The little holes in your passenger side fender are for the Pentastar emblem. You can buy one brand new from Year One for $7.
Mopar virgin checking in with new 1969 Barracuda - with questions.... ;)
- Thread starter Hetman
- Start date
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69CudaFan
Well-Known Member
...and to answer your previous question, those squares are for ventilation like you suspected. Sorry to hear about your paint woes. I know less than nothing about shooting color, but to do Mopar paint correctly requires that the engine bay also be body color. Either way, your car looks really good for a driver, which is what I assume the car is for you. Also, fogging the engine bay black is a shortcut that does not look nearly as good, in my honest opinion.
Enjoy the car for a while, see how the paint holds up and start saving to do it the way that you want down the road. These cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed.
Shane
Enjoy the car for a while, see how the paint holds up and start saving to do it the way that you want down the road. These cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed.
Shane
Thanks for the tip on the emblem, Leanna! I didn't know what was supposed to be there.
Also thanks again for the info, Shane. Yes, the car is supposed to be a driver and the paint is not bad at all for a driver; plus it will hold up for years and looks much better than before. I am happy for that at least. When I'm able to do it all over again, I will do it in the beautiful factory B3 color and be sure to paint the whole engine compartment.
Thanks, Cawley! I really do love the way this Barracuda looks. It's an extremely handsome car with beautiful flowing lines. I also like the way the gas tank (lid?) opens. I love the way the turbine hubcaps look!! They are a really nice touch and shine and glisten in the sun.
I drove the car for a bit and got a feel for what I have. I think there's some play in the steering components which makes it unsure on the road during maneuvers. Not too safe if you ask me but I'll have to take it easy until I can get that fixed. Overall I think I could tell that it is very well balanced and responsive. It seems like a light and very nice-handling car if everything were working perfectly. I stepped on it a few times and the 318 has plenty of pep to make this car move out. I'd love to see how a 340 would respond, and I'd really love to have a 4-speed manual...but that's not realistic at the moment. Maybe one day I can get something like Shane's 4-speed 340 Cuda. I think that's what I'd prefer. I've heard the 383 is a bit heavy and makes these cars handle less neutral, but I'm open to having a big block as well, as long as it's with a manual transmission. I'm just rambling now....LOL. First things first. I need to replace the shocks and front end components to make it a nice driver.
Also thanks again for the info, Shane. Yes, the car is supposed to be a driver and the paint is not bad at all for a driver; plus it will hold up for years and looks much better than before. I am happy for that at least. When I'm able to do it all over again, I will do it in the beautiful factory B3 color and be sure to paint the whole engine compartment.
Thanks, Cawley! I really do love the way this Barracuda looks. It's an extremely handsome car with beautiful flowing lines. I also like the way the gas tank (lid?) opens. I love the way the turbine hubcaps look!! They are a really nice touch and shine and glisten in the sun.
I drove the car for a bit and got a feel for what I have. I think there's some play in the steering components which makes it unsure on the road during maneuvers. Not too safe if you ask me but I'll have to take it easy until I can get that fixed. Overall I think I could tell that it is very well balanced and responsive. It seems like a light and very nice-handling car if everything were working perfectly. I stepped on it a few times and the 318 has plenty of pep to make this car move out. I'd love to see how a 340 would respond, and I'd really love to have a 4-speed manual...but that's not realistic at the moment. Maybe one day I can get something like Shane's 4-speed 340 Cuda. I think that's what I'd prefer. I've heard the 383 is a bit heavy and makes these cars handle less neutral, but I'm open to having a big block as well, as long as it's with a manual transmission. I'm just rambling now....LOL. First things first. I need to replace the shocks and front end components to make it a nice driver.
If it's manual steering, this may help you out ...
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=73507
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=73507
Thanks again for the tip, Leanna. My Cuda has power steering and I haven't checked yet to see if the steering gearbox has lots of play or not. It doesn't seem to be the main issue, since the tires respond rather quickly to inputs from the steering wheel.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of driving my Barracuda 15 miles to another garage for the winter. So it was actually the first time I've had it on the road in a normal driving environment, the first time I've been able to see how it handles and drives at normal speeds. I took it very easy and probably didn't exceed 70 mph (speedo doesn't work). It was a combination of city driving and mostly country driving on a good 2-lane road with plenty of curves, and not much traffic. I have to say that during and after this shake-down cruise I was very excited about the car. Though it needs new shocks, springs and front end components, it handles remarkably well and is very responsive. I am actually getting to like this car very much! It is light enough to be a very good handler and the engine provides plenty of power when I step on it. This car fits its "sports car" bill attributed to it 45 years ago. It's not quite a BMW (of the same vintage; I've owned them) which begs to be driven hard, but the Barracuda is light, agile and powerful. It is very fun to drive. I can't wait to get its problems fixed and be able to hammer it.
