Garage Find 1968 Barracuda Convertible, 318, auto

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68Cudadroptop

68Cudadroptop

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Milford, CT.
Just picked up a 1968 Barracuda Convertible with a 318 and a 904 3-speed. Car is in very good condition for a 56 year old car. Been in this garage for 30+ years. Got it about 3 weeks ago and been trying to work on it as much as possible but it's outside right now and I live in New England so it's been on and off since I got it. Engine was locked up when I got it. That has been resolved. Engine and trans are out. Trans getting rebuilt tomorrow. Engine is down to bare block and now it's decision time.

I'm a purist at heart so that is my issue right now. I want to keep the motor stock but I have demons on my shoulder telling me to do something else now. It has cast iron intake, 2 barrel carb and original air cleaner. Overall the engine minus #4 piston rings being stuck to the bore is in good shape as it crank and cam.

Car needs some body work on two front fenders, car has been repainted once and both bumper have dents in them. I have some really good driver quality bumpers coming soon.

Goal for the car is to get it running, driving and stopping. This is gonna be a Sunday driver, car show, kids and wife can drive it kinda car.
I'm torn right now what direction to go with the engine rebuild. I want to keep the 318 and intiially wanted to keep 2 barrel carb and intake but now I am having second thoughts. I might want to go with a 68 date code 340 4 barrel intake, 4 barrel carter and see if I can stay with the factory air cleaner.

Also, what to do with the rotating assembly. I can probably clean up the crank and cam, both factory or go with a little better cam. I also want to add dual exhaust.

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motor questions, no matter the style of build come down to one thing: budget.

got the cash to splash, then there are scads of opportunity to upgrade nicely without going all racy or too performance oriented. wanna keep some of that dough for paint and body, then there are more reasonable options.

your expectations don't seem too wild, which is nice.

i'd build the bottom end "stock-ish" with good quality pistons on stock rods/crank. do the heads with with a mild clean up and hardened seats. i'd select a cam that's super mellow, but with a modern updated grind-- likely call up oregon cams and have them grind me something.

up top, stock factory 4bbl, 340 intake, performer intake, would be my choice. all of the other aftermarket intkes don't have provisions to mount coils (or ac), but if that's not a concern to you then any of them would be more than sufficent for what you're trying to do. then top it off with a eddy avs 2 650 and call it done.
 
junkyardhero said:
motor questions, no matter the style of build come down to one thing: budget.

got the cash to splash, then there are scads of opportunity to upgrade nicely without going all racy or too performance oriented. wanna keep some of that dough for paint and body, then there are more reasonable options.

your expectations don't seem too wild, which is nice.

i'd build the bottom end "stock-ish" with good quality pistons on stock rods/crank. do the heads with with a mild clean up and hardened seats. i'd select a cam that's super mellow, but with a modern updated grind-- likely call up oregon cams and have them grind me something.

up top, stock factory 4bbl, 340 intake, performer intake, would be my choice. all of the other aftermarket intkes don't have provisions to mount coils (or ac), but if that's not a concern to you then any of them would be more than sufficent for what you're trying to do. then top it off with a eddy avs 2 650 and call it done.
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Thank you Junkyard

I have low expecations on this car, honestly the paint is not bad and my gut for now is to keep what I have, there is something cool about the condition...this will not be a show winner, conquers car on any level.

...If I go with non 2 barrel I'd like to find a 68 date code 340 intake...can I use the stock air cleaner with other 4 barrel card choices?
Any recommendations on new pistons and cam?
 
68Cudadroptop said:
Thank you Junkyard

I have low expecations on this car, honestly the paint is not bad and my gut for now is to keep what I have, there is something cool about the condition...this will not be a show winner, conquers car on any level.

...If I go with non 2 barrel I'd like to find a 68 date code 340 intake...can I use the stock air cleaner with other 4 barrel card choices?
Any recommendations on new pistons and cam?
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i wouldn't focus on a 68 date code, or any date code manifold for that matter. you'll pay a premium for what any of the others can provide at a fraction of the cost. also, the 318 4bbl manifolds (and some 360) match the smaller 318 heads port size-- not that that's a huge deal.

your stock air cleaner won't fit, at least not with that base, but pretty much any of the other factory 4bbl ones will. they repop the early unsilenced ones that look the part and they aren't crazy expensive.

piston & cam choice would depend on what you want as a performance end goal. and how much machine work you want to do on the 318. for what it sounds like you're trying to accomplish there's nothing wrong with stock replacement cast pistons and a 360 2bbl cam (slight bump up from a 318 cam) if you want to keep it dead simple.

i just put together a 74 318 with stock 40 over pistons, 68 heads, 340 cam, LD4B intake and a small 4bbl with manifolds and it straight rips. there's no magic there, just careful selection of parts that all work well together. while i wouldn't suggest this is something to copy exactly as the rest of my combo is entirely different (4spd, lighter car, deep gears), it's something that kind of lays down the blue print of what can be done at reasonable cost with decent components and get a satisfactory result.
 
junkyardhero said:
i wouldn't focus on a 68 date code, or any date code manifold for that matter. you'll pay a premium for what any of the others can provide at a fraction of the cost. also, the 318 4bbl manifolds (and some 360) match the smaller 318 heads port size-- not that that's a huge deal.

