‘66 Barracuda, my first Mopar

[Bennsb]

After getting my Firebird 90% complete, I was wanting to start another project. I found a CL ad in the town over for a ‘66 Barracuda for $1200. As luck would have it, the ad expired that day and I couldn’t find it. I found it on another site and contacted the owner. “Ready to paint,” “hardly any rust that I can tell,” and “all there” were in the description. When I arrived in person I first noticed the bumpers were missing, the floors were rotted through, and the trunk’s fiberglass patchwork looked like papier-mâché. After pointing all this out, I was told $500 takes it.

Owner said his wife got it and wanted him to restore it. He had just moved and said he was too old and his shop and buddies were an hour away now. He raced in NHRA events and had an 8 second HEMI dragster in his garage. That was pretty cool.

The Barracuda was originally a 273 V8 with a 904 automatic and was light blue with dark blue interior. The inside was gutted, a NASCAR style dash plate was fashioned and the doors had aluminum panels and seat belts holding up the windows like the old ‘68 B029 Super Stock Barracudas. A hole was cut into the hood to clear the air cleaner with a high rise manifold that was on the stock 273 that was long gone with the 904 trans. A posi 7 1/4 inch rear was still on it, along with the 10” drum brakes all around hidden behind the stock 13” steelies which were still light blue under the black spray paint. The FL inspection sticker on the windshield was from 1982, and the car was being raced at the track in Bithlo in the 80’s before set out and forgotten about in the 90’s. It had factory A/C, and most of the components were in the car.

I bought it and towed it home. After a week I realized that $500 was a deal, but finding parts for a one year only Mopar was not going to be budget friendly.

[Bennsb]

I found a ‘96 5.9 liter out of a Ram truck for $200. I replaced the rod bearings, the inside of the motor was fairly clean. The outside had oil all over it, and when I removed the “keg” intake I found several loose screws on the bottom plate. Guess this was common on these truck intakes. I removed the fuel injection components, scored a polished 4 bbl air gap intake for $200 and bought a ready to run distributor. I rebuilt a Holley 750 with vacuum secondaries for fuel management. Going to use an Econoline Van in tank pump to provide fuel flow to the carb with the Magnum 360. I found a ‘72 727 TorqueFlight out of a Plymouth Fury. The kid’s Dad was selling it, he had all kinds of big 3 parts stowed away and itemized on his property. He said his son wanted a 4 speed manual so that’s why trans was for sale.

I had to buy a new neutral balanced converter with a smaller bolt pattern to mate to the Magnum. Had to egg out one of the holes to line up the flexplate as well. The motor cleaned up nice, I sprayed the valve covers with crinkle finish matte black. Going to use the better flowing truck manifolds, will have to massage the sheet metal and scoot the engine over as much as possible to clear the steering shaft.

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[Bennsb]

Picked up an 8.8 disk rear out of a Mountaineer. The Barracuda’s motor was offset 2” so I won’t have to center the rear, it’s already offset. Just have to weld new perches on the axle tubes. Got a ‘74 Dart disc front set up with the large bolt pattern and found a set of 2006 Bullitt rims cheap. I bought a ‘79 Mustang hood scoop to cover the hole and used an extra grill to make an insert to tie it in.

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[Bennsb]

Been working on the dash as of late. I refaced the gauges white and grafted a Valiant dash and the stock Barracuda dash. A couple small rust holes in the a pillars was enough the allow rain to pool in the bottom of the original dash and rust it out. I picked up a ‘68 Deluxe Barracuda steering wheel to replace the go kart one on it.

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[Bennsb]

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[thumper877]

Cars looking great. Nice work on the dash. Whatever you do don't break that back glass :)

[Vimes]

https://www.powernationtv.com/episode/DM2021-06/salvage-yard-special

This link goes into a build on I think a Charger, been a while since I watched it, but in there they went to a salvage yard that specializes in Mopars from the 60s and 70s. If you go through it you should be able to turn up the name of the salvage yard, which should help find any parts you might need. If I recall one of the possibilities was a car that looked a lot like that one. Apparently the yard owner goes all over the US hunting these cars for his yard. He also has stockpiles of new and repro parts according to the show.

[oldschoolmuscle]

great looking start

[ProTouring442]

Nice!

Do yourself a huge favor and have the amp gauge converted to a volt meter. Chrysler's amp gauge has burnt many a Mopar to the ground.

