Heavily modified 1970 Cuda

[70B5Cuda]

I've been lurking/reading threads for awhile. I am joining now because I am underway on my 70 Barracuda. I am planning a 6.1/6 speed conversion with an alterktion front suspension. It will be LOW front and rear with about a 315 tire. I have removed all floor/trunk pans, quarters, taillight panel, deck filler panel, etc so now is the time for some floor surgery!

[Cudaspaz]

Dude, you have a70 'cuda and a lift in your garage?

How cool is that?

Looks like you,have the makings of a monster cuda in that garage.

[Bigblue73]

Welcome - Keep us posted on this build!

[Dolmaner]

Love the car, keep the pics comin!

[70B5Cuda]

I bought this car in 2008. I found it on Craigslist in Fredonia, Ks for $5500. Was originally a 1970 Gran Coupe Barracuda with 383/4bbl and 727 auto trans. It didn't have a fender tag, engine, or trans.





This is it in front of my first house on the day I bought it

[70B5Cuda]

I was 25 when I bought it, my wife and I had just had our first daughter, and I was working on an MBA so it sat for 2 years. We sold our first house and moved across town, where I finally started to work on it. I cut the forward cabin floor pans out, then the rear cabin pans; then i didn't like the trunk pans so I cut them out. Then I didn't like the quarters or dutchman's panel so I cut them out.

With quarters


Without quarters

[70B5Cuda]

I pulled absolutely everything off the car that could come off. These pictures are of the car the morning I brought it to the media blaster.





At the blaster:

[70B5Cuda]

A local company completely blasted (what was left) with aluminum oxide for $250. The first 2 pictures are bare metal. I trailered it home, spent a couple hours blowing aluminum oxide out of it, then pulled it inside for epoxy. TheThe last pictures is after it was coated in epoxy.

[70B5Cuda]

After priming it, I took the car over to local fabricator named Matt. Originally, Matt was just going to install cabin floor pans, trunk floor pans, and quarter panels. Matt was going to use the car as filler work when he was between bigger jobs and the hourly rate was going to be reduced. After looking at the frame rails, Matt realized that they were not in good shape. Mice had been living in the rear rails. He said he could repair the existing rails and tie the front/rear frame rails, but that he'd rather construct new rails. After thinking about it, I decided to let him make new custom rails from bumper to bumper. And the snow ball began to roll....

[Godbolt]

Fantastic work!

This quote from an early post of yours made me laugh- "I cut the forward cabin floor pans out, then the rear cabin pans; then i didn't like the trunk pans so I cut them out. Then I didn't like the quarters or dutchman's panel so I cut them out."

[windows]

Wow! Great fabrication and design. Going to be awesome.

[67SSDan]

Well that escalated quickly! Cool stuff!

Dan

[70B5Cuda]

Well that escalated quickly! Cool stuff!

Dan

Thanks! Although it seems like rapid progress, I've owned the car 8 years and it's spent 5 years In fabrication. There have been long periods of time where nothing had happened but the timing has all been perfect. Financially, the slow periods allowed me to do some things that I never could have done if the car had just been slammed out. You know what they say: good, fast, cheap...pick two out of the three.

[67SSDan]

Thanks! Although it seems like rapid progress, I've owned the car 8 years and it's spent 5 years In fabrication. There have been long periods of time where nothing had happened but the timing has all been perfect. Financially, the slow periods allowed me to do some things that I never could have done if the car had just been slammed out. You know what they say: good, fast, cheap...pick two out of the three.

Oh I know all about that! If you look at the dates in my build thread (which I haven't updated in a while), you'll see.

Good times!

Dan

[bmbrzmn101]

Definitely some fantastic work!! Looking forward to your updates. What type of suspension and brakes will you be using? And what are your plans for the exterior. Chrome vs no chrome or painted trim , single color paint or something stock like.
Chris

[70B5Cuda]

Definitely some fantastic work!! Looking forward to your updates. What type of suspension and brakes will you be using? And what are your plans for the exterior. Chrome vs no chrome or painted trim , single color paint or something stock like.
Chris

Front will be Reilly motorsports alterktion. Rear will be pan hard bar, 2 link, airbags, and a torque arm. Brakes will be will woods. Rearend will be strange 60 with 4.10's since the 6th gear in the TR6060 is 0.50. I plan to minimize chrome. Body will be B5 metallic blue. Wheels will be gunmetal...more pics coming soon.

[70B5Cuda]

I picked up some cheap 315 tires on craigslist for mockup. I hadn't decided on a size at this point but the 315s were way too narrow. I wanted the tubs to be bigger then my street tire in case I wanted to mount some slicks and take it to the track at some point.





The 315 isn't big enough. I have tons of space left

[70B5Cuda]

I spent a LONG time thinking about which wheels to go with. Ultimately I went with Forgeline. I ordered my wheels through Matt's Classic Bowties. The folks at MCB were professional. Their communication was excellent and their customer service was unparalleled. I would highly recommend MCB. They sell many other brands of wheels as well. Do yourself a favor and at least talk with them and get a quote before deciding on a vendor.

I went with powder coated gunmetal with a clear over it. Im really happy with the wheels. I think the gunmetal will look sharp in contrast to the B5 blue paint I plan to use. I was determined to go with a 345 width on the rear tires but Michelin ran out and after they strung me along for 4 months with promised shipping dates, I finally settled for 335's Super Sports. Im a little disappointed I couldn't get 345's but I can always buy them next time.

[70B5Cuda]

The rear wheels are 20x12 and the fronts are 19x9







I've got a mild stagger as I wanted the center to be seen and not too far recessed.

[bmbrzmn101]

Front will be Reilly motorsports alterktion. Rear will be pan hard bar, 2 link, airbags, and a torque arm. Brakes will be will woods. Rearend will be strange 60 with 4.10's since the 6th gear in the TR6060 is 0.50. I plan to minimize chrome. Body will be B5 metallic blue. Wheels will be gunmetal...more pics coming soon.

Looking forward to it, I like your plan with everything!! It will be it
Chris