Project Hooked

This fishing expedition begins many years ago with MOPAR maniac named Guy Olson. Guy is a mechanic at a local Rockford, IL based repair chain. Not just a mechanic, he is ASE Certified for total vehicle repairs, the shop foreman and an instructor to college interns. He was HOOKED as a kid on the first “pony car” to enter the muscle car era, the Barracuda! After many years and MOPARS later, Guy finally got a bite when he came upon this ’67 Barracuda at a friends local repair shop. The shops owners had this car in their family since new. It initially was a family car, and later a drag race car for the 2 sons. Unfortunately time took its toll, and it was in a sorry state of disrepair. However, Guy saw this as an opportunity for this to be a trophy fish with a Pro-Touring theme. The deal was made with the shop owners, and the sorry fish was picked up from a bed of weeds, slid onto a trailer since it had no suspension, and taken home to a nice dry garage.

As mentioned earlier, Guy is a MOPAR maniac! His past projects have included a ’66 Plymouth Fury, a ’72 Duster and a ghost flamed black ’72 AMC Javelin. All of these cars have won trophies at local car shows. The Javelin even took “Best AMC” in 2003 at the Belvidere Illinois MOPAR show held at the plant.

Not long after HOOKED was home, a “meeting of the minds” was called. The idea was to brainstorm with enthusiast friends and decide on what and how this floundering fish would be resitfied. Guy already had a vision of the finished fish, and wanted our opinion as well. Following is the results of the meeting:

1.Media blast the body and repair rust

2.Replace or match the (1) fiberglass fender

3.The color was chosen-dark maroon. Tasteful graphics reminiscent of MOPARS history, possibly with flat black accents on the body side, would be featured, including two different interchangeable flat black accented hoods (1 stock hood, 1-HEMI hood)

4.MOPAR 440 block bored and stroked to 507 C.I.D. pumping out 650 h.p. on pump gas, and possibly a power adder such as twin turbos.

5. 4 speed Automatic transmission with a Gear Venders overdrive

6.Full air bag suspension with ride height of approximately 4” (custom on “A” body front suspension)

7. Vintage style American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels, 18”x10” rear wheels, 17”x8” front wheels with 4 tread matched tires with a “V” pattern

8. Interior is to remain nearly stock, but add headrests with embroidered Barracuda emblems. Auto Meter in dash tach & speedometer with necessary gauges would be tastefully installed in a custom dash panel.

9.Narrowed Dana 60 or Ford 9” rear-end for mini tubbed body, air bag suspension

10.Centered exhaust exit under custom rear valence

11.Front fascia with styled custom lower air dam with electrically adjustable pitch

12.Steel rear spoiler (fin) molded into the body

13. Remove body side chrome trim, retain chrome bumpers, window trim, Barracuda emblems, gas door cap, grille and rear trim

14. Vintage Air conditioning system

15. Definitely updating the stock AM radio to a state-of-the-art entertainment center

16. 4 corner disk brakes

17. Headers

18. Shifter and shift kit

Watch the buildup in Mopar Collector's Guide magazine

Once completed (approximately 2006) the car will attend the Hot Rod Power Tour, and numerous car shows in the upper mid-west.

The PRO TOURING theme will enable this car to appeal to a wide audience, from drag racing, road racing, street performance, show, and possibly even drifting.

The tackle still needed to reel this fish in:

ENGINE- 400 c.i.d. stroked to 507c.i.d. short block twin turbo

1.aluminum cylinder heads

2. Hilbourn style electronic fuel injection (850 cfm carburetor if cost prohibitive)

3.intake manifold for Hilborn style electronic fuel injection or 4 brrl square bore if carbureted.

4.roller rocker arms

5.valve covers

6.oil pump

7.oil pan

8.air cleaner to fit either fuel injection or carb fuel delivery system

9.MSD ignition system and alternator

10.harmonic balancer

11.pulleys

12.brackets

13.water pump

14.belts and hoses

15.ARP fasteners

16.spark plugs

17.roller camshaft and lifter kit, timing set

18.starter

19.radiator

20.Optima battery

21.fittings and braided line

22.full vehicle wire harness

23.fuel pump

24. headers

25.exhaust system flowing into a DR. Gas Thunder Tube center exit

TRANSMISSION-727 TORQUE FLIGHT

1.race prepped trans and torque converter

2.deep aluminum trans pan

3.B & M Pro Stick shifter

4.Gear Vendors Overdrive

5.trans cooler

6.aluminum or carbon fiber drive shaft

FRONT SUSPENSION and BRAKES

1.custom conversion kit from torsion bar to air bag or coil over

2.complete disk brake kit designed to work with the custom i.f.s. listed in #1

REAR AXEL SUSPENSION and BRAKES

1.Dana 60 or Ford 9” narrowed

2. Detroit Locker

3.truck arm with air bag suspension

4.ring and pinion

BODY INTERIOR

1.rear LH quarter panel 1.front seat covers

2.fiberglass HEMI hood 2.carpeting

3.exterior chrome trim kit 3.Auto Meter gauges

4.grille 4.Grant steering wheel

5.full vehicle weather seal kit 5.stereo/entertainment

6.paint supplier 6.safety cage

7.Vintage Air system

HOOKED

Current companies assisting in the “resitification” of HOOKED

Aeromotive - Fuel Systems

Optima Batteries

MSD - Ignition