[Bennsb]

Nice!

Do yourself a huge favor and have the amp gauge converted to a volt meter. Chrysler's amp gauge has burnt many a Mopar to the ground.

Already on it. Retro fitting a voltmeter using the ammeters face. No way I’d be able to run an electric fan, fuel pump, and A/C with the old set up using a newer Magnum high amp alternator. I’ll post pics of my progress.

[Bennsb]

Swapped out 235/55 front tires for 225/45’s that clear the fender, picked up new windshield, found spare tire pan, gas tank, sending unit, and keyed lock set had been delivered. This should keep my busy for a while.
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[Bennsb]

Worked on the rusted a-pillars. With a tropical depression headed this way going to see if my patches are water tight. I found a right rear wheel arch molding, the correct one year only with cut outs for the ‘66 rocker molding. New windshield and gasket went on easily. Painted the Barracuda fender emblem back to how it looked decades ago. Should work on floor pans and trunk floor next.

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[thumper877]

Emblems look great

[Bennsb]

The wood grain finish had worn smooth a long time ago and mold spots started showing on the plastic which was more of a purplish brown nowadays. I’ll miss the look of the metal center section all around the wheel, but I like the color of the leather cover. My baseball stitching is getting better. Well worth the $14 spent.

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[Bennsb]

Painted the interior panels, steering column, and the center console. The cargo floor panel wasn’t in bad shape and didn’t need much prep work.

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[Bennsb]

A little more progress...

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[Bennsb]

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[Bennsb]

A little more progress
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[813Demon340]

I dig your Barracuda and the great work you have done so far. Keep up the great work! I'm going to leave a bit of Early A body inspiration for you. I don't know if you have this book or not, but there are a lot of early Barracuda and Valiant pics in there. Good reading but a bit outdated in some areas. I look forward to seeing your updates!
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[Just 1 More]

Awesome .. love it

[Alwhite00]

Damn fine job Sir. Everything looks great.

[Bennsb]

The Mustang driveshaft is going to work, glad I had the foresight to nab the Mountaineer/Explorer flange. The Mustang’s was smaller. Radiator is going to require some bracket massaging, but it will work.

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[Bennsb]

Changed the speedo gear from 27 to 38 tooth. Oil sending unit installed. Swapped the input yoke to the Mopar using a 457 adapter u-joint. Flipped the leaf spring front cups to drop the rear, can set my pinion angle now. Need to finish plumbing the brake lines and fuel lines, then install the gas tank.

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[wfo guy]

I have a long Mopar history. I like your project. Not spending cubic money gets my attention. :)

[Bennsb]

Recolored/refurbished a ‘65 seat that was in better shape than my dry rotted squirrel’s nest that came with the car. Floor shifter lined up perfectly with the 727, ditched the wheel chocks now that it can be shifted into park. Got a kick down cable and throttle cable on the way. 19303119303219303319303519303419303919303619303719 3038

[Bennsb]

Installed the dash and steering wheel/column.

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[iadr]

I really like it. Family friend where I spent several memorable weeks in summer in high school had a blue first year- the year that used Valiant fenders.

You really get better results that I expect each time.

Did I miss you saying what the front seats are from?

Might want to re-do the steering wheel leather wrap in black.

[Bennsb]

Been a while, slow progress but progress. Finally welded my perches to the 8.8 rear after getting the super stock springs and getting the ride height dialed in. An adapter put my Mustang driveshaft spot on. Brake system installed and bled with rear adjuster tucked neatly away but still accessible. Scored fenders and a hood, everything is lining up nicely. Installed adjustable tubular upper control arms with way more positive camber achievable than the stock arms. Installed a Borgeson power steering box and delighted the ‘67 2.5” Jeg’s (Heartthrob) exhaust is lining up perfectly. Using the Magnum truck manifolds, plenty of room for the exhaust, but need to bump the motor up 3/4” to get a fitting in there. I tried an aluminum cover with a girdle, but no clearance with the gas tank so I painted a stock cover that gives me room. I have a Helliwig front sway bar on the way. Going to measure the Mountaineer rear sway bar and see if I can cheat the shock mounts to clear. Going to shorten the anti-wrap bars so I can mount them forward facing on the Barracuda. Still have to finish the fuel line and run the electrical. Pretty pleased so far.

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[Bennsb]

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[Bennsb]

Got the Hellwig 1.25” front sway bar installed.

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