1968 Barracuda - fitted with Mercedes 750hp Twin Turbo V12 + Drivetrain/Suspension

[aristonspeedshop]

Hi
New here and going to share the build. The car owner is my good friend and a life long car guy, Mike Hoover - Hoover Mercedes in Parker, Colorado. He grew up drag racing with his Dad, old school car guys, and has 20yrs or more in a a top Mercedes Tech. He was part of the High Altitude Development Team for the new SLR.

I am David Gossett - Ariston Speed Shop - Colorado Springs, C0....... a Hot Rod Fabricator who has been doing everything from Customs to European Restorations. I will do all the fabrication, body/paint, most of the interior, and who know what else.

The car is a 1968 Barracuda. The motor is going to be a Mercedes Twin Turbo V12. 750-800hp depending on the final tune, we'll see. The transmission and drivetrain will be all Mercedes. 6spd auto I think?? I am going to fit the front and rear suspension sub frames onto the Cuda, which bot will have huge disc brakes, ABS, Traction Control, and Ride Control. All the components will absolutely handle the HP.

After being around the Mercedes, and Mike working and playing with them, I have developed a new found respect for the brand. The motors can, and do kick out some serious reliable power. Smooth as a sewing machine too.

The first order of business is to blast the body to bare metal, fix anything, then start beefing the old unibody up to handle the HP and new suspension. I will try to keep the thread updated and current as I can.

Let the fun begin !!!!!!

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[neongreen]

I'll be watching this one closely! Very cool!

[JustJohn]

I used to play with Jag V-12s. Still nothing quite like the sound of 12 cylinders at high revs.

[prossi]

You going with the M275 AMG or the regular M275?

[meatonastick]

It's a little weird to see someone mixing Mercedes and Mopar, but man that thing will be mean when it's done. Plus it's nice to see something different, especially from someone who knows what they're doing. Good luck on the build and I will definitely be watching this one.

[aristonspeedshop]

Mike is going for the AMG V12 which is 6 liters, and a 285 series motor. The transmission is a 5sp auto.

[aristonspeedshop]

Got the Barracuda installed on the rotisserie today. It is going in to the media blaster on Wednesday. Tim at American Stripping in Colorado Springs will be doing the blasting.

[Wraith]

Love the "oddball" builds, carry on sir. :evil:

[RMMiller]

Perfect combination since Mercedes did own Chrysler for a bit! Should be a fun car.

[keepat]

Very cool! look foward to your updates!
Pat

[aristonspeedshop]

Got the Barracuda back from the sandblaster. Clean and ready to start working on

[aristonspeedshop]

Started working on the new sub-frame connectors and torque boxes. We got these from US Car Tool. The fit and quality was nice. The first picture is some home made connectors that worked ok, but not up to my standards. Took a bit of cutting and grinding to remove them.

Before I start on cutting up the front and rear of the car to fit in the Mercedes suspension, I need to stiffen and brace the center of the car. I am not sure if I am going to install the roll cage first or wait til I have suspension work done. More concerned about attachment of the cage in the rear section. Would like to tie that into points close to where suspension is mounted for rigidity. Basically I am not sure yet how much of the existing floor will remain, moved, or new.

Have plenty to do in the meantime with rust repair.

[keepat]

Yes US Car Tool makes nice torque boxes and frame connectors. Great rust free car to start with!
Good luck with the build!
Pat

[raustinss]

How did I miss this off the wall build... they were in bed together so I guess they go together lol. Watching this

[noob5,000,000]

Wow! Color me interested, and subscribed!

[rjsjea]

Tuned in to follow the build..

[Protour_Pinto]

Those original subframe connectors are some real Red Green pieces. the new ones look pretty slick.

[prossi]

QUOTE=aristonspeedshop;1228631]Mike is going for the AMG V12 which is 6 liters, and a 285 series motor. The transmission is a 5sp auto.[/QUOTE]


I thought the 285 was 5.5 litre for Maybach?

