65 Barracuda Barn Find

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Backaroota

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Clarkston,WA
I purchased this baby blue 65 Barracuda a few months ago. It belonged to this guys mother who bought it new. She passed away 20+ years ago and he just parked it. It has no dents or rust, None. Interior is in great shape, one mouse nest. I got the brakes fixed pored some gas down the carb and drove it. The old gas smelled like Napalm I'm amazed it ran.
I do have a couple of questions. I'm rebuilding the 273. The #4 main bearing was about to fail so the crank needs to be replaced. Where can I purchase a new crank? Also I replaced the gas tank and sending unit but the gas gauge doesn't work or the temp. The temp gauge has the little wire to the heater burned out. Where can I purchase new ones?
I'm a Chevy guy. I drag race a low 10 sec 67 Nova. I'm not use to not having parts available.
 
Any 273, 318, 340 (except 72,73) will fit. The older ones are forged, but a cast one will work as well. Eagle & Scat sell new ones.
 
Backaroota said:
Also I replaced the gas tank and sending unit but the gas gauge doesn't work or the temp. The temp gauge has the little wire to the heater burned out. Where can I purchase new ones?
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Check tbe voltage regulator behind the dash, it steps the voltage down to 5v for gauges

There's lot of good info on this forum, do some searches and get a lot:thumbsup:
 
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The early 273 has the small diameter register at the end of the crankshaft. 65'
 
Turn the crank if possible even if you need to have that journal welded up and turned. If it's beyond hope, any other crank you put in there and it would be wise to rebalance the engine. All 318 cranks and any engine crank '68 and later will have the large converter register, so, you'd also need a reducer bushing for your early converter. That year should have the IVR (instrument voltage regulator) incorporated into the fuel gauge. Either have it rebuilt, replaced, and/or converted to a solid state electronic regulator. It supplies juice to the temp gauge, so, it may have ruined that gauge too. An ohmmeter test will tell the story.....at least part of it.
 
Just have the 273 crank turned. It will save you the trouble of having to hunt one of those spacers for the snout on the converter. If you plan on adding a 4 barrel carb, be prepared to oval the holes out to make any aluminum intake sold new, fit the heads. 64-65 273 motors had the intake bolt holes drilled at a different angle than 66 and up LA Mopar small blocks, and the intake bolts were 5/16 instead of the later 3/8 bolts. You could probably find an Edelbrock D4B intake that was made for the 64-65 273 back in the day, but prices on those are :realcrazy:! I'm quite sure you know your Chevy stuff inside and out, and fixing up a 65 Barracuda will frustrate you to no end because there's not a lot available. There's a lot of knowledge here, so don't be ashamed to ask for help. Heck....some of us may need you to return the favor if we need Chevy help! Welcome to FABO. :)
 
A few difficult things to deal with, dual cable shift transmission,ball and trunnion slip yoke at transmission. If you are lucky, this stuff may still be in good shape. the first early barracuda i saw was a baby blue one. My sisters friend drove it.
 
First off, nice thread with no pics. We got rules here, man.

Second, how do you know what Napalm smells like?

C: Stroker crank. Get on it. Small bore, no valves, long stroke = torque. I think. Either way, stroker crank.
 
Thanks for all the good info. I'm taking the motor to my machinist today. Sense the car is bone stock I want to keep it that way. Hopefully we can get the original crank turned.
The pictures are of my Nova. My son's drag truck. I put a 528 in it. And the 62 Falcon Gasser I built for my daughter.

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Welcome to E.B.A..... Early Barracuda Annomynous.
We feel and live thru your pains of the oddities and lack of parts for these bubble back beasts. Rest assured we are here to easy your transformation into MOPAR MANIA!
BTW...nice rides
 
Your 65 looks nicely preserved...side trim and hood spear are nice touches but not factory. Beautiful center grill! Can't go wrong with baby blue paint!!! Good luck with her.
 
clementine said:
thank goodness we got pics....i was starting to panic...
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Making progress. Got the motor out and to my machinist. It had a couple of problems. First #4 main bearing fell out when I removed the cap. It was pretty close to catastrophic failure. We sent it off to be reground. The other problem was one of piston wrist pin retainer had broken and scared the cylinder wall. We where able to bore it .060 over and I found a set of pistons on eBay.
The engine bay is painted and I'm starting to put things back on.
The spear on the hood looks factory. But the side spears look like they where added at the dealer.

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jos51700 said:
First off, nice thread with no pics. We got rules here, man.

Second, how do you know what Napalm smells like?

C: Stroker crank. Get on it. Small bore, no valves, long stroke = torque. I think. Either way, stroker crank.
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Stroker crank! I'm not alone! I'm seriously thinking of stroking my 273 but I've been afraid to post anything about it because people would think I'm insane.

What a beautiful blue cuda the OP has! My '65 doesn't have a hood spear so that may be from the dealer too.
 
Love the Falcon! I have a 61. Nice Barracuda!
 
Ciguatera said:
Stroker crank! I'm not alone! I'm seriously thinking of stroking my 273 but I've been afraid to post anything about it because people would think I'm insane
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I have a 410 stroker in mine, "insane" maybe but it sure is fun!:steering:
 
Stroker in a early Barracuda? Ed is a member here. Not a 408 either. But I don't think it's a 360 crank.

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Well I just about got the Barracuda done. After I got the muffler installed I noticed I had a little gear noise from the rear end. Discovered I need to replace the spider gears, the ring and pinion look OK. I can't figure out how to get the pin out. There isn't a bolt to hold the pin in. The book says there is a role pin. In picture 10 you can see a small hole. I can't believe this little role pin is all that's holding the pin in. I can run a rod all the way through to the outer side. There isn't any role pin. In picture 8 the pin has a slot in it. Like it might unscrew but it won't turn. Does anyone know how this comes apart and where I can get new gears? After I get the rear end fixed I'm going to put it up for sale.
Thanks

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Backaroota said:
Well I just about got the Barracuda done. After I got the muffler installed I noticed I had a little gear noise from the rear end. Discovered I need to replace the spider gears, the ring and pinion look OK. I can't figure out how to get the pin out. There isn't a bolt to hold the pin in. The book says there is a role pin. In picture 10 you can see a small hole. I can't believe this little role pin is all that's holding the pin in. I can run a rod all the way through to the outer side. There isn't any role pin. In picture 8 the pin has a slot in it. Like it might unscrew but it won't turn. Does anyone know how this comes apart and where I can get new gears? After I get the rear end fixed I'm going to put it up for sale.
Thanks

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Yup, it's a roll pin.
 
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