1966 Barracuda "car ****"

[robodhran]

Someone told me, that you might like car **** on the forum. Don't know what it means exactly, but it sounds good. So here is the story and the first pictures of my 66 Barracuda when I just got it September 2014. Previous owner wanted to make a couch of it rotest:, so I decided to save this gorgeous car.

Some facts:
1966 Plymouth Barracuda sports coupé
4-speed manual, 273 cui 180hp, 2bbl
assembled in Switzerland (!)

engine has do be done! oil all over the place in- and outside...
decided to remove the interiour and the engine (that was painted with the wrong color).
first intention was to bring the car back to its most original condition, but
when checking the engine at the shop, we found out, that everything had to be made, including crankshaft, oversize-bore, heads, carb and and and...
Switzerland = expensive --> new solution... to be continued...!

 

[SSVDP]

Looks nice.
With the V8 & 4 speed it should be fun.

 

[Keith Mopar]

Looks to be in petty good shape. Will be watching your build.

 

[cosgig]

That car is super cool!! Glad you snapped it up, and glad you're sharing your build with us!! Congrats on the find, Geof

 

[65 Dartman]

Hi Robert - yes we love car ****!

 

[Dartnut]

Looks too good to make a couch out of it.
Some people.........

 

[robodhran]

Here we go again.
After checking the old original 273cui 180hp engine, I looked out for an option and found - here in Switzerland - a 1967 commando version with the high compression ratio 10.5:1. The engine was declared to come out of a 1967 Barracuda and was standing in a dry place for about 15 years. We looked inside with a periscop-light and could see rust on some of the cylinders. But the vision was born: Conversion of the "standard Barracuda" to a "Formula S-Version". So I took this engine home, took it apart and brought the block and the parts to the machinist. Again: oversize bore 0.30, new camshaft, heads with oversize valve-stems...but: crankshaft was almost ok (there will be some work on the thrust-bearing part). Luckily I found a very good friend through the forum :cheers:, who gave me good advice on how things should be on these mopars. Meanwhile, I started ordering parts like carpet-set and quarter patch panel, floor panel,smaller parts and - of course - engine parts. Not very easy to get high compression pistons b.t.w.

t.b.c. (grumble...how to post pics upright...?):banghead:

 

[MOPARMITCH]

Very Nice !! Looking real good !!

 

[66fyssh]

Thanks for saving a great looking 66!

Sure didn't take you long to get into that HiPo motor!!:cheers:

 

[robodhran]

Thanks for your comments!

Here are some parts I've just cleaned. Seats will get new seat foams. Just cleaned the upholstery, repainted the console aaaand restored the valve covers myself. Professionals will notice the difference to real 66 covers..., but the wrinkle finish turned out pretty good, since I baked it with 100°C in the oven for about 3 hours (Nice smell all over the house). My wife liked it sooo much...rotest: Found some NOS pcv-cover and breather too. If I knew earlier, that the aluminium-brackets just were glued on, I could have taken the 66covers and modify those, but too late, I had already removed the chimney and welded (hard soldering) it to one of the 67 covers. Never mind! For the moment they look like new and I maybe might get some 66covers later and renew them. On the pics you see one unrestored and one restored.

t.b.c.

 

[robodhran]

Just finished (realtime) the second valve cover and got some cloes-ups with a better camera.
Further some pics of the cleaned exhaust manifolds and the intake manifold ("spider" as we call it) with the carter 4bbl carb. The commando airfilter I got from a good friend in U.S. who had it in stock. Carb kit is on the way with engine parts. The carb was on an automatic car, so it has a different linkage. Will have to figure out, how the cable will fit to the linkage.

t.b.c.

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[Tadams]

Looking Awesome. Keep us up to date

 

[robodhran]

I finished "the upholstery job". It is nice to have the old and cleaned seat covers on new foam and fabric (jute). To do the upholstery I got a special plier from the local saddlery to put the iron rings on. I am very content with the result and sitting and smelling will be a pleasure again.

The car has been at the shop this week to do some welding....many many patches ops: but now the car is ready for its new interior.

t.b.c.

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[lordoffrisco]

Looks good! Although you changed the engine, the 273c.i. 2bbl is a good one, particular with the 4speed. Sometimes I drive a '66 Valiant Station 200 http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=9355 ->273c.i 2bbl, four speed!
But with the change to a Formula S it will be fun to drive it!:glasses7:


Greetings from Austria!

 

[Dartsun]

Cool car doing good work. Switzerland might be one of my favorite countries I've ever visited. Dustin

 

[CPDave]

On engine parts, the after market 318/340 4340 Scat cranks in 3.31" stroke are a direct replacement for the 273 crank. It looks like Egge's website has forgotten about the 273, they used to make Commando pistons. But there are plenty of manufacturers that will tool up sets of custom forgings for $1K or less.

