car restoration experiences similar to mine. While I dont consider my experiences unique or out of the ordinary to other restoration projects, this 65 Barracudas four year long restoration have been a very unique learning experience for me. Prior to this, I had never completely disassembled all the systems of a car ( ie. engine, rear, transmission, dash, A/C, wiring, interior, etc.) and then reassembled all the systems to work collectively once again.
I found problem solving to be a major component of time and effort. Trying to figure out the correct parts that were missing or incorrect and then obtaining suitable replacements would have been much more difficult, if not impossible, without the internet and especially online forums such as FABO. I am grateful for the extensive knowledge FABO members have tucked away and more importantly, their willingness to share what they know. I am proud to be a FABO member and feel compelled to return the favor by sharing what I have learned from my restoration.
The engine is next
