Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback
Regardless of the eye bothering me, I felt guilty not making progress yesterday. So I pulled up my big boy panties and headed out to the car.
Without a latch for the body I've had to strap it down to the chassis when trailering. It's been a real pain in the butt because it meant reaching through the front wheel well and ratcheting it blind.
A few of the original latch pieces were still with the car. I thought they were built way too light and didn't want to rely on them to keep the body down at the strip. I re-made them and fabricated new parts for the ones that were missing.
This is the spring loaded mechanism I made that's attached to the body.
The release handle extends through the bumper.
I finished welding the tank support and attached the catch for the latch to it. It's much sturdier than the original parts were.
Even with the fuel cell mounted the catch looks like something that belongs in DEATHRACE 2000. I Vee'd the notch in it to prevent the spring loaded latch from getting bent if the body isn't properly lined up when lowered. I've also been considering adding a rounded hoop to it to prevent it from doing too much damage to shins.
I also got around to removing that second brake drum from the front hubs. The new latch setup works perfect. I should stay out and get more done but that eye is still bugging me.
One other thing I've decided I need to do soon is to add on some brackets to the car for tie-down strap hooks. When I strap the car down now the front spoiler pushes down on the straps. I don't want new stress cracks forming in it.
Regardless of the eye bothering me, I felt guilty not making progress yesterday. So I pulled up my big boy panties and headed out to the car.
Without a latch for the body I've had to strap it down to the chassis when trailering. It's been a real pain in the butt because it meant reaching through the front wheel well and ratcheting it blind.
A few of the original latch pieces were still with the car. I thought they were built way too light and didn't want to rely on them to keep the body down at the strip. I re-made them and fabricated new parts for the ones that were missing.
This is the spring loaded mechanism I made that's attached to the body.
The release handle extends through the bumper.
I finished welding the tank support and attached the catch for the latch to it. It's much sturdier than the original parts were.
Even with the fuel cell mounted the catch looks like something that belongs in DEATHRACE 2000. I Vee'd the notch in it to prevent the spring loaded latch from getting bent if the body isn't properly lined up when lowered. I've also been considering adding a rounded hoop to it to prevent it from doing too much damage to shins.
I also got around to removing that second brake drum from the front hubs. The new latch setup works perfect. I should stay out and get more done but that eye is still bugging me.
One other thing I've decided I need to do soon is to add on some brackets to the car for tie-down strap hooks. When I strap the car down now the front spoiler pushes down on the straps. I don't want new stress cracks forming in it.