JTT http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/member.php?u=28986 in Finland is just wrapping up a build on a hot 273 for his Vintage Road Racing '66 Dodge Dart and may have some European parts source advice.

 

[robodhran]

Sorry everybody - this is just a short hello to the austrian member from a neighbour.

Servus Marvin - Mein Sohn heisst Marwin:cheers: - Bin zwar hier in der CH aufgewachsen, aber ebenfalls ein Wiener :finga: und habe noch einige Verwandschaft dort. Mein Opa hat mal bei den Wiener Philharmonikern Geige gespielt. Habe vor Kurzem vernommen, dass eine "Bande" Österreicher hier in der CH waren und viele Mopar-Teile abgezügelt haben...

Weisst, ich habe lange darüber nachgedacht, den originalen 273er wieder herzurichten, dann lief mir der Commando-Motor über den Weg und der alte Motor war die totale Ruine inkl. Kurbelwelle. Nun ist es so, dass ich den alten Block verwende sind ja alle baugleich in diesen Jahren), aber mit Commando-Komponenten ausrüste. Sway Bar ist auch schon unterwegs. Wird sicher eine Gaudi. Wer weiss, vielleicht sieht man sich mal. Grüsse Robert

 

[robodhran]

It looks like Egge's website has forgotten about the 273, they used to make Commando pistons. But there are plenty of manufacturers that will tool up sets of custom forgings for $1K or less.
.

Egges does have Hi-Compression pistons for 273 commandos. I've checked that out. But I decided to choose pistons from AutoTec with rings from Hastings. Real nice quality-pistons for approx. $ 625.-

 

[lordoffrisco]

Sorry everybody - this is just a short hello to the austrian member from a neighbour.

Servus Marvin - Mein Sohn heisst Marwin:cheers: - Bin zwar hier in der CH aufgewachsen, aber ebenfalls ein Wiener :finga: und habe noch einige Verwandschaft dort. Mein Opa hat mal bei den Wiener Philharmonikern Geige gespielt. Habe vor Kurzem vernommen, dass eine "Bande" Österreicher hier in der CH waren und viele Mopar-Teile abgezügelt haben...

Weisst, ich habe lange darüber nachgedacht, den originalen 273er wieder herzurichten, dann lief mir der Commando-Motor über den Weg und der alte Motor war die totale Ruine inkl. Kurbelwelle. Nun ist es so, dass ich den alten Block verwende sind ja alle baugleich in diesen Jahren), aber mit Commando-Komponenten ausrüste. Sway Bar ist auch schon unterwegs. Wird sicher eine Gaudi. Wer weiss, vielleicht sieht man sich mal. Grüsse Robert

Servus!
Tja, da hatte mein Vater (username - Marvin -) den gleichen Gedanken.;-) Der Commando-Motor ist cool. Der Station Wagon von meinem Vater hat einige Besonderheiten, da er aus Österreich so geordert wurde (Sway Bar, Disc Brakes, Sure Grip, 4Speed...). Macht echt laune und schon der Motor hat einiges auf dem Kasten. Bin schon gespannt auf weitere Berichte und Bilder. Wäre echt cool wenn es sich einmal ausgehen würde, dass man sich trifft.

Gruß in die Schweiz
Marvin (lordoffrisco)


And this was just the answer in german to the friendly hello!

 

[barbee6043]

cool car, great work!!! I say weinnersnitchel..

 

[robodhran]

Ha ha - it's spelled "Wienerschnitzel", but anyway: it's my favourite meal!!!

 

[lordoffrisco]

cool car, great work!!! I say weinnersnitchel..

You've got it!


Back to the topic:
Keep going. Can't wait to see some more pics of the restoration!

 

[robodhran]

It's been quite a time since my last post. I was busy with the interior. Carpet is now all set in light saddle color. Mounted seat belts in matching color tan. Was searching the web and forum for some instructions, where to drill holes for the backseat-belts. Found a perfect manual and discovered then, that the holes where already there with the correct threads...

New window sweeps front and back. Put back on the old armrests, although the chrome is in bad shape. Maybe going to do them later on.

Engine compartment ha dot be cleaned as well. Had to do some paint work too.

Painted several brackets and bellhousing as well as the radiator in semi-gloss black.

Installing the front hellwig sway bar lying underneath the car (don't have a lift) alone was quite a thing and drilling the additional holes in the K-member was painful. But the parts suited perfectly. Did not like the hammerite finish, so the bar had to ged that nice semi-gloss black coating too.

Waiting for the engine now to be finished. Maschinist messed up a camshaft bearing and hat to order new parts in the U.S.

to be continued

 

[65 Dartman]

I see you have a couple of helpers in the last picture! Your Barracuda is looking really good!

 

[toolmanmike]

Nicely done! Great job with the valve covers and correct oil fill cap and pcv cap. tmm