1965 MMP's Barracuda Hemi swap! The Ever Changing Build

[MonkeyMadness]

Well, Just ordered a set of Layson's that fit the "slant 6 to v8 SMC swap".
So guess we'll just have to sit back and see how this turns out...

Update: Rick from Layson let me know I should have them some time on Saturday...

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Got my transmission mount figured out pretty much. Bought some sheet stock steal and will cut out my needed flanges on Monday at work.
Also thanks to Rick@Laysons I was able to get a set of early A body headers today...
I'm going to wait to fit the headers till my trans mount is finished as I'm worried about moving my trans and loosing my position.

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Okay soo curiosity killed the cat...
Magnum heads use bolts not studs for the manifolds. So i looked to see if i could slide them in and they fell in.. i have a **** ton of room on both sides. And i have a ample room for routing my exhaust around the trans and the torsion bars.
So far so good...

It looks too close to the bell housing, so I took thw pictures with my hand in between the two. Look as if these are going to work well for my build.

 

[clifftt]

Loving your thread! Two questions:
Have you checked the fit of those headers with the steering shaft and the thick torsion bars installed?
Are you keeping the parking brake? Have you figured how to route the parking brake cable with the frame connectors in place yet? Mine are mocked up, but the cable rubs against the driveshaft.
Great progress, keep it going!

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Loving your thread! Two questions:
Have you checked the fit of those headers with the steering shaft and the thick torsion bars installed?
Are you keeping the parking brake? Have you figured how to route the parking brake cable with the frame connectors in place yet? Mine are mocked up, but the cable rubs against the driveshaft.
Great progress, keep it going!

Parking brake I may lose, and not because of the frame connectors but because of the 4 link. The P brake plates welded to the frame in the rear are going to be removed in order or build the suspension.
I just planned to deal with that when I got to it..
As for the torsion bars the difference in size is minimal 10th's of an inch not too worried about that. "famous last words right?" hahaha...
No I haven't test fit the steering box or shaft shouldn't be to hard to mock up. Once i finish this damn trans mount then I can toss in the box and shaft to test fit the header.

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Almost finished the rough cuts for the trans mount plates. Will finish up and cleanup edges and prep for weld tonight. Also pulled a race muffler from stock for my build... I will be piping in the two header 2.5" tubes in to a large 3.5" collector and then run 3.5" tube back to this muffler just before the diff and with a large dump tube... Should be fun lol....

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Soo busy this week but sneeking away during business, and Birthdays, partys, and Theme parks to finally tack and weld the whipple manifold. Trying to get the first stage of welding finished.
On a side note should have the trans mount finished Sunday..

 

[MonkeyMadness]

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Ugh at Great Wolf Lodge at the moment with a group of preteen boys, wishing i was at home with my build. Before we left i was able to toss the charger on the manifold for pic's and to make sure the rails fit... Tonight when I get home i will finish the trans mount finish weld it then pull the motor trans and mock up the belts and pulleys with the intake to get the placement right to finish this part of the build. Sounds easy right!?!

 

[replicaracer43]

Very freakin cool!

 

[HemiDenny]

now that's hot roddin!!!!....I don't care who ya are.

 

[MonkeyMadness]

First off i wanted to take pictures of the access to the Layson headers if anyone else is interested in there fitment, I really pleased with them.

Next up I was able to finish the trans mount.

And last posting pictures of fitting the manifold and whipple after welding up the manifold. Looks good in the engine bay.

 

[75slant6]

That crossmember looks MUCH better than mine!! Probably stronger too! Oh well, guess I'll know how to do it better next time. Lol

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Got a question for all of you. I'm doing finial placement of the blower. Which also means doing fuel rail and belt mockup making sure everything is in place before I start modifying the top plate to take the blower. Looking at the belt setup I'm wondering if I need to run an extra pulley to the right of the water pump pulley to move the belt away from the water bump. I have about 3/4" to and 1" at the moment.
Do you think the belt be an issue here?
Note: the belt is not tight in these pictures

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Trying to build a trans tunnel hoop and I don't think i left enough room for one with the trans installed. I think i need to find another option.
Was thinking of maybe a hoop on the outside of the tunnel (welded to the floor inside) but I'm using the factory console and shifter and worried about interference...

