My First Mopar- 1966 Barracuda project

[BenNSB]

Fence post caps. I saw this on another forum, a Duster running earlier Mustang Bullitt rims said a guy at a Mopar meet told him about them. I think I’m going to epoxy a nut to the cap and use a fender washer and machine screw to hold securely in place.

 

[barbee6043]

A few years back, I did a 65 Cuda in that white and added a gold stripe down its middle. It had gold int. so it made sense. I loved it. It was a 273 2 barrel console auto car.

 

[BenNSB]

Cleaned up the vent window, door handle, and lock tumbler. Installation was easy. Might tackle the window crank today.

Also cut down the rest of my center caps.

 

[BenNSB]

Leaded in the holes on the front of the hood. (I removed 3/4 inch worth of Bondo where the front hood peak got smashed in from a fender bender.) Skimmed it with plastic filler after rough shaping and stripped 1/3 of the hood to bare metal. Would like to get high build primer on it tomorrow and have it blocked and coated with color on Sunday, weather permitting.

 

[JayinMI]

Just saw this on S10forum this morning. lol Nice progress.

 

[BenNSB]

Stripped hood down, only one small dent up top. Welded in the holes that won’t be covered by the hood scoop. Been at it since 9 am, I’m sure neighbors are delighted I’m packing it up for today after I spray final coat of primer. Going to block sand tomorrow and spray color on Sunday.

 

[BenNSB]

Block sanding went well, hood is all smooth with just a few pinholes to fill and the color coat can go on. Picked up front disc brake assembly from a ‘74 Dart in JAX (thanks crvtec90!), and changed the oil and did the brakes on my Acura TL. Pretty productive day.

 

[BenNSB]

Color is laying down nicely on the hood.

 

[crvtec90]

Really lookin forward to seeing it on the new wheels. Are you gonna leave it stock ride height? Maybe tweak the torsion bars a bit and flip the front leaf spring brackets.

 

[BenNSB]

I think I’ll put a little bit of rake on it and drop the front to leave an inch or two above the front tire. It has multiple position shackle hangers on the back so I can adjust the rear that way.

 

[BenNSB]

This turned out better than I thought.

 

[BenNSB]

I guess it’s on to the fenders and passenger door next.

 

[BenNSB]

Little by little... Had to remove the door to remove one last nut to get the fender off. Leaded in some spots. Fill, prime, sand, paint, repeat.

 

[Rustyfish]

Little by little... Had to remove the door to remove one last nut to get the fender off. Leaded in some spots. Fill, prime, sand, paint, repeat.

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It's not necessary to remove the door to access the fender, in fact, it's usually the other way around as long as you remove the inner fender splash shields. But that'll make it easier to paint that A pillar anyway.

When I pulled my driver side fender, I discovered 1/2" thick bondo halfway down the entire panel. Picked up a good one from someone else on this board.

 

[BenNSB]

It's not necessary to remove the door to access the fender, in fact, it's usually the other way around as long as you remove the inner fender splash shields. But that'll make it easier to paint that A pillar anyway.

Haha, when your bolts come off... Splash guard lower bolt wouldn’t budge and the fender nut by the door was caked in crud and wouldn’t budge either even after soaking it a day before with PB Blaster. I had to remove the door to use my torch to heat and a good 1/2” wrench to carefully remove the nut without breaking the bolt stem.

I had one inner fender nut pop out, but I did get the bolt out without damaging it. It’s fun taking apart bolts that haven’t been touched in 30, 40, 50+ years.

I’m going to have apart and back together about 3 or 4 more times, painting it in sections. I will say it is way easier to assemble the Barracuda parts than my Firebird.

 

[Rustyfish]

Haha, when your bolts come off... Splash guard lower bolt wouldn’t budge and the fender nut by the door was caked in crud and wouldn’t budge either even after soaking it a day before with PB Blaster. I had to remove the door to use my torch to heat and a good 1/2” wrench to carefully remove the nut without breaking the bolt stem.

I had one inner fender nut pop out, but I did get the bolt out without damaging it. It’s fun taking apart bolts that haven’t been touched in 30, 40, 50+ years.

I’m going to have apart and back together about 3 or 4 more times, painting it in sections. I will say it is way easier to assemble the Barracuda parts than my Firebird.

Ah yeah, sometimes these are a *****. Heat/torch has been a great friend to me.

 

[BenNSB]

I mocked up the rear end, need to weld new perches and adjust the pinion angle. Got the driver side disc assembly on. Kind of looks like a gasser with no drivetrain weighing the front down. Ran out of daylight today.

 

[BenNSB]

Removed the passenger drum assembly, waiting on lower ball joint for the disc assembly. Got fender down to metal and coated in primer.

 

[BenNSB]

Driver fender painted.

 

[Hyper_pak]

Looking good, man! We are watching you and your doing good!

 

[BenNSB]

Color shows a little better in full sun.

 

[Matto]

Nice build, you have some real dedication to your projects!

 

[BenNSB]

Upper and lower ball joints on, it’s a roller now. Torsion bars were cranked all the way up from its racing days, I lowered the front and moved the rear springs to the top shackle position. I’ll get that fender emblem straightened soon.

 

[Alley Cat]

Been watching your progress, your moving right along and looking good, We are also working on a 66 Barracuda it's scattered and splattered blasted and primed. had to cut the floor out of the 65 for the 4 speed hump. now for the fun stuff but I don't work as fast as you do. We are in Ormond Beach and go to NSB Canal St cruise in will look for your car.

 

[BenNSB]

Now for the fun stuff but I don't work as fast as you do. We are in Ormond Beach and go to NSB Canal St cruise in will look for your car.

That’s pretty cool, and thanks! I go in spurts, I’ll take a hiatus but when I get set to work on something I have a stopping point in mind and will work nonstop until I get what I had in mind accomplished. Hopefully I can have it done by Fall and I’ll be able to make it the 1/2 mile to Canal St, haha!