Hard. ;)
Yesterday I had the pleasure of driving my Barracuda 15 miles to another garage for the winter. So it was actually the first time I've had it on the road in a normal driving environment, the first time I've been able to see how it handles and drives at normal speeds. I took it very easy and probably didn't exceed 70 mph (speedo doesn't work). It was a combination of city driving and mostly country driving on a good 2-lane road with plenty of curves, and not much traffic. I have to say that during and after this shake-down cruise I was very excited about the car. Though it needs new shocks, springs and front end components, it handles remarkably well and is very responsive. I am actually getting to like this car very much! It is light enough to be a very good handler and the engine provides plenty of power when I step on it. This car fits its "sports car" bill attributed to it 45 years ago. It's not quite a BMW (of the same vintage; I've owned them) which begs to be driven hard, but the Barracuda is light, agile and powerful. It is very fun to drive. I can't wait to get its problems fixed and be able to hammer it.
Hard. ;)Good news! After many months of getting all the paperwork run through all the different bureaucracies, the Barracuda passed its rigorous inspection for a historical vehicle yesterday and tomorrow I will do the final registration and get the historical plates. An arduous process to say the least. But I am very happy to report this and that the killer fish will be on the road soon! The weather is also cooperating, with temps above freezing and no salt on the roads for a few weeks. I took my Jeep ZJ with the same engine (318 ) to pull the Barracuda. Something cool about using a Mopar product, with the same engine, to pull the fish.
I would love to add some pictures but now Imageshack is charging for hosting?! WTF?! LOL. Does anyone know of another good image hosting service I can use?
I would love to add some pictures but now Imageshack is charging for hosting?! WTF?! LOL. Does anyone know of another good image hosting service I can use?
I use Photobucket, it's free. And congrats on getting the legalities finalized.
ef8340
Well-Known Member
very nice fish, I love the B3 color aswell.
Glad you're going to get the chance to enjoy your Barracuda during the upcoming spring there in Poland.
Thanks for the compliments and wishes, folks! You are all a bunch of upstanding and pleasant people! I have to admit that the Mopar charm is starting to work on me...I'm beginning to fall in love with this fish. ;) It is very cool looking and it is very light and great handling and fast!
At the inspection station they drew my attention to some play in the steering gearbox. I hope I'll be able to adjust that out. And one of the steering links has some play. Otherwise there were no problems at all (except emergency brake not adjusted properly). In other words, the car is in much better shape than I expected. No play in any bushings or ball joints or bearings. All shocks and springs are OK (front springs are a bit saggy but not dangerous). Brakes work great. They are manual drum brakes but work very well. I will need to do quite a bit to bring the fish back up to standards - new gaskets everywhere, new shocks and springs, new dual exhaust, new steering components and possibly an upgrade to disk brakes. But the engine is new and runs clean and powerful. Probably I should change the oil in the differential and transmission; it seems to grab hard into each gear. The Sure-grip works too, at least on slick surfaces and dirt. I haven't tried it in the rain or on dry asphalt either. But it appears that the car is generally speaking in good condition. I'm getting excited! Thanks for being such a nice group of people.
Ocdart, I'll respond to your PM but now I have to go take care of the kids.
I have to admit that the Mopar charm is starting to work on me...I'm beginning to fall in love with this fish. ;) It is very cool looking and it is very light and great handling and fast! At the inspection station they drew my attention to some play in the steering gearbox. I hope I'll be able to adjust that out. And one of the steering links has some play. Otherwise there were no problems at all (except emergency brake not adjusted properly). In other words, the car is in much better shape than I expected. No play in any bushings or ball joints or bearings. All shocks and springs are OK (front springs are a bit saggy but not dangerous). Brakes work great. They are manual drum brakes but work very well. I will need to do quite a bit to bring the fish back up to standards - new gaskets everywhere, new shocks and springs, new dual exhaust, new steering components and possibly an upgrade to disk brakes. But the engine is new and runs clean and powerful. Probably I should change the oil in the differential and transmission; it seems to grab hard into each gear. The Sure-grip works too, at least on slick surfaces and dirt. I haven't tried it in the rain or on dry asphalt either. But it appears that the car is generally speaking in good condition. I'm getting excited!
Thanks for being such a nice group of people.Ocdart, I'll respond to your PM but now I have to go take care of the kids.