Ugh

 

[MonkeyMadness]

So had a busy and exhausting weekend. Started off with building a new upper cross member hoop above the trans. What I ended up doing was building a hoop that went through the floor. I welded both ends to the cut flat portions of the cross member then through the floor and hoop above the trans tunnel. Then I was able to heat the tunnel floor and hammer it up to meet the hoop. Then welding it to the floor. Giving more space for the transmission. Doing this way was quite easy and surprisingly strong when finished. I used two 3/8" x 1.25" cold rolled (this **** was hard as F**k to form) and fully welded it in. everything fits and looks okay. This all fits under the shifter and center console wohoo! looking to weld the shifter mounts in this week, this makes me excited Idk why but I love this shifter and that I can make it work with suck a modern transmission and no one will know the better . Finished!
Then Sunday I was able to drag the hoopdie out for a wash and spin. Hosed it down degreased the engine bay. then spun the car around and put it back in the garage. Now I start the four link rear. So I tore the ***-end out of the car.
Also my plan is to get my blower plate mounted to the manifold this week! finger crossed.
I was also fortunate to pick up a set of nice looking fender script and a day/night rear view mirror!

 

[slicknapier]

Hell yah! That came out great..

 

[MonkeyMadness]

So sitting in my garage last night after a freaking long *** day contemplating the 4 link build when I got a really dumb idea of going IRS, So then my day turned into a long *** night of researching the possibility of swapping in a Merc or Bimmer rear cradle than I found for relatively cheap ford and charger rear setups.
Everything seem much to wide to be usable, then I stumbled on to the tried and true jag setups, found one out of a xjs v12 local for not a bad price, but now I'm back onto thinking of just building the tri 4 link.... ugh Looking for guidance or feed back, I guess cause I'm torn on the subject at the moment.
I also need to figure out what spring rate will be needed on each corner.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Check my build. Did a tri 4 link in my Cuda. Bought a set up off line for a chev truck and modified it. Cheap.

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Check my build. Did a tri 4 link in my Cuda. Bought a set up off line for a chev truck and modified it. Cheap.

That was exactly my intention. I have already bought a "truck" tri link kit, I also got a US Tool spring relocation kit. My plan was to use the US Tool kit as the frame mount for the lower arms bringing them inline with the frame rails
I noticed on your build "CRAZY" by the way.. that you have your uppers end links inwards towards the center of the car. I was going to do the opposite and have my upper go out wards towards the frame.

 

[scottylack]

great build...cant wait to see this through.....

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Had a lazy weekend, I started two projects that I have yet to finish.. lol
First project, I finalized my blower placement and mounted the blower plate. That took some time, but it done. I haven't cut the port holes yet. But while i was doing that I mocked all the intake up and realized I screwed up a bit. when I machined the manifold I cut a bit too much off lowering the blower. Not and issue and better fitment... Till you mount the throttle body, fuel rails, and rotor and cap...
Soo the fuel rail its the throttle linkage at 50% doesn't allow for linkage bracket, cross over line and fuel feed nipple between the two rails hits the throttle body. Also throttle body is now lower on the manifold and now is directly in line with rotor cap and plug wire, this wont allow for a throttle hat or filter... ugh

So the plan now is to ditch the angled throttle plate at the back of the charger, ditch the stock style throttle body and spacer. I'll build my own charger plate with an elbow and mount an LSx style throttle body. That should solve all my little issues... ugh

Next project I started was the 4 link in the rear. Made some cuts and mounted the lower bars to the rear frame before I realized I did some bad welds. So now I have to go back and cut them back out and repair my setup. I hate being stupid some times... I also hate welding while laying on my back...

 

[75slant6]

 

[MonkeyMadness]

Fu*k it's been hot here... Last night it was 99* at 7pm with the sun down..
So that being said. I didn't really want to be in my garage working on the car let alone fixing my screw ups. So I did the least invasive job I could find that needed done... And But it also brought me the most joy of any of the add-on's so far...lol
Call me corny but I have just fell in love with this gear selector, I just love the retro feel and 60's OEM style... It makes me happy.
When I first bought this 65, My wife was a bit upset cause it didn't have the cool center console that she remembers in my 69. When we were dating in the 90's she had fallen in love with that car..

 

[scottylack]

I used a 66 console! Like that one too