'68 Barracuda Notch
- Thread starter rymanrph
- Start date
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rymanrph
Well-Known Member
This is going to sound like a stupid question, but how does the wire attach to the sending unit? All the ones I've dealt with in the past had a screw and nut for a ring terminal. It looks as if it requires some sort of press on plug or something. I just have a bare wire.
Since I tore the dash apart to fix the broken speedometer, oil pressure gauge and lights, I decided to do some additional work.
I didn't have a factory tach, but I did have an aftermarket one attached to the steering column, so I decided to integrate it into the factory blank. Here is how it is attached on the back:
Here the look without the bezel (the white ring will be painted satin black when I'm done):
And here's a shot with the glass/bezel on:
Not the best pictures in the world, but you get the point. I had to remove the tach glass and rubber seal and then cut off about 3/8" of the bezel so it would sit closer to the factory lens. I also decided to try and repair the broken bezel. Here is the crack I started with:
I used plastic weld on the back and some epoxy on the front. With a little sanding its not perfect, but better than it was.
I will try to recreate some texture with a hammered metal or wrinkle finish. Before:
Primer:
Chrome:
You can see the seam really well in this picture, but I think its the light. It doesn't appear that bad in person. Some texture and a satin finish will hide it hopefully. I'm going to let the paint cure for a couple days before I tape it up and spray the black. I ordered some LEDs for the cluster since the factory lights were so dim. I do need one bulb socket (hence my missing light), but none of the parts stores around here have the right size. I'll keep looking.
Since I tore the dash apart to fix the broken speedometer, oil pressure gauge and lights, I decided to do some additional work.
I didn't have a factory tach, but I did have an aftermarket one attached to the steering column, so I decided to integrate it into the factory blank. Here is how it is attached on the back:
Here the look without the bezel (the white ring will be painted satin black when I'm done):
And here's a shot with the glass/bezel on:
Not the best pictures in the world, but you get the point. I had to remove the tach glass and rubber seal and then cut off about 3/8" of the bezel so it would sit closer to the factory lens. I also decided to try and repair the broken bezel. Here is the crack I started with:
I used plastic weld on the back and some epoxy on the front. With a little sanding its not perfect, but better than it was.
I will try to recreate some texture with a hammered metal or wrinkle finish. Before:
Primer:
Chrome:
You can see the seam really well in this picture, but I think its the light. It doesn't appear that bad in person. Some texture and a satin finish will hide it hopefully. I'm going to let the paint cure for a couple days before I tape it up and spray the black. I ordered some LEDs for the cluster since the factory lights were so dim. I do need one bulb socket (hence my missing light), but none of the parts stores around here have the right size. I'll keep looking.
cudalady
Member
I have some tail light
SpikeWills69
Live Free or Die
Ditto on the basket case. I bought my 69 as a basket case and your 68 is no basket case. And yeah, my dash was cut for the stereo too :-(
Really like your notch. First 68 I laid eyes on was a brand new red 340-S with black vinyl top and white side stripe. My buddy bought it back in the day and I have a soft spot for red notch backs.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
Maybe I shouldn't have called it a basket case. Perhaps a shopping cart is more appropriate. I'm not used to vehicles with so many un-original parts (unless I built them that way).
I kinda like that analogy - not a money pit, a shopping cart. I got a new window roller ordered for the rear quarter window. So hopefully I will have the dash, heater and interior back together in time for some weekend cruising.
I found that NAPA has the instrument panel light sockets in stock, so I will pick up one of those this afternoon. Hopefully they will have that connector for the oil pressure sender too. If I can get that to work, I will have a fully functioning gauge cluster.
I kinda like that analogy - not a money pit, a shopping cart. I got a new window roller ordered for the rear quarter window. So hopefully I will have the dash, heater and interior back together in time for some weekend cruising.
I found that NAPA has the instrument panel light sockets in stock, so I will pick up one of those this afternoon. Hopefully they will have that connector for the oil pressure sender too. If I can get that to work, I will have a fully functioning gauge cluster.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
A fellow member made me a deal on a set of '68 tail lights, upper trunk trim and Barracuda trunk script and fish emblems. I still need the lower trim piece and I'll have to drill some holes in my '67 trunk lid to make them work, but I'm glad it will look correct and I will have reverse lights. At least I can sell what I have to make some of that money back.
I will need to track down some reverse light sockets because I believe they have been clipped off in my car. I will also need to figure out the wiring up front because it was originally a column shifter, but an aftermarket floor shifter has been added, but I assume the wiring would be part of the NSS on the 727. I'll have to take a look and see what part of the wiring is still present.
I will need to track down some reverse light sockets because I believe they have been clipped off in my car. I will also need to figure out the wiring up front because it was originally a column shifter, but an aftermarket floor shifter has been added, but I assume the wiring would be part of the NSS on the 727. I'll have to take a look and see what part of the wiring is still present.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I got the all chrome bezel taped up tonight. That took a little while.
