I'm Heartbroken. Time to face reality that my Cuda is a parts car.
I have 2 notchbacks. Had my 67 for over 10 years. It's a gutted shell that I finished doing the metal work on. Its shoved in the corner of my shop, and I have a 69 notchback I am restoring w my son.
Because of a hack minitub job on the 69 in the late 1980s, along with rust and body damage issues I will have to replace the trunk transition pan, trunk extensions, inner and outer wheel houses, rear valance, both quarter skins, spare tire well, Dutchman panel, drivers side inner fender, and full main floor pan. Plus all the metal work and patching it will require besides all that.
It was an ex drag car so besides the typical 50 year old car rotted floors that have to be replaced, theres been holes drilled for **** everywhere, including on the cowl panel to mount gages on it outside the car. The studs for the wiper motor were cut off and a sheetmetal plate riveted over the hole, the console brackets were hacked off, a bunch of extra holes drilled into the trans tunnel, and the forward console bracket was crudely hammered flat. The angle bracing behind the rear seat was sawsalled out to make way for the pop riveted and siliconed in mini tubs, and the rear seat hooks on the floor and package tray were also crudely hammered flat.
Somebody also took a sander to it, then left it to the elements for a number of years. And since it was 3/4 of the way stripped out. Missing a front clip as well. It's been a 4 year scavenger hunt to find everything to put it together including every piece of hardware. Also being it was a parts car, the entire front suspension except torsion bars was also missing. I had to find a K frame and whatnot to make it at least a roller. It's like the 3 legged dog, with one eye missing, and an ear cut off that answers to the name lucky. We may just name the ole girl that. Shes lucky we found her, otherwise she was headed towards the scrap yard.
If you think your 69 is too far gone, then I cant imagine what you might possibly think of this one? At least you have more of a car to start with than we did. Pix below are of it. Car in the background behind the quarter skins is my 67.
I am almost 51, yeah I got issues with my body that slows me down. Nerve issues in my lower back that makes my left leg do wierd **** all the time is a biggie, and a real pain. Most people at this age have some issues starting. Buy a wire welder, an air operated die grinder with a cut off wheel, and like some other posters said, fix it one piece at a time. Its overwhelming to look at the big picture, but working one job on it from start to finish will get you there.
Your only 53 man that ain't old!!! You say you smoke and drink too much, dont eat right, well STOP!!! Correcting those things will make you feel sooo much better in a fairly short period of time, and prob help you live longer. Your pops died at 57, well that doesnt have to be you.
If you say it's too far gone and beyond your capability, then sell it complete to somebody who has the knowhow to fix it. I wish we started with something as complete as what you have. I have seen a lot of real talented people on this website do some real fantastic metal work and restore some really rotted crap. Maybe you can find somebody here on FABO who lives close by who knows how to do sheetmetal work who can help you. Just because it may be beyond your skill set, doesnt mean it's not fixable. 69 is the rarest year for 2nd gen barracudas. Cutting one up is a sin.
I have 2 notchbacks. Had my 67 for over 10 years. It's a gutted shell that I finished doing the metal work on. Its shoved in the corner of my shop, and I have a 69 notchback I am restoring w my son.
Because of a hack minitub job on the 69 in the late 1980s, along with rust and body damage issues I will have to replace the trunk transition pan, trunk extensions, inner and outer wheel houses, rear valance, both quarter skins, spare tire well, Dutchman panel, drivers side inner fender, and full main floor pan. Plus all the metal work and patching it will require besides all that.
It was an ex drag car so besides the typical 50 year old car rotted floors that have to be replaced, theres been holes drilled for **** everywhere, including on the cowl panel to mount gages on it outside the car. The studs for the wiper motor were cut off and a sheetmetal plate riveted over the hole, the console brackets were hacked off, a bunch of extra holes drilled into the trans tunnel, and the forward console bracket was crudely hammered flat. The angle bracing behind the rear seat was sawsalled out to make way for the pop riveted and siliconed in mini tubs, and the rear seat hooks on the floor and package tray were also crudely hammered flat.
Somebody also took a sander to it, then left it to the elements for a number of years. And since it was 3/4 of the way stripped out. Missing a front clip as well. It's been a 4 year scavenger hunt to find everything to put it together including every piece of hardware. Also being it was a parts car, the entire front suspension except torsion bars was also missing. I had to find a K frame and whatnot to make it at least a roller. It's like the 3 legged dog, with one eye missing, and an ear cut off that answers to the name lucky. We may just name the ole girl that. Shes lucky we found her, otherwise she was headed towards the scrap yard.
If you think your 69 is too far gone, then I cant imagine what you might possibly think of this one? At least you have more of a car to start with than we did. Pix below are of it. Car in the background behind the quarter skins is my 67.
I am almost 51, yeah I got issues with my body that slows me down. Nerve issues in my lower back that makes my left leg do wierd **** all the time is a biggie, and a real pain. Most people at this age have some issues starting. Buy a wire welder, an air operated die grinder with a cut off wheel, and like some other posters said, fix it one piece at a time. Its overwhelming to look at the big picture, but working one job on it from start to finish will get you there.
Your only 53 man that ain't old!!! You say you smoke and drink too much, dont eat right, well STOP!!! Correcting those things will make you feel sooo much better in a fairly short period of time, and prob help you live longer. Your pops died at 57, well that doesnt have to be you.
If you say it's too far gone and beyond your capability, then sell it complete to somebody who has the knowhow to fix it. I wish we started with something as complete as what you have. I have seen a lot of real talented people on this website do some real fantastic metal work and restore some really rotted crap. Maybe you can find somebody here on FABO who lives close by who knows how to do sheetmetal work who can help you. Just because it may be beyond your skill set, doesnt mean it's not fixable. 69 is the rarest year for 2nd gen barracudas. Cutting one up is a sin.
