(Newbe) 273 to a 340 and tremec 5speed swap.
i understand completely were your coming from. but i have a problem with going a little crazy on all of my projects! you sound just like my dad witch completely proves him right lol. i just think haveing a 340 360 or bigblock with (especially) a stick shift would be so much fun and such a cool talking point. if i can build my dream cuda and still make money on it then thats a hard thing to tern down. i appreciate your comment, being completely grounded in reality is very helpful for me. stay safe,
George.
So, George, I’m always in the camp of the young guns here, I’ve had a few under my wing, and they have become great friends, and they have helped open this old dogs eyes to a lot of new tricks, and I appreciate that. But, here’s what I see going on here….
You seem to keep confusing building your “dream car” and doing a “flip” on this Barracuda. They are two distinctly different approaches. I posted a post in your big block thread and I am going to post it here as well.
First, to flip a car, you have to buy low, do most of the work yourself, and make the flip car a sound investment for the buyer. You need to create a platform for the buyer to take the reins and make their vision of what they want the car to be. Spending $5k your proposed drivetrain choices for this car is what YOU want, not what the car needs. Not replacing the rear end when adding a 340 and a 4 speed or Tremec is simply wasting money on this drivetrain. For example, I bought a 70 Dart with a built 440 for $2500. The entire passenger side of the car was wiped out. Why? Because it was originally a slant 6 car, and still had 9” drum brakes and a 7 1/4” rear end. On its maiden voyage, the drivetrain instantly overpowered the rest of the car, he went into the ditch because he couldn’t stop, and it tore the guts out of the inferior rear end. I ended up with a very stout motor that went into my buddies race car and parted out the rest.
If this Barracuda is your dream car with a hot motor and a 4 speed, then keep it and do what YOU want to it. You already paid keeper money for it, not flipper money. If you’re intent on flipping it, read my recent post on your big block thread and take that into consideration.
In the end, I want you to join the ranks of all of our great young guns here, and work your way up to your dream car. Look to
@Kegan B, Caleb @75slant6,and Rani @Primcess Valiant and see what they do with their car projects. They’ve inspired me over the years with their increasing knowledge and determination to make their cars just what they want them to be. I wish you the best in all you do, you sound like a great young man with a lot of smarts and ambition to match, and I hope your time with your Dad is well spent, a lot of us Dads would love to have that connection with our own sons!