Lynn’s Barrcuda rescue

[CudaJason]

Not perfect but 100% better.

 

[CudaJason]

I also go the front wheel wells cleaned up and fresh coat of paint and undercoating sprayed.

 

[CudaJason]

Now that sheetmetal stuff had been addressed it was time to get after mechanical stuff. I started with a new fuel tank and sender followed buy a new set of super stock rear springs along with an 8 inch for rear axle swap. I know it’s not the best rear in the world but the 64 mustang unit I had was dimensionally the same as the 7 1/4, it had a 3.25 gear and a trac loc in it and I already had it, and was way cheaper than rebuilding and swapping to a big bolt pattern on an body 8 3/4.

 

[CudaJason]

With that done and installed it let me check the wheels I had slated for it. 15x7 torq thrust D rims and 255 60 15 tires. Yes the fit after rolling the fender lips.

 

[Scott_ 69HemiDart]

Very cool! The car is looking Great!

 

[jos51700]

I don't know why, but those rocker panel 'Plymouth' decals really set that car apart! Dang!

 

[CudaJason]

I didn’t take any pictures but after I got the engine compartment handled I went ahead and pulled the heater/ac box out. I replaced the frozen blower motor and put in a new heater core plus resealed the box and then Reinstalled the heater box.

 

[CudaJason]

While I was taking care of the sheetmetal and paint in the engine compartment I pulled all the engine harness out and cleaned and tested all the wires just to make sure. Once that was done it was time to move I. To the new engine for Lynn’s Barracuda

 

[Inertia]

Nice job, keep up the good work .

 

[GGs66GT]

Good grief ! When you get after it you don’t mess around !

How long has it taken to get to this point ?

Looking good

 

[CudaJason]

I was able to find a 2000 5.9 magnum on marketplace for a real good deal. Plus with all the parts that Lynn had collected through the years I had most everything I needed to put a 70 LA timing cover and pulleys on it. I picked up a Chinese air gap intake and a nice set of NOS Holler black crinkle valve covers. I tore the motor down to short block to inspect the bores and all looked good. I was he. Pulled all the lifters out and disassembled them cleaned them completely and reassembled and checked the preload.

 

[CudaJason]

Good grief ! When you get after it you don’t mess around !

How long has it taken to get to this point ?

Looking good

This all started in June of 2024

 

[CudaJason]

Once I got the engine cleaned up, a little clearance grinding in the drivers side head for the early manifold to clear and swapped on a 70s 360 oil pan it was ready for paint and final assembly. I used Chrysler industrial red, as it’s my favorite one with 2 k clear o. Top.

 

[CudaJason]

I did switch the alternator out to a single groove pulley one before I got the engine I. The car.

 

[CudaJason]

A little out of order but by this point I had already stripped repainted and rebuilt the front suspension, a set of 75 dart discs and installed a new flaming river steering box Lynn had bout 20 years ago for it.

 

[CudaJason]

With the motor and and the front K member wrapped up it was time to move on to brakes. I made all new Brake and fuel lines with rolls of Nicop tubbing and stainless graven guard.

 

[CudaJason]

I had already done the rear axle when that was put together. I used a stock rear brake hose and ended up swapping the front brake hoses to 73 B body brake hoses so I didn’t have to deal with the steel tube coming off the caliper. The calipers would be put on the back side of the spindle so as to clear the sway bar In The front

 

[CudaJason]

With brake lines and fuel line wrapped up it was time to marry motor and trans and put them on the K member. Lynn had had the trans rebuilt just 50 miles on the 727 before his brother blew it up and I took the chance, and just cleaned it up and used it. I made new cooler lines with AN hose and fittings and kept my fingers crossed it was still good.

 

[ProjectBazza]

This is right about the time I say, "Uh-oh!"

 

[CudaJason]

Now that it was all married together it was time to get it all put into the car. I had already set the motor and trans bolted to the K member onto a couple harbor freight dolly’s to roll under the car. So I put the rear wheels in the ground, used the engine crane to pull up the front of the car and rolled it in from the bottom.

 

[CudaJason]

For putting the motor to the K frame I used a set of Schumacher Creative Services motor mounts and man those made it easy. Now that the motor, trans and K member were back in, it was time to wrap up the odds and ends to make it run and drive. I got the discs installed with the rebuilt upper control arms. Then got the throttle linkage worked out by cutting up a factory throttle/kick down linkage bracket. I used a Lokar kick down cable kit because I just could not come up with the right combo of parts to make it work right. For a radiator I used a Jegs brand aluminum radiator for a 70 b body with a 22 inch radiator. At 250 bucks it is way nice and fits pretty much perfect.

 

[CudaJason]

This is where the pictures start dropping off and not being near as detailed. The original plan was to have the Barracuda running and driving and towed down to Alabama by August 16 for my father in laws birthday. Unfortunately on July 29 my wife got the call from her Stepmom that he was not doing well and she dropped everything and caught a flight from Virgina to Alabama to help him. It was decided then and there that I would do what ever it takes to get it together enough to run and drive enough to take Lynn for a ride in it.

 

[CudaJason]

I spent Thursday night and all day Friday finishing up whatever else was needed. Testing electrical bleeding brakes getting a rudimentary alignment done on it and cobbling together an exhaust for it, as there was now way the TTI exhaust I had ordered for it would get here in time.

 

[CudaJason]

By 1200 Friday August 1 2025 I had cobbled together an exhaust using flexible tubing got it together enough to drive it half a mile around in my neighborhood before loading it onto the trailer to leave for Alabama in the morning. I was blown away at how great the car looked on the trailer and I knew that Lynn would be very happy to see it in its new state

 

[TT5.9mag]

Excellent job and cool story so far.