Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback

[1967 'cuda]

Still shaken by the experience I got out to inspect the trailer. What did I find? Apparently when I had stopped for gas the time before and adjusted the trailer axles further back, it had lowered the trailer tongue enough to make my wiring drag on the ground. In the dark I hadn't seen it. I gassed up and headed to a close by Walmart for electrical tape, wire strippers, crimpers, and butt connectors. 20 minutes later I was on my way again. If I was tired before, I was wide awake now.

The rest of the route through Texas and Oklahoma was peaceful. I stopped along the way for some chili dogs, beans and barbeque. I had decided to treat myself after my narrow escape. My next gas stop was in Kansas. I was driving North on the I-35 Kansas Turnpike. My stomach was starting to gurgle from the spicy food I'd had. After filling the truck back up I went to use the restroom but the line was so long that I decided to try the next gas station down the road instead. That's when I made my next mistake. I didn't realize that there was more than one exit from the gas station. I needed to go North but I took the Easterly exit instead.

 

[1967 'cuda]

It took me awhile to realize my mistake. There are NO gas stations between Wichita, Kansas and Topeka, Kansas on the Kansas turnpike. That's 140 miles! I could not exit. There was no place to stop or turn around. I might not have crapped my pants earlier but it was taking one hell of an effort not to now. I didn't actually know I was heading to Topeka until I got there. After relieving myself, I studied the map to find out how to get back on course. I didn't want to drive North from there because I wanted to re-trace the route I'd lost my billfold on. So I took I-70 West back to where it met Highway 81. - Another 111 mile trek. My mistake had added another 250 miles to my trip.

5 hours after I'd taken the wrong turn I was back on course. It was starting to seem as though I'd never get home. When I finally turned back onto Highway 81 I knew it was time to start keeping my eyes open for anything that resembled a wallet across the meridian on the Southbound lanes. Once again, the sun was starting to set. As I was driving I saw a Kansas state patrolman stopped alongside the road. I pulled over and told him about my wallet. Although I couldn't pinpoint a location, he said he'd keep an eye out for it.

Nebraska was just ahead. Although it was dark I could recognize landmarks now. It felt good to cross that state line. A drizzle had started but I was within a few hours of home. I was following an SUV as I drove up 81. A few miles South of York, Nebraska I noticed a semi truck on the West side of an intersection we were approaching. Just before we got there, he pulled out. The SUV in front of me locked up his brakes and was sliding sideways trying to stop. I locked up the brakes on the truck and trailer as I tried to avoid slamming into the SUV and the semi. In the lit intersection I could see the Chevelle in my rear view mirror leaning heavily against the tie down straps. We both narrowly missed the truck.

The last hour of my trip went by without incident. But like Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, sometimes, "There's No Place Like Home!"

 

[Cuda68Scott]

See what happens when you get involved with a Chevy haha! Good story, waiting on the outcome on the wallet....

 

[67 prostreet gt]

Damn

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[1967 'cuda]

See what happens when you get involved with a Chevy haha! Good story, waiting on the outcome on the wallet....

Four months later I received a call from the Walmart in York, Nebraska saying that someone had turned my wallet in. Half of the money was gone but I still recovered $400 of it. By then I had already cancelled and replaced my cards, gotten a new driver's license and given up on ever seeing it again. I'm not sure but I think whoever found it decided to keep half of the money as a finder's fee.

 

[1967 'cuda]

They had a swap meet at the High Impact Performance (all Mopar) Car Show. I didn't buy much but I did get a manual steering gear for $20. It was pretty grungy but a few hours of scrubbing and a bit of polishing and it looks pretty good.

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[Abodybomber]

they had a swap meet at the high impact performance (all mopar) car show. I didn't buy much but i did get a manual steering gear for $20. It was pretty grungy but a few hours of scrubbing and a bit of polishing and it looks pretty good.

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score!

 

[1967 'cuda]

Life is never as easy as it's supposed to be. FedEx dropped off the new fuel line today that I'd ordered. I bought it off eBay from a vender called rkmperformanceparts.
It was supposed to be a stainless steel line and I immediately noticed it wasn't. So I read the part number on the line and looked it up on the Right Stuff Detailing website. It won't fit my car. It's a line for a '64-'66 Barracuda. I called Right Stuff up and verified the information and got the correct part number that I needed. After contacting the supplier I've got another line coming. I know that crap happens but does it has to happen so often?

I am verifying that everything is ready by assembling as much as I can before the new motor arrives. The MSD mini starter, linkage, transmission cross member, and driveshaft loop are in place.

One of the holes on the driveshaft loop was drilled undersized and will have to be re-drilled. I'm glad I found that out now before I was under the car trying to figure out why I couldn't get the bolt in.

