'68 Barracuda Formula S Fastback Restoration
Aside Story during the Restoration of my Cuda.
Back in my SF days, I met a guy that had a '67 Cuda vert 273 auto. He ran up to me when I was filling the Cuda in Patterson, cA (Hwy 5) in 1982 and wanted to buy my Cuda. I said no, of course and he said I made the right decision. We became friends and I found out he lived about 5 miles from me. I helped him upgrade his 'Vert to Formula S suspension including sway bars, 8 3/4 rear, torsion bars, and K-H disk brakes. All in anticipation of installing one of my 340's into it. I built the original 340 for my Cuda for him not thinking at that time that numbers matching meant anything. I gave him the engine in 1987 and after I moved to Tulsa in 1999 we lost touch. He had moved to Vashion Island, WA and I moved to Denver.
When I decided to restore my Cuda, I wanted to find the original 340 for it and finally found a phone number for my friend that was for the SF area. Surprisingly, he still had that number and we reconnected. He had never installed the 340 into his '67 and agreed that I should have it back. Just had to pick it up. That was one driving issue for purchasing my Ram 1500 as I didn't have any other way to haul an engine or all the other car parts that would need to be moved around diring the restoration work.
So I drove to WA and loaded the engine into the truck.
Also attached is a photo of the '67 Cuda Vert that my friend has had since the late '70's. Still in nice shape but in need of paint and some major mechanical work. We put a new fuel tank and pickup in the car as the original tank was full of crud and the pickup plugged 100%.
Anyway, I made it home with the original 340 for my Cuda. The engine has sat for 35 years with no attention. The outside was a mess but inside it was only dirty, but not rusted. Yea!. Taking the head off showed corrosion had left deposits on the pistons but the bores were clean. I cleaned and sealed the engine but no machine work was needed. It now resides with a good coating of fresh oil and I turn it over about every 6 months. But it is not going back in the car as I plan on racing the current 340 at Bandimere when it is finished.
![20210624_144514[1].jpg](https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/attachments/20210624_144514-1-jpg.1716068576/ "20210624_144514[1].jpg")
![20210624_162756[1].jpg](https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/attachments/20210624_162756-1-jpg.1716068577/ "20210624_162756[1].jpg")
Aside Story during the Restoration of my Cuda.
Back in my SF days, I met a guy that had a '67 Cuda vert 273 auto. He ran up to me when I was filling the Cuda in Patterson, cA (Hwy 5) in 1982 and wanted to buy my Cuda. I said no, of course and he said I made the right decision. We became friends and I found out he lived about 5 miles from me. I helped him upgrade his 'Vert to Formula S suspension including sway bars, 8 3/4 rear, torsion bars, and K-H disk brakes. All in anticipation of installing one of my 340's into it. I built the original 340 for my Cuda for him not thinking at that time that numbers matching meant anything. I gave him the engine in 1987 and after I moved to Tulsa in 1999 we lost touch. He had moved to Vashion Island, WA and I moved to Denver.
When I decided to restore my Cuda, I wanted to find the original 340 for it and finally found a phone number for my friend that was for the SF area. Surprisingly, he still had that number and we reconnected. He had never installed the 340 into his '67 and agreed that I should have it back. Just had to pick it up. That was one driving issue for purchasing my Ram 1500 as I didn't have any other way to haul an engine or all the other car parts that would need to be moved around diring the restoration work.
So I drove to WA and loaded the engine into the truck.
Also attached is a photo of the '67 Cuda Vert that my friend has had since the late '70's. Still in nice shape but in need of paint and some major mechanical work. We put a new fuel tank and pickup in the car as the original tank was full of crud and the pickup plugged 100%.
Anyway, I made it home with the original 340 for my Cuda. The engine has sat for 35 years with no attention. The outside was a mess but inside it was only dirty, but not rusted. Yea!. Taking the head off showed corrosion had left deposits on the pistons but the bores were clean. I cleaned and sealed the engine but no machine work was needed. It now resides with a good coating of fresh oil and I turn it over about every 6 months. But it is not going back in the car as I plan on racing the current 340 at Bandimere when it is finished.