I then gave it a shot of black hammered metal.
I went back with sharpies and outlined some of the letters.
I tried to spray the inner gauge tunnels satin black, but my paint didn't spray well, so I'll have to respray that this weekend. I got the nubs on the face of the gauges sprayed with a different paint and it laid out fine. I will still need to spray the faces of them chrome. The fan controls will need to be back masked so that outline can be resprayed chrome as well, and then silver sharpie on those letters.
Obviously I'm not going for a factory restored look. I just want it to look decent and better than it did. So far, I'm happy with the results.
I then gave it a shot of black hammered metal.
I went back with sharpies and outlined some of the letters.
I tried to spray the inner gauge tunnels satin black, but my paint didn't spray well, so I'll have to respray that this weekend. I got the nubs on the face of the gauges sprayed with a different paint and it laid out fine. I will still need to spray the faces of them chrome. The fan controls will need to be back masked so that outline can be resprayed chrome as well, and then silver sharpie on those letters.
Obviously I'm not going for a factory restored look. I just want it to look decent and better than it did. So far, I'm happy with the results.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I got the bezel back in the dash. Its not perfect, but its so much better than it was.
Please forgive the radio wires hanging down. The whole sound system needs a complete overhaul.
This isn't the best picture, but here is a shot of the retrofitted tach:
Please forgive the radio wires hanging down. The whole sound system needs a complete overhaul.
This isn't the best picture, but here is a shot of the retrofitted tach:
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I got my '68 tail lights. They look much better than the '67s.
Here is the before:
And after:
I have the upper trim piece and the fish emblem and Barracuda script, but I don't have the lower trim yet. I could go ahead and install the top and emblems, but I'd have a bunch of holes left over, so I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.
Here is the before:
And after:
I have the upper trim piece and the fish emblem and Barracuda script, but I don't have the lower trim yet. I could go ahead and install the top and emblems, but I'd have a bunch of holes left over, so I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I found all of these brackets sitting behind my back seat.
Any clue what they might be for?
Any clue what they might be for?
Rocky_JS
'cuda
they are shifter cable mounting brackets at the transmission pan
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I guess they are left overs from when it was converted from a column shift to a floor shift. Thanks.
Nice work on the dash! Those are nice 68 tail lights too!
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
It multiplied....
Better pictures and details tomorrow.
Better pictures and details tomorrow.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
Ok, here's the deal. While looking for parts, this second '68 popped up on craigslist and it wasn't very far away so I had to check it out. Its an original slant six, but it has a Jasper rebuilt 318, 904, 8.25 rear end, bbp disc brakes (front). The paint is a little worse than on the red car, but the body is in much better shape. It also has several parts that I've been looking for (complete rear trim, power steering and bucket seats). It also has new bumpers and a new gas tank. There is only one small spot of rust, so since I won't be doing my own body and paint work, it should save me a decent amount of money in the long run.
I'm going to swap the drive trains and then sell the red car. I might not get back on the red car what I spent on the blue car, but the amount of money (and time) it should save me in the long run should make it worth it.
I'm going to swap the drive trains and then sell the red car. I might not get back on the red car what I spent on the blue car, but the amount of money (and time) it should save me in the long run should make it worth it.
Jim find one,just use the proper bait and you soon will have a fish.
rymanrph must know what bait to use.
I just love to see two together(notice the mirrors on the doors. 67
to a 1968)Different position.<sixty eight.
Thanks for the pics rymanrph (good score!)
Darryl
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
Obviously the car needs paint and in my head, a full color change was what was in my mind. However, after looking at the jambs and the engine bay (they look pretty good), I might leave the color and just shoot the exterior. I don't know the exact color, but it seems pretty close to B5 to me (its not original - GG1).
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
I don't know what happened to my image links and I couldn't find an edit button for the post.
Any way, the swap is under way. I got the engine and trans out of the red car this weekend.
The most important thing I learned: I hate my headers. The engine was practically out of the car before I could remove the driver side and the center link runs right through it. The driver side is banged up pretty bad so I don't even know if I want to put it back in.
Any way, the swap is under way. I got the engine and trans out of the red car this weekend.
The most important thing I learned: I hate my headers. The engine was practically out of the car before I could remove the driver side and the center link runs right through it. The driver side is banged up pretty bad so I don't even know if I want to put it back in.
Nice score. Notchie Cuda's ,my favorite a body style.
rymanrph
Well-Known Member
Here is a familiar picture.
I got the 318 and got ready to put it in the red car. Yeah, I didn't realize the motor mounts were different, so they'll have to wait till next weekend. New mounts are on the way.
Can anyone tell me how to edit my old post with broken picture links? I couldn't find an edit button so I could update the links.
I got the 318 and got ready to put it in the red car. Yeah, I didn't realize the motor mounts were different, so they'll have to wait till next weekend. New mounts are on the way.
Can anyone tell me how to edit my old post with broken picture links? I couldn't find an edit button so I could update the links.
coming along nice
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