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[1967 'cuda]

Now I've got to figure out what to do with this 318/904. I swapped the Edelbrock valve covers for $20 bucks and a pair of chrome replacements.

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[MRL Performance]

Ok the new 360 stroker is done. I will post the video and dyno sheet when I get a sapre minute. It nade 520HP @ 5700 and 537TQ @ 4200

500+TQ from 3000-5400

500+HP from 5000-6000

That should do it for this A body. A hell of a difference from the 318 Im sure!

Idled well at 850 with 11-12 inches of vacuum

 

[1967 'cuda]

Ok the new 360 stroker is done. I will post the video and dyno sheet when I get a sapre minute. It nade 520HP @ 5700 and 537TQ @ 4200

500+TQ from 3000-5400

500+HP from 5000-6000

That should do it for this A body. A hell of a difference from the 318 Im sure!

Idled well at 850 with 11-12 inches of vacuum

That's great Mike! Thanks for the post. Now if I can just stop running into problems with the rest of the car...

 

[1967 'cuda]

The air grabber style air cleaner I'd bought was a reproduction with a fiberglass base. There was no mounting bracket to attach the base to the carb or lid to the base. No problem, I made my own bracket out of a bar of mild steel.

The next issue was that the hole for the carb was too big. To overcome that, I masked the top of a Holley off with a combination of tin foil and masking tape. I used the tin foil to act as a filler for the openings in the carb. - It acted as a form-able surface that my tape could stick to. I used 80 grit sandpaper to roughen the gel coat on the base and give me an adherable surface.

After masking the carb I mixed up a couple ounces of resin to build up the area that needed it.

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[1967 'cuda]

I still hadn't gotten the brake lines finished on the Dana. Today I went out to start working on them. I don't know yet what's going on but the pinion seems to be locked. I can't rotate the tires. The car rolled out of the garage fine 3 weeks ago. I checked and the brakes and tires are not having clearance issues. I am not running a park brake. There is no drive shaft in the car yet. ??????? Gremlins?....

 

[733404spdCuda]

After designing the new logo I went to a local vinyl shop to have some decals cut. Eventually I did decide to keep the metallic gray color for the body. The new paint has just a little more pop to it though. There is a hint of candy pink and candy blue added in. It's hard to see it unless you're up close and looking for it. For the stripe I went a gloss black. It is painted on with a clearcoat over everything.

In hindsight I wish we hadn't put clear over the decals. Unfortunately it left a slight whitish look around some of the edges. It's not very noticeable when the car is clean, but when it combines with a little dust, it really shows up.
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Although I liked the general look of the car, it needed something to give it a little more zing. I decided to black out the center of the trunk panel trim and paint the inside of the Barracuda emblem orange.
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I moved the antenna to the rear quarter after I found out Plymouth did it on their AAR Cudas to clear up radio reception problems caused by using the fiberglass hood. Fortunately the new fiberglass fenders came without an antenna hole in them.
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These Rodlites are a dual bolt pattern wheel. To give the wheels a bit more pop I decided to add a little color with these red anodized plugs.
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Larry had talked me out of leaving the hood painted a flat black. It was too hard to keep clean. I took his advice and went with a satin finish instead. The side of the scoop was begging for some kind of lettering. It was another area that I chose to put a touch of orange. I'm still not sure I'm satisfied with the font design I made.
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Damn birds!
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I replaced all of the rear trim on the trunk, but it took me a while to find the 2 pieces that were missing here.
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My goal was to have a racy look that was both subtle and had some 'pop' to it. I added an orange pre-filter to the air cleaner to give it a bit more detail.
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:thumbup:
WOW that is one of the best looking Barracuda I've seen in a long time! I Love it

 

[1967 'cuda]

Thanks 733404spdCuda. Every time I think I've got things dialed in like I want, I see pictures of other Barracudas that really blow me away and make me wonder if I should have done differently.

I talked with Mike from MRL today. He is such a great source for information! It sounds like the earliest the 408 will show at my door will be the 30th.

 

[733404spdCuda]

After designing the new logo I went to a local vinyl shop to have some decals cut. Eventually I did decide to keep the metallic gray color for the body. The new paint has just a little more pop to it though. There is a hint of candy pink and candy blue added in. It's hard to see it unless you're up close and looking for it. For the stripe I went a gloss black. It is painted on with a clearcoat over everything.

