My First Mopar- 1966 Barracuda project

BenNSB · Aug 13, 2021

moparmat2000 said:
Was riding on donut spares. Can you even buy a 13" tire these days?

The tires I bought it with were late ‘70s Sears Roebuck trailer tires, 145/60 r13. Looks like Michelin still makes them. My coworker bought a Kei Van from Japan and outfitted it with 13” alloys. He said the rims were for some Chinese car.

BenNSB · Aug 13, 2021

Got a tropical depression headed my way so decided to test my a-pillar repairs. Windshield and new gasket went on rather easily. If it’s water tight I’ll prime and paint the seam, cowl, pillars and roof, then install the dash and reinstall the windshield. Painted the fender emblem inset black like it was decades ago.

BenNSB · Aug 18, 2021

Pulled out the trim from the interior, seems like it was all there. Found all the headliner bows and even the one year only trunk spring rod in good working order. I plan on tackling the spare section trunk patch then the floor boards. I polished up the rear seat latch/cargo bar, it turned out fairly well considering what it was. Might try to fashion a rear trunk divider out of starboard. Got plenty to do now. Sorting, prepping and painting the interior trim metal is high up on the list. I retro fitted a voltmeter to replace the ammeter and now need to retrofit the tach.

BenNSB · Aug 20, 2021

The wood grain finish had worn smooth a long time ago and mold spots started showing on the plastic which was more of a purplish brown nowadays. I’ll miss the look of the metal center section all around the wheel, but I like the color of the leather cover. My baseball stitching is getting better. Well worth the $14 spent.

moparmat2000 · Aug 20, 2021

Is that a wheelskins cover? I have one, I am just kinda apprehensive about my abilities to stitch it on.

BenNSB · Aug 20, 2021

moparmat2000 said:
Is that a wheelskins cover? I have one, I am just kinda apprehensive about my abilities to stitch it on.

I think the brand was BELINOUS? Real leather, I ordered it size matched for steering dimensions. I did my Firebird and used convoluted tubing to fatten the grip up. The stitching just takes patience and cinching it tight about every 4 thread crosses. Took me about an hour and 15 minutes.

moparmat2000 · Aug 20, 2021

Cool. I got one for my 69 barracuda rallye wheel. It's from wheelskins. Looks a lot similar in construction. But then again, theres not a whole lot of difference in leather covers like this.

BenNSB · Aug 21, 2021

Found the squirrels’ acorn stash. Seems the geckos moved from the garage and made the squirrels’ nest their new nursery.

Good news is the floor metal was solid outside of the floor pan area. I won’t have to replace the driver side passenger well, it is just surface rust. I’ll plug weld the “race” exhaust hangar bolt and patch the other 3 foot wells and spare tire section.

Re-keyed a tumbler I had on hand along with a different Briggs and Stratton key. Glove box is locking now.

Also found the working turn signal switch. Stalk was rusty, it polished back up to driver status.

Hoping to get the floors done soon so I can spray the underside with Raptor liner and move on dropping the engine an transmission in.

mpgmike · Aug 21, 2021

Dude you're my "Make it look awesome on a pauper's budget" Hero!

BenNSB · Aug 23, 2021

About 90% done with the driver floor pan. Too hot and humid to work in the oven of a car. I did sort my trim and was surprised how many duplicate pieces I’ve wound up with. I’m missing my “PLYMOTH” (the “U” was missing when I got it) trunk letters and a front passenger arm rest. Going to have to dig through my bins to find those again. The trim polished nicely, even the bad side is looking pretty spiffy.

BenNSB · Sep 11, 2021

Spent the day working on the passenger side floor pans, front and rear. Going to seam seal, then spray Raptor liner, then sound proof insulation. Got to finish the driver side and spare tire well. The gas pedal cleaned up nice, the brake pedal pad crumbled when I took it off. Ordered a new one.

GGs66GT · Sep 11, 2021

Coming along nicely, keep at it .

BenNSB · Sep 12, 2021

Let the fun begin.

Martythetrimmer · Sep 12, 2021

some good progress there...what's the tramp rod from, any better pictures of it? Is it connected, or just sitting there? I'm working ideas through for my Dodge and that's what I'm looking for!

BenNSB · Sep 12, 2021

Martythetrimmer said:
what's the tramp rod from, any better pictures of it? Is it connected, or just sitting there?

It’s the stock traction bar. I pulled the 8.8 rear off a Mercury Mountaineer instead of a Ford Explorer. I left them on and pulled the mounting plates that were inside the SUV’s frame rails. They mocked up facing to the rear, I don’t think they fit in the forward position, how they were mounted stock in the SUV. Looked like they would mount to the rear rails of the Barracuda, but I wasn’t sure.

BenNSB · Sep 12, 2021

And got a ways to go but it’s better than what was in there... It’ll look much better when fill the relief cuts (probably why I got it cheap), seam seal it, and spray in the Raptor Liner.

BenNSB · Sep 15, 2021

Driver side pan in. At least the floor behind the back seat is in good shape. Going to pick up seam sealer tomorrow.

BenNSB · Sep 16, 2021

Picked up seam sealer along with a lifetime supply of acid brushes (paint store only sells bulk). Worked on the car 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, no lunch and just a break to drink some iced tea. Patched driver rear floor, filled in relief seams on trunk patch, seam sealed the floor patches and trunk. Waited an hour, primered over the seam seal, scuffed up the floor, swept and shop vac’d the area, wiped down the floor, masked off bolt holes, pedals and dimmer switch, went to town with the Raptor Liner.

BenNSB · Sep 16, 2021

Gratuitous mock up of the 2002 Viper seats. The dash and steering wheel are going to be icing on the cake.

BenNSB · Sep 21, 2021

When I got the car someone had already painted the engine bay black. Figure I had to take care of that before I can drop the engine in. I massaged the firewall and bent the lip back to clear the 727 bell housing. I plan on painting the k-member and torsion bars black.

Got to prep and spray the underside with Raptor Liner, run all the new brake lines and fuel line, drop in the engine and trans, figure out pinion angle and weld new perches to the 8.8’s axles, then order a driveshaft.

Keith Mopar · Sep 21, 2021

Dam she's looking real good.

I like your 'do 1 part at a time approach' right in the driveway!

BenNSB · Sep 24, 2021

Forgot to take a before pic. Rebuilt the ‘74 Dart caliper, installed new rotor, bearings, pads, and brake hose. Passenger side is next.

BenNSB · Sep 29, 2021

Cleaned up the workspace. Driveway looked like Mars under the car from the floor pan removal. It rolled easy enough. If all goes well, there maybe an engine in the thing by this weekend.