1970 Barracuda "Too Far Gone"

[falcben]

Just got back to school, and I forgot got rusty it was! I picked up this ‘70 Barracuda back in April. I had enough time to get an A-Pillar done before I headed to England for an internship. I should have plenty of time to get things done now. Needs a new front left frame rail and most of the exterior panels as well.

Some specs:

1970 Plymouth Barracuda
383 HO 4-bbl (don’t have it, unfortunately)
4 speed with pistol grip
8 3/4 posi rear end
B5 blue with a white vinyl top
White interior
Air Conditioning
Manual steering and brakes

The plan:

Full restoration-ish. Some upgrades here and there, but I want to keep it looking stock. Especially the color combo, which I think is beautiful.

I have a 440 6 pack to build and put in it. I plan on keeping the flat hood if the 6 pack setup fits underneath.

I am a student at McPherson College, I hope to have this car at least in paint by my senior year. We have a big car show on campus at the end of each year, so that is my goal.

Thanks for any advice you have along the way! I’m learning through this experience while also learning in classes, so bear with me on some of it.

 

[DetMatt1]

Glad you’re back, I’d forgotten about this one. You better get busy!

 

[Hemihead2]

That's the "norm" where I come from...it is certainly not too far gone! Awesome factory color combo.

 

[340challconvert]

Your McPherson training will really come in handy with your project! Can't wait to see what you do.
What was the internship experience like in England?

 

[falcben]

Glad you’re back, I’d forgotten about this one. You better get busy!

Busy days are coming! I head to Monterey this week but am all clear starting next week. The Cuda is screaming my name!

That's the "norm" where I come from...it is certainly not too far gone! Awesome factory color combo.

Definitely not too far gone in my eyes either. I’m a cup half full kind of guy, but we all know how some of the others are.

Your McPherson training will really come in handy with your project! Can't wait to see what you do.
What was the internship experience like in England?
View attachment 51704

England was fun! I was working for GTO Engineering, this was my second summer with them. I lived in a cottage next to the River Thames for the 6 weeks I was there, I could legally drink (I’m only 20), and I worked on some pretty incredible cars. I cannot complain!

 

[falcben]

Back in town now, got the whole front suspension and K-member removed.

I am going to go pull my rear end to overhaul with new seals and bearings in my drive train class this semester.

Looking for a left frame rail now. I have found a couple sites that sell a complete RIGHT HAND frame rail, shock tower, and inner fender, all together. Does anyone know if I couldn’t find a left hand like that? It would make life a whole lot easier.

Thanks!
Ben

 

[falcben]

 

[falcben]

I have ordered all of the pieces to make the front half solid and rust free! I already have the upper cowl, both a-pillars (one is already installed), and both floor halves. I ordered a left frame rail, both shock towers, inner fender wells, and a left fender well to cowl bracket today!

I am going to replace the left frame rail while the fender well and shock tower are still in place to avoid any problems. I will remove both fender wells, then replace the shock towers one at a time. there is a little area to patch on the right rail, inside the shock tower to take care of before that shock tower can be put on.

I have a couple patches to do on the front of the firewall, and some patching to do on the panel below the upper cowl before the new upper cowl can be welded in. Inner fender wells can then be put in and then some new floors!

Obviously this is all a lot easier said than done, but I am hoping for some smooth waters.

 

[DetMatt1]

Sounds like a well thought out plan. I’m guessing you’ll do fine but don’t forget the progress pictures!

 

[falcben]

Got the rear end pulled out this morning. I’ve never had a car this far apart and neither has my dad. What a sight!

I am in drivetrain class this semester at school, and have gotten permission to rebuild my transmission and rear end in class. So that worked out very well!

Sheet metal should be here next week. I painted the ground below my frame rail white to write down measurements. I’m excited to see how this car progresses.

 

[falcben]

Cowl is off! Inner fender is off! Cleaned up everything a little bit tonight. I have a few more patches to do under the cowl than I had hoped, but nothing I can’t handle.

Does anyone know what gauge sheetmetal the firewall is?

I hope to have the A-pillar done in the next couple days, and the cowl back on by the end of this week. I hate how it looks without all of this metal on it!!

 

[DetMatt1]

What no metal thickness gauge keychain? I thought everybody had one of those!

 

[aussiemark]

It is the same as the floors and most of the other panels.

 

[falcben]

In the meantime during class, I have been rebuilding my 4-Speed. Hot tanked the box, tail and cover. Waiting on bearings, synchro rings, and gaskets. Then it should go back together smoothly.

I was surprised to find fairly new gears in it, this car either had very few miles on it or it has been rebuilt once or twice. It had blue paint on it, so I am guessing it has seen a rebuild before.

Does anyone know what factory markings there would have been on this transmission? I have seen some with yellow numbers painted on the side over the bare metal.

 

[falcben]

The right hand A-Pillar is done and welded in. This one went a lot more smoothly than the other side. Practice makes perfect. The left side I just tried to bend the metal on top of the pillar out of the way which of course distorted it too much. This side I decided to cut the metal off to be welded back on. Unfortunately, the metal was a little too pitted to weld nicely to so I was chasing some holes a bit. A little more holes to fill and I will be looking pretty good. Next up are some firewall patches.

 

[68bee]

Hey your doing a great job on the metal replacement. Are you going to cut the VIN number off the old cowl and weld it onto the new one?

 

[falcben]

Moved on to some patches on the firewall. A couple more patches and some b5 blue and the upper cowl can go back on! I probably should have replaced the whole firewall, but this is a great spot to work on my metal skills before I move on to some highly visible areas.

Also finished up my 4-speed rebuild! Just in time for it to sit for a long while.

 

[falcben]

Got the transmission done today. Cast iron paint on the whole thing, I don’t want it to rust. I know I stamped it the wrong color, but I’m not too concerned about that, it looks pretty.

All new bearings, gaskets, and synchro rings. Cleaned up the Hurst shifter and painted the link rods.

Who makes pistol grip handles out of real wood? Are they affordable? Would it be worth giving my original some love and keeping it?

Time to throw it into a box for a while.

Sorry I don’t post many photos, working on getting a new phone. My current one’s camera shakes so I cannot take a clear photo unless my girlfriend is out in the shop with me with her phone! Haha!

 

[jfreakofkorn]

nice progress on the build

 

[falcben]

Some more progress!! Some patches on the frame rail, and getting ready to install the shock tower. I finally got a different phone so I can take good pictures.