In hindsight I wish we hadn't put clear over the decals. Unfortunately it left a slight whitish look around some of the edges. It's not very noticeable when the car is clean, but when it combines with a little dust, it really shows up.
View attachment 1714702453
Although I liked the general look of the car, it needed something to give it a little more zing. I decided to black out the center of the trunk panel trim and paint the inside of the Barracuda emblem orange.
View attachment 1714702454
View attachment 1714702455
I moved the antenna to the rear quarter after I found out Plymouth did it on their AAR Cudas to clear up radio reception problems caused by using the fiberglass hood. Fortunately the new fiberglass fenders came without an antenna hole in them.
View attachment 1714702456
These Rodlites are a dual bolt pattern wheel. To give the wheels a bit more pop I decided to add a little color with these red anodized plugs.
View attachment 1714702458
View attachment 1714702457
Larry had talked me out of leaving the hood painted a flat black. It was too hard to keep clean. I took his advice and went with a satin finish instead. The side of the scoop was begging for some kind of lettering. It was another area that I chose to put a touch of orange. I'm still not sure I'm satisfied with the font design I made.
View attachment 1714702459
Damn birds!
View attachment 1714702460
I replaced all of the rear trim on the trunk, but it took me a while to find the 2 pieces that were missing here.
View attachment 1714702461
My goal was to have a racy look that was both subtle and had some 'pop' to it. I added an orange pre-filter to the air cleaner to give it a bit more detail.
View attachment 1714702462

Thanks 733404spdCuda. Every time I think I've got things dialed in like I want, I see pictures of other Barracudas that really blow me away and make me wonder if I should have done differently.

I talked with Mike from MRL today. He is such a great source for information! It sounds like the earliest the 408 will show at my door will be the 30th.

LOL... don't we all do that when building these cars??

I would be proud own your car, its got classy sinister looks and will be bad *** with MRL HP.

Now that your motors done I'm hoping Mike jumps on my Bullet, summer is in the air.

 

[1967 'cuda]

LOL... don't we all do that when building these cars??

I would be proud own your car, its got classy sinister looks and will be bad *** with MRL HP.

Now that your motors done I'm hoping Mike jumps on my Bullet, summer is in the air.

Mike is doing you a motor? Cool. I more or less told him before the build that I wanted as much HP as he could squeeze from a small block that would run on pump gas, run cool, and be be reliable (within my budget). I didn't want to get in the way of which choices he was going to make as long as he met my criteria. - After all part of what I was paying for was his expertise. I could have gone for more power yet, but I was already having to reach pretty deep into my pockets for other projects.

I was looking over that black Oklahoma '68 Hemi Barracuda at the Omaha car show last weekend. - Now THAT was gorgeous! It made me wish I had put a cell in my car when I saw his. I hadn't realized how much the stock tank hides the Dana. When I saw the pictures of COMPETITION 's red '69 Barracuda I loved the way that dual snorkel hood scoop looked on it. I guess if I had the time and the funds I'd love to be able to build at least a half dozen of these Barracudas a half dozen different ways, and stealing ideas from everyone else.

 

[cawley]

I feel your pain my friend LOL

 

[1967 'cuda]

I did a quick swap test fit of the manual steering gear today. Everything looks good but I'm still waiting for the FIRM FEEL adapter. - Thanks to airwoofer, THEWHITEZOMBIE, and 67 prostreet gt for all the info and offers on doing the swap. It went a lot easier after getting advice. - THANKSABUNCH!!

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[Abodybomber]

Nice numbers, on the new long block. Should be a damn strong runner,in a light Cuda.

 

[1967 'cuda]

Nice numbers, on the new long block. Should be a damn strong runner,in a light Cuda.

Abodybomber, everybody wants to shoot for the moon on a dyno run. It would have been really really cool if Mike had said he managed to squeeze 700 HP out of it. But a year ago I was thinking that 400 horses would have been awesome. I'm glad I had the 440 Duster dyno'd last weekend. According to Mike's numbers, the Barracuda will actually be putting out more power. I can truly say that it's been a pleasure doing business with MRL.

 

[airwoofer]

Ok the new 360 stroker is done. I will post the video and dyno sheet when I get a sapre minute. It nade 520HP @ 5700 and 537TQ @ 4200

500+TQ from 3000-5400

500+HP from 5000-6000

That should do it for this A body. A hell of a difference from the 318 Im sure!

Idled well at 850 with 11-12 inches of vacuum

Is this a copy of the little blue monster?

 

[1967 'cuda]

Is this a copy of the little blue monster?

???

 

[MRL Performance]

Is this a copy of the little blue monster?

No its not. We have upped the ante on the "Blue" engine. We are now getting 575HP out of that combo on pump gas.

 

[airwoofer]

No its not. We have upped the ante on the "Blue" engine. We are now getting 575HP out of that combo on pump gas.

What did you change on it? Still the same heads and cam that I copied or is my SB now obsolete?

What's in this latest one?