[aristonspeedshop]

I am just going by what Mike Hoover-Hoover Mercedes told me on the motor, .....anyway Wikipedia does say a 275 AMG 6.0L is more likely the case.

[aristonspeedshop]

Been doing a little rust repair, nothing very exciting.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Way cool. Following.

[aristonspeedshop]

Working on getting the body setup so I can start cutting away at the frame to fit in the new Mercedes suspension. Think I am going to be cutting up the front and rear sections at the axle center lines to fit in the new sub frames. We are still getting numbers and info so we can set the static ride height and have good travel. It is all going to be very close and tight. The rear is all kind of "self contained" in that the upper and lower control arms mount to the sub frame, but the front has the upper control arms on the inner fender wells, sort of, so we have a donor car on a lift so I can cut all that out and either use a portion of it, or use it to make new mounts, but it will allow me to get things located correctly. It all makes sense in my brain.....I think.

Will fasten the rotisserie to the floor, fasten the front and rear to the rotisserie, along with the center or the body to the floor. Leveling both directions. The cherry picker will get in tot he center line of the car so I can use it to lift the subframe.

It is going to be a lot of old fashion fitting and patterns. No 3D modeling or CNC machines in my shop. Gas Axe and Grinder!!!!

More pics as I get it all set up.

Thanks for watching.

[no go nova]

Cool build, I'm going to be watching this.

[Tincup]

Cool build, I'm going to be watching this.

Me Too.....

[aristonspeedshop]

Just finished bracing the car to keep everything in place while I cut out what ever frame I need to. Fastened the rotisserie to the floor, then triangulated all the bracing, plus ran post from the center section of the body to the floor. Everything is attached to the floor. I think I am ready. Hopefully I can got up north to Mike's place and cut out the front frame section from a donor car soon...maybe this next week.

One thing I need to do is fab up something for the front and rear to use for a reference points. That way I can pull string lines, center line and square up diagonals.

[aristonspeedshop]

The project is still alive and well, we just hit a snag with getting the suspension parts we need and the correct matching donor cars. We have the complete rear suspension, and part of the front. Very close!!!

[dirty rick]

Barracuda purists are screaming and rolling on the floor NOOOOOOOOOO!

Me, Im experiencing a tingle in my car bone!

The concept has the potential to be epic! Go Go GO!

What are you going to use for engine management?

[aristonspeedshop]

Mike, the car owner and Mercedes Guru, has several options for the engine management, stock ECU or a couple stand alone units, plus a stand alone unit for the trans. It just depends on if he wants to run stock gauges, shifter, key, ect, or lean more towards the stock Cuda look. I know they have been testing these units on other projects, basic motor swaps, and with the Dyno Guy..... Nick @ Mofab (http://mo-fab.com/) in Parker, Colorado, who is Mike's go-to guy for dyno tuning.

[RIDES BY DESIGN]

In for updates

[Interceptor5588]

One of my favorite cars, and my favorite powertrains -- subscribed!

[GoodysGotaCuda]

In to watch, love the plan.

[aristonspeedshop]

Sorry for not posting for a while, had some issues with donor cars and parts, getting the right ones, and just plain busy. Have 3 Pro-touring builds going, an old BMW, painting a '69 COPO Camaro, and just got an LS swap.

I Leveled and plumbed all I could, braced, and built goal post at each end of the car to measure and simulate the ground so I could set ride height. Pulled string lines too.153590

[aristonspeedshop]

Fitting the front suspension and sub frame. Little at a time, chop, cut measure. After I got it in place I started blending in the Mercedes frame to the Cuda body and frame. Some areas on the front will be done later off the rotisserie and when we are fitting radiator and inner cooler. The Mercedes sub frame was cool cause I knew where the wheel clearance was from the get go. I then blended and boxed in the inner fender to give us room in the engine compartment.