Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback
Things seem to be coming along better with the Charger project. I was able to find a chunk of 1&1/2" thick aluminum large enough to suit our needs on eBay at a reasonable cost ($53). Despite the fact it was coming from New Hampshire it got here within a few days. I had it sent directly to my buddy that was going to do the machine-work for us. With any luck we could have the new brake cylinder mounting plate ready to install next week.
Spence was back from Iowa and we decided to do what we could to gain some clearance between the right side valve cover and the inner fender. After setting them on our mock up engine we found out that the valve cover was actually touching on that side. I knew we were going to be close but THAT is way too close.
I gave HemiDenny a call and he said that we could have him modify our motor mounts to shift the engine over to the left a quarter inch. At first we figured that was a good plan. - But, even if we were to have Denny modify the mounts we thought it would be to our advantage to gain even more clearance. After scoping things out it looked as though we could re-shape part of the shock mount tin-work on the inner fender. Using a torch we got the area cherry red hot and worked it down (away from the valve cover) with a hammer. By doing it gradually with hundreds of blows we were able to prevent the appearance of having been beat up and gave it a more sculpted look. Once we sand it - it should be smooth.
Because the mock up engine is plastic we grabbed an extra transmission cover and used it to shield the motor from heat.
The results were what we wanted but we did char an area of the plastic despite shielding it.
We figured we gained about a half inch of clearance.
Once we'd finished with the inner fender mod we decided to test fit those new tti headers that have been sitting in my bedroom for the last 6 months. Denny had assured us that they'd slip right into place because we weren't going to have to combat torsion bars. I trust Denny but these things have 2&1/4" primary tubes and a 4" collector. I figured that it might have been easy for Denny but even so, we'd probably fight them for hours.
HOLY CH-MOLY!! The motor is referred to as an elephant for legitimate reasons. It's huge with those heads. - But, Denny was right. Those tti's slipped right into place with no struggle. We were happy campers.
Ground clearance is good. We don't have the suspension height set yet but these headers extend just slightly lower than the subframe connectors.
Once the suspension height is set the car will probable be a few inches higher up front.
With the headers bolted on we started to look at the steering shaft. We hadn't put a scratch or dent in the headers yet but it seems we might have to get the hammer out to get room for our shaft knuckles. :eek: I KNEW things were going way too smoothly! I guess I need to apologize to the neighbors for any language their kids may have picked up.
After seeing how tight the room was, we wondered if we could shift the rack forward. The HemiDenny K-frame uses aluminum spacers that move the rack back by 7/8". If we didn't use them we'd be very close to clearing. - Otherwise we'll be putting one heck of a big dimple in the #3 exhaust tube. We're not sure yet but we may have to modify the #5 tube for the other knuckle too.
Another thing we worked on was a new steel section for the firewall. We won't weld it into place until we get the machined aluminum pieces. - That way we'll make certain it all fits together OK first. This new piece is much wider than the first section we'd made and will provide us with more space to mount the 3 reservoirs.
I had enough time today to do a bit more work on the funnycar too. I'm still fabricating the interior and tackled the steel that extends behind and below the seat.
Things seem to be coming along better with the Charger project. I was able to find a chunk of 1&1/2" thick aluminum large enough to suit our needs on eBay at a reasonable cost ($53). Despite the fact it was coming from New Hampshire it got here within a few days. I had it sent directly to my buddy that was going to do the machine-work for us. With any luck we could have the new brake cylinder mounting plate ready to install next week.
Spence was back from Iowa and we decided to do what we could to gain some clearance between the right side valve cover and the inner fender. After setting them on our mock up engine we found out that the valve cover was actually touching on that side. I knew we were going to be close but THAT is way too close.
I gave HemiDenny a call and he said that we could have him modify our motor mounts to shift the engine over to the left a quarter inch. At first we figured that was a good plan. - But, even if we were to have Denny modify the mounts we thought it would be to our advantage to gain even more clearance. After scoping things out it looked as though we could re-shape part of the shock mount tin-work on the inner fender. Using a torch we got the area cherry red hot and worked it down (away from the valve cover) with a hammer. By doing it gradually with hundreds of blows we were able to prevent the appearance of having been beat up and gave it a more sculpted look. Once we sand it - it should be smooth.
Because the mock up engine is plastic we grabbed an extra transmission cover and used it to shield the motor from heat.
The results were what we wanted but we did char an area of the plastic despite shielding it.
We figured we gained about a half inch of clearance.
Once we'd finished with the inner fender mod we decided to test fit those new tti headers that have been sitting in my bedroom for the last 6 months. Denny had assured us that they'd slip right into place because we weren't going to have to combat torsion bars. I trust Denny but these things have 2&1/4" primary tubes and a 4" collector. I figured that it might have been easy for Denny but even so, we'd probably fight them for hours.
HOLY CH-MOLY!! The motor is referred to as an elephant for legitimate reasons. It's huge with those heads. - But, Denny was right. Those tti's slipped right into place with no struggle. We were happy campers.
Ground clearance is good. We don't have the suspension height set yet but these headers extend just slightly lower than the subframe connectors.
Once the suspension height is set the car will probable be a few inches higher up front.
With the headers bolted on we started to look at the steering shaft. We hadn't put a scratch or dent in the headers yet but it seems we might have to get the hammer out to get room for our shaft knuckles. :eek: I KNEW things were going way too smoothly! I guess I need to apologize to the neighbors for any language their kids may have picked up.
After seeing how tight the room was, we wondered if we could shift the rack forward. The HemiDenny K-frame uses aluminum spacers that move the rack back by 7/8". If we didn't use them we'd be very close to clearing. - Otherwise we'll be putting one heck of a big dimple in the #3 exhaust tube. We're not sure yet but we may have to modify the #5 tube for the other knuckle too.
Another thing we worked on was a new steel section for the firewall. We won't weld it into place until we get the machined aluminum pieces. - That way we'll make certain it all fits together OK first. This new piece is much wider than the first section we'd made and will provide us with more space to mount the 3 reservoirs.
I had enough time today to do a bit more work on the funnycar too. I'm still fabricating the interior and tackled the steel that extends behind and below the seat.