Me and my dads 1973 Plymouth Barracuda project

js29 · Sep 30, 2014

i know you have a lot of work ahead of you. i found taken your time welding small areas let it cool down weld back and forth until it's all welded in. and remember you can warp metal just as well grinding as welding. crimping makes it easyer also when the time comes to do your filler work

73moparman · Oct 29, 2014

Getting the doors worked out.

js29 · Oct 29, 2014

ata boy looks good its nice to see real body work being done! not just repo parts being thrown at her. plus you are learning a skill i found if you seal it up good from the back side it will last for a good long time

rbbruno3 · Oct 29, 2014

Looking good , what are doing for drive train?

73moparman · Nov 3, 2014

Thanks guys really appreciate all the replies. This is my first time ever doing major body work like this. Ive actually never welded before this. i just started learning a few weeks ago. I got a really good teacher and a couple of great freinds helpin me. Im gettin a lot better at welding now. Its pretty fun.

73moparman · Nov 3, 2014

rbbruno3 said:
Looking good , what are doing for drive train?

We dont exactly know yet. It came orginally with a 318 small block with an auto tranny. Dad wants the car to look and drive the sane as when he drove it. So were ganna keep the auto tranny and 318. But my grandpa has an orgianal 72 440 with 4 speed transmission and k member that ive ben begin my dad to use it but h wants the 318. Dont know about gears but they will be gone through and if it dnt have posi it will

73moparman · Nov 3, 2014

Im going to get my 2 year degree at florence darlington tech to learn how to build gas engines and high performance motors. Im hopin what i learn there will help me to build the 318 the way i want. I figure if a ford 302 can make some serious hp then i can get something out of that 318. Ill have the tranny takin to a shop to be looked at and tore down and rebuilt.

js29 · Nov 3, 2014

Smokey unick ones said an engine can't read the name on it's valve cover! if you go too that school and get educated in engine building a long with body work expereance you would have the starting of being a well rounded car builder

73moparman · Nov 3, 2014

I hope soo. I luv doing this stuff. Im hopin one day when dads is finally finished i will get my own the same year as his and give mine the same color but instead of a white stripe i will do a black stripe. Itll be like the evil twin. Havin a lot of fun with this car

Racer57 · Nov 3, 2014

73moparman said:
Dad wants the car to look and drive the sane as when he drove it. So were ganna keep the auto tranny and 318.

Ask your Dad what size of engines his buddies had back when he had the Cuda, then ask your Dad if he will answer a question about his old Cuda and tell the absolute truth. After I assume he says he will... ask if he was happy with having a 318 at that time.

R4Sedan · Nov 3, 2014

Their is a lot you can do with that 318 and still have great drive ability.

challenger6pak · Nov 3, 2014

I agree the 318 can easily make 300hp and 500 is possible. The small block is a better engine choice if you plan to drive the car a lot. If the 318 is in rough condition you will be better to move up in cudes, 340 or 360, for a complete rebuild. You will get more hp per dollar with the larger motors.

js29 · Nov 4, 2014

One could build any thing to run strong with enuff money and a summit catalog maybe your father is worried about you with a hi performence engine. i now i was 20 when i had my first challenger it was a 383 4speed and i showed it no mercy and collected my share of tickets with it too

DetMatt1 · Nov 4, 2014

I've long wanted to drive an E-body with a high reving small block in it. Less weight up front makes for a better handling pony car.

challenger6pak · Nov 4, 2014

It is the way to go for a driver. A stroker 360 can be a lot of fun especially with a centrifical supercharger or turbo on it. I'm putting a slightly modified 318 in my SE so I can drive it as much as I want. I was out in a Challenger with a 528 the other day. At 7 miles to the gallon on premium gas costs add up quickly. It is incredibly fast going straight but it won't turn a corner. A 300 horse 318 makes a nice all around motor.

js29 · Nov 5, 2014

Can't argue a small block takes a lot of weight off the front end. but i never had any trouble hitting the curves with my old big block. then again the heft of my tow trucks may have something to do with that

73moparman · Nov 7, 2014

js29 said:
One could build any thing to run strong with enuff money and a summit catalog maybe your father is worried about you with a hi performence engine. i now i was 20 when i had my first challenger it was a 383 4speed and i showed it no mercy and collected my share of tickets with it too

nah this car is my dads. he will be doing most of the driving. itll be a long time before the car is completely done anyway

js29 · Nov 7, 2014

well than maybe that 440/4speed can go for the cuda you get latter for your self and that car will have a conection too your grandfather as well

73moparman · Nov 8, 2014

js29 said:
well than maybe that 440/4speed can go for the cuda you get latter for your self and that car will have a conection too your grandfather as well

Maybe one day