Meet the Crusher Cuda!

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CrusherCuda

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 7, 2021
Messages
94
Reaction score
68
Location
Battle Creek, MI
I'm a new Mopar owner and have alot to learn. I just picked up this 1966 Barracuda with a 1966 Dart front clip. This was in the local wrecking yard. I saved it from the crusher. The car has a fairly solid floor, but rust in the cowl and heavily dented cowl and roof. The plan is to use a 65 Dart donor car to fix the sheet metal and replace the mechanicals missing as well. I have a 360 V8 being pulled at the same yard and will pick up soon. Still looking for a trans and rear axle that will hold up to 300 to 400 hp. This will be a budget starter drag car inspired by Roadkill on Motortrend and I hope to drag race it at Roadkill Ziptie Drags and Roadkill Nights. Budget is around $3000 and so far I am in budget. I have also sourced disc brakes from a 1974 Dart. I needed a break from my other projects, so this is supposed to be cheap and dirty fun. I need a win!
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Welcome from Kansas. We have passed through Battle Creek many times on our way to see the daughter and grandkids in Canada. Before we got an RV, we used to stay at a Holiday Inn Express there that was pet friendly. I also saved my 69 Barracuda from the crusher, so good job. Have you thought about drivetrain and color plans?
 
Please tell me you are keeping the 66 Dart nose on the Barracuda and adding a proper 66 Dart grille, cause that just seems cool to me, maybe cause Dad had a 66 Barracuda in the 70s and now a 66 Dart parked in his shop.
 
Welcome aboard from the West side of the Mitten State! You have found a great site!!
 
Welcome, sounds like you enjoy a challenge. There is an old wrestler song, Do The Crusher?
 
I'm a new Mopar owner and have alot to learn. I just picked up this 1966 Barracuda with a 1966 Dart front clip. This was in the local wrecking yard. I saved it from the crusher. The car has a fairly solid floor, but rust in the cowl and heavily dented cowl and roof. The plan is to use a 65 Dart donor car to fix the sheet metal and replace the mechanicals missing as well. I have a 360 V8 being pulled at the same yard and will pick up soon. Still looking for a trans and rear axle that will hold up to 300 to 400 hp. This will be a budget starter drag car inspired by Roadkill on Motortrend and I hope to drag race it at Roadkill Ziptie Drags and Roadkill Nights. Budget is around $3000 and so far I am in budget. I have also sourced disc brakes from a 1974 Dart. I needed a break from my other projects, so this is supposed to be cheap and dirty fun. I need a win!
View attachment 1715734591

Great job on saving another Early A Body.
 
Welcome from Kansas. We have passed through Battle Creek many times on our way to see the daughter and grandkids in Canada. Before we got an RV, we used to stay at a Holiday Inn Express there that was pet friendly. I also saved my 69 Barracuda from the crusher, so good job. Have you thought about drivetrain and color plans?
I just picked up the 360 SBM and 727 transmission from the wrecking yard from a running wrecked 72 Polara, but someone replaced the heads with later ones, so not as good as I had hoped for, but still good. Maybe someday I will paint it, but for now I will focus on putting the car back together and making a pass down the drag strip. I do favor the original red though.
 
Please tell me you are keeping the 66 Dart nose on the Barracuda and adding a proper 66 Dart grille, cause that just seems cool to me, maybe cause Dad had a 66 Barracuda in the 70s and now a 66 Dart parked in his shop.
I am keeping the 66 Dart front clip. The Barracuda was missing it's front clip, so I harvested one from a 66 Dart in the same wrecking yard. I may get the proper grill and headlight bezels later, but for know I just want the car functional. I think I would also need to find better fenders if I painted the car. The bottom of the fenders are rusted on both sides. All of these parts were crusher bait, trying to put them to good use.
 
As a quick update. My goal was to build a budget Mopar for $3,000 or less. Well, the base parts met that goal, but to make the car function, I think I will be lucky if the budget stays around $5,000. We will see. More to come.
 
Dartacuda?
I played a around with names. I saw some other "Dartacuda" cars, but I think "Crusher Cuda" had a better ring to it. I also toyed with "Mini Mayhem". If you watch Roadkill on Motortrend you may understand. Other than the budget, all rules are out the window. I'm just lucky I found a good 360, so I can keep a Mopar heart beat in her.
 
As a quick update. My goal was to build a budget Mopar for $3,000 or less. Well, the base parts met that goal, but to make the car function, I think I will be lucky if the budget stays around $5,000. We will see. More to come.
:poke::rofl: good luck with a budget.
 
I'd be tempted to leave the dart front end and really mess with people.
 
Welcome to the site !!!! Glad you saved it from the crusher !! Roadkill projects are absolutely my favorites ! You are going to have a ton of fun :)
 
welcome aboard


what are some of the other projects you got going on?
I'm a Ford guy that secretly lusted for a someday Mopar car. My other projects are a 31 Model A Roadster, 53 Chevy 3100, 66 Mustang, 77 F150 Shortbed 4x4, 79 Bronco, 80 F100 Shortbed 4x4, and 90 Ranger. The one Chevy is my wife's. I can't just have one car. There are too many cool ones. Mopars can be expensive, so when I found this 66 Barracuda for $600, I jumped at the opportunity to save it. My first car memory involes a yellow 71 Roadrunner 383 4 speed car. First car I ever went to look at as a possible first car was a 64 Barracuda. First car me and my dad worked on together was a 50 Chrysler. Somehow I ended up with Fords, but always wanted a Mopar.
 
Welcome aboard, I pull a 904 out of a ramcharger and built it, or had it build i should say, it will fit your tunnel perfectly, and hold up
 
nice

i used to have a 87 bronco...still kinda disappointed i had to let it go, but it was either part with it or torch it
 
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