Drove the 64 Barracuda Home Lastnight

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nerd racing

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It finally happened, I drove the car! Did the 25 mile trip from the garage I was formerly renting to my place without too many hassles. I did notice the carb needs tuning (too rich and doesn't idle well when it's warmed up), the temp gauge was creeping, I think I have a drip leak coming from my exhaust stud in the rear passenger side, and my front shocks are shot. The car floated and bounced a bit and my exhaust scraped a couple times.

Other than that it ran like a champ and made the trip. I plan on running it this summer as is, with a for sale sign on it. If it doesn't sell then I'm improving the handling and making it how I want it. The things I plan on doing will probably not be everyone's cup of tea so before I dump a lot more money into it I am going to try and sell it so I can get a 67-76 A body that I like a bit better.

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For sure. I'd be afraid to drive your car with the quality of your restoration. It's going to be better than when it rolled out of the factory.
 
nerd racing said:
For sure. I'd be afraid to drive your car with the quality of your restoration. It's going to be better than when it rolled out of the factory.
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I hope not! Then it would be overrestored...!LOL

But starting to use the car you have been working on is a true pleasure. The feeling when you drive what you have acomplished is sweet.
 
Reality of the early Barracuda world is do what you want with it! They do not have the value to worry about anything! I know as I am on my second one first a 66 now a 65 Formula S both had not numbers matching motors so I did what I wanted to with them! First one ended up being a street/drag strip car low 12 second runner with a well built 318. It unfortunately got wrecked by a old man who creamed it by mistake backing out of his driveway! The current love of my life is a 65 formula S that has been on a rotisserie and mechanically restored 100% Also a 318 just not so built up yet. It ran a 14.5 quarter one day at the track. It however is a street car for sure just still needs some light body work and a paint job to finish it off. I call it a hole I throw money into as its value is far less than I already put into it! However I love it and enjoy driving it to shows and weekend car hangouts around the North side of Chicago! So Keep it and do what you want to it, make it yours and enjoy it! I love when people look at it and ask me what kind of mustang it is or stupid stuff like that! I laugh and tell them it is a Barracuda and has the largest piece of glass ever put in a car!! They just smile and shake their heads saying I never saw that before!!

65 Cudalover!!
 
That news deserves a big 2 thumbs up!! Congrats on the maiden voyage!! Now, you didn't think you were going to get by without a few tweaks here and there did you? That would mean that you were done, and we all know that they're never really done!! Withou something to do on your Mopar, what would you do with all your free time anyway!!! Geof
 
Oh believe me, the car is far from done. I had to add a temporary push button to the dash because the horn stopped working on the way to the inspection shop. And I drilled the hood for the hood pins (never had a working latch and someone welded up the latch rod hole).

If I build it how I want it the car will have a super stiff chassis, the gold will be gone, and I'd like to use a 65 dart front end with 64 dart front bumper and turn signals, and make a grill similar to the 64 Charger concept car.

Then the Interior I'm thinking black and adding more modern high back buckets and harnesses for safety.
 
Great first trip, sounds like ya got hotrodder blood!!!! Hey those 67-9 cudas lack that great back glass!!!!!!
Guy asked me why i bought that 65 cuda, big ugly back glass and all ?: Told him" moving to colorada, gonna grow wacky weed back there,(greenhouse????), will be a mobile pot business, grow and delivery all in one!!!!! What ya think!??????????????
 
That is fantastic you are ready for the cruising for the summer. the more you drive it the more you will appreciate what you have and be prowed of your work.
 
I've been tinkering with cars since elementary school. It started with me helping my dad fix the cars so he could get to work the next day, and then I got sick of holding the flashlight. By the time I was 16 I had 3 cars and my parents only had the two. In my college years I messed with Mazda cars because I couldn't afford muscle cars. I've built mainly Fazdas (Ford cars with Mazda drivetrains). I had a couple escort GT swapped ford aspires and one aspire with a 2.5L 24 valve V6 out of a Probe GT. That thing was crazy, anything below 3rd gear was useless. Now that I have some job experience and am doing well with my engineering degree I can afford to get back to my favorite brand, Mopars.
 
the 64 models are not going to get crazy prices yet they will sell for good money if you don't try to make them into "Concours" ready cars. New interior and paint is all most need if the drivetrain is in good shape. A restoration shop overcharged me lots of money before I moved my 64 to a reputable place and the whole thing fresh and new will run about 10k. THe owner said several people visitin ghis shop and another car-related shop next to his ask about the car all the time. They are not mustangs, chevelle's, nova's and other dime a dozen cars people pay too much for and think they are "one of a kind" Have fun with it and be proud it stands out in a crowd.
 
I agree. Get some dart fenders and hood and make a one of a kind dart fastback. I love the later style cars too but I wouldn't trade my 65 barracuda for anything. The early cars are light nimble and all the later stuff works but exhaust and k member. Put your front end parts in the for trade section for some dart parts and get started..
 
Good idea about the trade part. Didn't think of that. I want to enjoy it over the summer though. I'll do the front end swap and body work over the winter.

THE CAR PASSED NYS SAFETY INSPECTION TODAY!!

I can now drive it legally. Cheapy shocks came in the mail today too. So tonight is wiper blades, shocks, and getting the alternator tested. I'm swapping out the voltage regulator because it isn't charging and the alternator looks really new, the regulator looks original.

Looking forward to driving it this weekend to my parent's place. My dad is a chevy guy and has a 71 Chevelle. Can't wait to leave two stripes when his car only does one ;)

Now that it's going I'm going to have to do a proper build thread.
 
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