65 Barracuda Driver

[Chuter]

This time last week my wife and I were loading her daily driver in preparation for a trip diagonally across Ohio to look at this '65 Barracuda. We've been looking for one for a while to drive to shows while my '36 waits for me to finish my "yardwork" and other projects so I can get back to figuring out where I am on it. We found this on Facebook, at a used car dealer in Cleveland. It's been repainted, in a color neither of us would have chosen, but it appears to be very solid and pretty much original. It's got a V-8 (I'm assuming an original 273) and auto trans. We put it on a lift in their service department, and it seems to be real solid. Wish I'd done that with the '36! I drove it around a bit, and everything seems to work. They will be delivering it this week or next.

Our plan is to gradually improve the things that need it, without taking it all apart and taking it off the road. There is a leak at the fuel sender, (the tank appears to be new stainless) and another at the fuel pump (oil). Much of the interior is in a state of decline, looks like sun damage. There's a BB sized hole through the outer layer of the windshield (with no spiderwebbing), and it still has the single master cylinder. The fuel filter is one of those clear plastic jobs, and is a very dark brown. The dealer put new plugs and wires in it (although 2 are laying on the exhaust manifold).

I'll get a closer look at some of this stuff when it gets here, and I'm sure we'll discover other issues as we use it. My initial focus is going to be on safety and reliability issues, saving the comfort and appearance for later. We'll see how my wife adjusts my priorities!

 

[Plymouth 65]

Nice looking 65 Barracuda, great find! 65

 

[Dana67Dart]

Very late production car! cool!


SO=715 => July 15th 1965
Number=00024 or 00034? => SO number
B=V => Valiant (also includes Barracuda)
D=8 => Barracuda or Taxi
Y=9 => Barracuda


T=P => Premium front bucket seat
R=4 => Vinyl bucket seats
M=X => Black


P=W => Upper body / roof color White
A=W => Body color White
I=1 => monotone
N=blank => no stripe
T=B => upper door frame color Black


AB=30 =>273 2 bbl
C=Blank
D=5 => Automatic
E=5 => Heater w/ defroster
F-V=Blank
W=4 => Unknown
X-Y=Blank
Z=2 => Front bucket seats and console

1=1 => Left manual outside mirror
2-0=Blank


All codes came from this document I don't know of its accuracy

https://www.earlycuda.org/techdocs/6265FenderTagDecode.pdf


You should be able to get a copy of your IBM card from Stellantis Historical.

Chrysler Historical new contact info.

it can take 2-4 months so be patient

 

[mopar head]

Every pic looks a different color, what is it? silver, white, grey?
congrats on the new ride.

 

[Dartnut]

Welcome to the site, have fun with the car!

 

[Chuter]

Every pic looks a different color, what is it? silver, white, grey?

It's silver. I'll get better pictures when we get it home.

Dana67Dart, thanks for the decode on the tag.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Dana67Dart, thanks for the decode on the tag

Does it match well?

 

[Chuter]

Does it match well?

Yes. Only thing is it's now silver, but I'll look closer when it gets here, it was likely white originally. I know it was fairly recently repainted. Overspray on lots of things. I'll have to learn about getting that off of rubber and chrome.

 

[mygasser]

try a craft knife and or a razor blade. keep them almost flat on the chrome and almost 90 degrees on the rubber.
neil.

 

[Chuter]

try a craft knife and or a razor blade. keep them almost flat on the chrome and almost 90 degrees on the rubber.
neil.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Figured it probably isn't rocket science, but also something I could really make a mess of if I did it wrong!

 

[Chuter]

The car arrived Monday, but still haven't seen the actual title (the dealer did text me a picture of the title in my name last week). Looking at the fuel filter,

I decided to replace it. That only took 2 trips to NAPA (first one was for 1/4" lines, mine are 5/16). Looking at the goop coming out of the old filter, I decided to drain the tank and clean it. That turned into a bigger adventure than I expected. The Factory Service Manual came in very handy! Thanks to the member(s) here on FABO that keeps pushing that, and the link to the free download. In the end, I was glad I took the time to do so.

I'm still in the process of cleaning the tank, but I don't think I'll replace it. there's some rust on the inside, but not a lot. I've ordered a new sender, fill tube, cap, and grommets. I already got a sender seal and ring from Detroit Muscle, since one of the points I noted when I looked at the car before I bought it was a leak at the sender, and this kit seems to have the best chance of success, based on reading here.

I had noticed that the gauge was on zero when the care arrived, and was going to check out the sender as part of this job. Not necessary.

I think the pickup sock and the float account for some of the plastic or rubber like debris in the tank.

I couldn't get a good picture of the fill tube, but the spot where the cap screws on is really buggered up. The tank is labeled to be removed slowly, as it may be under pressure. From what I can tell, it's for a mid 70's car, and the tabs on the inside are totally different, and was forced into place. I might be able to straighten the old one out, but since I'm ordering parts, and don't really want to go through this effort again, I just went ahead and spent the money.

 

[Chuter]

There are lots of other opportunities on this car, but I'm going for safe and reliable first. I still need to check out the brakes, and plan to convert to a dual master cylinder. I noticed that the car will roll downhill when in park. That's probably more serious and costly than I want to think about.
I also need to get another one of whatever this is called:

Since the one on the other side is missing the inner piece:

Also need to figure out the trunk prop:

It sorta works, but when I have it in place, the trunk won't come shut enough to latch. It feels like there's a coil spring down inside. Lots of opportunities, but so far not bad for a 60 year old car.