1968 Barracuda Notch 340

-
mygasser said:
if you're happy with the fuel tank position as is why not lose the spare wheel well, fab a flat trunk floor and gain a ton of real estate for whatever mufflers you want?
neil.
Click to expand...
That's a solid idea that I never considered. I think I was holding out maybe for a custom tank in there
( expensive)or storage of some kind. Crap. Today for absolutely no reason other than the challenge, I chose to modify the fab work and include a matching radius in the top piece using only things I had on hand.

20240101_102056.jpg


20240101_110125.jpg


20240101_121547.jpg


20240101_110022.jpg
 
Decided to stick with turning the spare tire well into a square tire well. Fuel tank mounts reworked and done. Plenty of room now underneath to run pipe to the through valance exhaust locations

20240106_085318.jpg


VideoCapture_20240106-092718.jpg
 
A couple hours here a couple hours there, got drivers side complete. The wall thickness on this aluminized econo Jegs kit seemed thin, actually was getting burn through. Got impatient after that, even with welding on the bench, low back hurts shoulders are trashed , Im 60, so Im really o.k. with these horse **** welds. Drinker side next

20240110_150737.jpg
 
My first complete exhaust system ever so the juice is the discovery even though I could afford a custom shop. Upon mock up I discovered that clamps, with enough force to actually clamp, are a one time shot/ they dimple the pipe making it almost impossible to disassemble. Spent 2 hours jacking a muffler off a pipe with an air chisel
 
My hope was to get both mufflers to oppose each other equally in all respects but with the drive shaft 2.5" off-center to the passenger side gonna be another compromise. I need about a 3" jog for the passenger side muffler. Muffler shop explained why his bends would require 10" of radius distance, thought his squished 90's could work, no go there. Bought a mandrel Bent U from Summit for like $20( notice no squish deformation in the radius), cleared and leveled the bed on my tired old chop saw, added a temporary fence at the 2.75" I needed per piece for total jog distance with a psuedo bed for the leg and made 2 identical cuts, should work fine. Tomorrow Im hoping to install the finished driver side exhaust and move on with the passenger side.

20240111_151225.jpg


20240111_155556.jpg


86355.jpeg
 
Saturday got the tin foil out for masking and started some under body paint. I should change the name of the license plate to CNFUSED since I've changed directions a few times. Hard to believe this shell was on my rotisserie years ago when media blasting and paint was the focus before so many mods. Shame, I could've at least painted the underside properly had I known the turns this project would take. For now, I'll have a proper half assed undercoat. Also Saturday I installed the completed driver side exhaust then got a jump on the passenger side fab work. I wanted to at least clock the mufflers the same and get them mounted relatively the same, you can see where the " jog" I made facilitated the Jegs kit direction on the passenger side. I used the rear reinforced seat belt mounting flanges for weld in mounting bolts/ weld on hangers. I'm hoping one hanger per side is enough. Exhaust tips are actually captured as well via 3 centering bolts so that might help. Creeper work lights up the neck so giving it a rest today.

20240113_153917.jpg


20240113_115820.jpg


20240113_115806.jpg


20240115_162625.jpg


20240115_162702.jpg
 
Had an hour to kill so, got the last passenger side connections cut, fitted and tacked. All that's left is to drop it, weld it up and paint. Then I guess I'm on to the '71 Cuda fender Gills.

20240116_110049.jpg


20240116_110117.jpg
 
Got the exhaust 100% completed today. The last 24" of pipe I clamped because I'm not sure if the system would be too long to remove or not. Glad it's done and happy to be off the creeper, ready to get back on the road and hear the new sound.

20240118_135951.jpg


20240118_140023.jpg


20240118_140056.jpg
 
I was on the fence then decided in a quasi Vice Grip Garage manner to squirt the trunk before the fuel tank goes back in. Auto color in a spray can is now $45 per, luckily I had a 2 year old quart I brought with me so they filled a couple cans with it and charged $15 per. Not perfect but this feels like a win.

20240119_092554.jpg


20240106_085318.jpg
 
that looks good now it's together. plus at least with the wheel well still there below the tank if you ever went injection there's plenty of room for a swirl pot, pump, filter etc etc. :thumbsup:
neil.
 
mygasser said:
that looks good now it's together. plus at least with the wheel well still there below the tank if you ever went injection there's plenty of room for a swirl pot, pump, filter etc etc. :thumbsup:
neil.
Click to expand...
That's a good point, I've a long time friend who specializes in EFI and all things hot rod and if he ever gets his hands on this car Im sure it'll leave with one of his Imagine Injection systems.
 
I found a picture from the original fuel tank install. Here's before and after. It's shocking to me, this easy little clean up and color somehow provided more incentive than the entire exhaust system job. I'll take it.

20240121_065954.jpg
 
mopowers said:
That's a huge improvement! Is that cell 20 gallons?
Click to expand...
Yes, 20 gallons allegedly I haven't filled it 100% yet. It was cheap on Amazon at the time $175.00 all kinds of bad reviews on the plastic filler cap and capacity. Sender was junk too so I replaced both right away. Same exact tank at a speed shop here had a price of $485.00
 
I8NEMO said:
Yes, 20 gallons allegedly I haven't filled it 100% yet. It was cheap on Amazon at the time $175.00 all kinds of bad reviews on the plastic filler cap and capacity. Sender was junk too so I replaced both right away. Same exact tank at a speed shop here had a price of $485.00
Click to expand...
Nice! What cap did you go with? I have one of those cheap cells too (Summit branded). The cap does leave a lot to be desired.
 
mopowers said:
Nice! What cap did you go with? I have one of those cheap cells too (Summit branded). The cap does leave a lot to be desired.
Click to expand...
trying to find where I got that cap, thought about deleting it but needed the hand hole to get the sender bolted in. I'll keep looking
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top