your stock air cleaner won't fit, at least not with that base, but pretty much any of the other factory 4bbl ones will. they repop the early unsilenced ones that look the part and they aren't crazy expensive.

piston & cam choice would depend on what you want as a performance end goal. and how much machine work you want to do on the 318. for what it sounds like you're trying to accomplish there's nothing wrong with stock replacement cast pistons and a 360 2bbl cam (slight bump up from a 318 cam) if you want to keep it dead simple.

i just put together a 74 318 with stock 40 over pistons, 68 heads, 340 cam, LD4B intake and a small 4bbl with manifolds and it straight rips. there's no magic there, just careful selection of parts that all work well together. while i wouldn't suggest this is something to copy exactly as the rest of my combo is entirely different (4spd, lighter car, deep gears), it's something that kind of lays down the blue print of what can be done at reasonable cost with decent components and get a satisfactory result.
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What year did they start making a 318 4 barrel? I did not know they made a 318 4B intake. MOPAR is all new to me.

Do the other 4B air cleaners look just like the 2B but with a larger base?
Any specific recs for stock cast pistons?
 
68Cudadroptop said:
What year did they start making a 318 4 barrel? I did not know they made a 318 4B intake. MOPAR is all new to me.

Do the other 4B air cleaners look just like the 2B but with a larger base?
Any specific recs for stock cast pistons?
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318 4 barrel? They really didn't. They put a few 4 barrel Teens in cop cars in the mid 80's.
 
68Cudadroptop said:
What year did they start making a 318 4 barrel? I did not know they made a 318 4B intake. MOPAR is all new to me.

Do the other 4B air cleaners look just like the 2B but with a larger base?
Any specific recs for stock cast pistons?
Click to expand...
70's and 80's

post a pic of what you want the engine to look like or the air cleaner you're thinking of and we can better direct you...

so here's the deal on pistons... if you're gonna do pistons why not do ones that maybe bump the compression up. or... if you do stock, why not deck the block to achieve the same? these are questions to ask the machine shop, if you care about such things.

but to your point, stock cast by somebody like speed pro, sealed power or KB will be fine for a stock build.
 
Looks like a good find. Get a good idea on the budget you are going to need. You will be in over 10K as soon as paint comes into play. That may make you focus on just getting it to run and stop and have some fun!!
 
Welcome!
Can you clean up number four cylinder and the piston? If all can be cleaned up, new rings and bearings. Go with a tiny bit bigger cam. Leave the two barrel and intake. Clean the heads lap the valves new seals. Fastest way to get it back running. Put the dual exhaust on the car.
Fenders try to massage dents out of fenders best as possible. A little bodywork, and blend the paint in best as possible. Get it back on the road and drive it. Always can do more upgrades later.
 
68Cudadroptop said:
Just picked up a 1968 Barracuda Convertible with a 318 and a 904 3-speed. Car is in very good condition for a 56 year old car. Been in this garage for 30+ years. Got it about 3 weeks ago and been trying to work on it as much as possible but it's outside right now and I live in New England so it's been on and off since I got it. Engine was locked up when I got it. That has been resolved. Engine and trans are out. Trans getting rebuilt tomorrow. Engine is down to bare block and now it's decision time.

I'm a purist at heart so that is my issue right now. I want to keep the motor stock but I have demons on my shoulder telling me to do something else now. It has cast iron intake, 2 barrel carb and original air cleaner. Overall the engine minus #4 piston rings being stuck to the bore is in good shape as it crank and cam.

Car needs some body work on two front fenders, car has been repainted once and both bumper have dents in them. I have some really good driver quality bumpers coming soon.

Goal for the car is to get it running, driving and stopping. This is gonna be a Sunday driver, car show, kids and wife can drive it kinda car.
I'm torn right now what direction to go with the engine rebuild. I want to keep the 318 and intiially wanted to keep 2 barrel carb and intake but now I am having second thoughts. I might want to go with a 68 date code 340 4 barrel intake, 4 barrel carter and see if I can stay with the factory air cleaner.

Also, what to do with the rotating assembly. I can probably clean up the crank and cam, both factory or go with a little better cam. I also want to add dual exhaust.

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Love the car! Good Luck with it.
 
4 barrel, dual exhaust and a distributor recurve is my step 1. All that can be done with the stock block, pistons, heads, and cam. If you switch any one of those things plan on switching them all to do it right along with headers, a converter, and a different rear gear and/or rear end to make it all work.
 
67CBodyGuy said:
Any opinions here on the (probably clone?) aluminum 4-bbl small block intakes you can get on ebay for around $150?
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they're fine for what they are and okay if you're not trying to chase hp numbers

some of them have core shift/the ports are off so check when you get it and return if necessary.
 
68Cudadroptop said:
Was there a 4B intake made in 68 (for a plymouth) that I can use on the 318? I know they sell aftermarket, I got that :)
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Edelbrock LD4B? It came out in 66 for the 273. It's a great manifold for a 318. They come up from time to time but are quite spendy. $3-500.
 
here's what a LD4B looks like.

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with paint, you'd hardly know it was aftermarket. but they're a great piece and while they do come up from time to time expect to spend real money for one in decent shape.

personally, for a 318 build that you're trying to keep incognito i'd buy a performer because it matches the 318 ports better, they come up much more often and you can pick one up for a fraction of the price. then just grind off the lettering if you feel so inclined. but honestly, painted the same as the motor only a trainspotter would know.
 
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