Today I took my boys (aged 5 and 6) out for a ride in the fish. It was a nice day (unseasonably warm winter and it seems it's almost spring outside) and it seemed like the right thing to do. Of course the boys were all for it!! So we got in and took a short cruise to the neighboring town, where we got lots of stares, as if the people around here had never seen one before (easy to understand; I think my Cuda is the only 2nd generation fish in Poland). So we left the town and I was eager to "get used to" the car a bit and stomped on the gas and we cruised through some winding roads. I was pleasantly surprised by how much get up and go this fish has! It's really fun to drive, and very quick! The manual drum brakes make for an interesting experience braking from say 80+ mph. I have no problems with manual brakes, and they are actually quite effective. Probably I will want to upgrade to disks in the future for a more balanced feel and less fade. It's been really fun every time I take her out for a spin! Nice, peppy little car!
Awesome for you and the boys!! Just found out the 69 barracuda convertible I bought might not get to the port in time to catch the ship sailing on Tuesday
if not I will have to wait another week until she sails. then another 15 days till it gets here. You know I will be at the port waiting for them to off load the container!! Enjoy your barracuda!!Spike, thanks for posting. I know waiting isn't easy.... I waited over 2 1/2 years to get my Barracuda delivered to me after buying it in April 2011 in Los Angeles. I contracted with a shop there to do some work on it, including a good paint job (didn't work out that well for me!!), fix any small mechanical issues, chrome the bumpers and get the engine rebuilt (turns out he installed a different engine instead of rebuilding mine....sigh). BUT.... after nearly 3 years, I finally got my Cuda! So you will have yours very soon. I hope you enjoy it!
I waited over 2 1/2 years to get my Barracuda delivered to me after buying it in April 2011 in Los Angeles. I contracted with a shop there to do some work on it, including a good paint job (didn't work out that well for me!!), fix any small mechanical issues, chrome the bumpers and get the engine rebuilt (turns out he installed a different engine instead of rebuilding mine....sigh). BUT.... after nearly 3 years, I finally got my Cuda! So you will have yours very soon. I hope you enjoy it!Awesome for you and the boys!! Just found out the 69 barracuda convertible I bought might not get to the port in time to catch the ship sailing on Tuesday
Thank you, Cawley! I am sure that I will have lots more questions in the future as I dig into the car. It's a long learning curve to escape from the Darkside...LOL and I have to relearn everything I've ever been taught... ;) There is something magical about the fish. I was thinking about how it was marketed when it was new....the whole "pony car" concept and everything. So what it is, is a competitor to the Mustang and Camaro? It's a very light and maneuverable car, like a sports car but with a "big" V8 for lots of power. I know all those pony cars came with big blocks too during the HP wars. You have a big block in your Cuda - how does it handle? Certainly much more power but is it nose-heavy and awkward to drive (compared to the small block)? Being a gearhead, I'm always interested in (much) more power.... ;) but I've never driven a big-block powered pony car so I have no point of reference. Is the small block such a handicap when it comes to HP? Again, I'm thinking very long-term, as usual, and any future upgrades. Since my car no longer has the original engine, it wouldn't hurt resale value to install a different engine, and there's no such thing as too much HP. So would it be worth it to put in a big block (or hemi.. ) if the handling suffers tremendously? I suppose a 360 would be another option and I assume (knowing nothing of Mopars) that it could be stroked for more displacement. I'm constantly thinking of other upgrades to make, such as subframe connectors and rebuilt suspension, better springs and other stuff. I know that specialty companies have redesigned the front suspension of these cars. Is it worth it to do something like that for better handling, or just replace the parts with stock components? I'm definitely on a pauper budget, so that is a big factor. I'm trying to get ideas on what cheaper alternatives there are to improving various performance parameters. I really like this Cuda and even as great as it is now, I know it has huge potential to be a street killer against any of the modern cars out there. And I love doing that. In my past, I'd love to surprise modern Teutonic muscle cars with the brute power of my warmed-over 454 powered Monte Carlo, which basically never lost a stoplight race. However, that is a 2-ton beast and can't handle like a Cuda. So I'm looking forward to doing more surprising of unsuspecting modern cars that sell for 10 times what I have in the Cuda. That's what hot-rodding is all about and I think the fish is an ideal vehicle to carry out that campaign. What do you think?
) if the handling suffers tremendously? I suppose a 360 would be another option and I assume (knowing nothing of Mopars) that it could be stroked for more displacement. I'm constantly thinking of other upgrades to make, such as subframe connectors and rebuilt suspension, better springs and other stuff. I know that specialty companies have redesigned the front suspension of these cars. Is it worth it to do something like that for better handling, or just replace the parts with stock components? I'm definitely on a pauper budget, so that is a big factor. I'm trying to get ideas on what cheaper alternatives there are to improving various performance parameters. I really like this Cuda and even as great as it is now, I know it has huge potential to be a street killer against any of the modern cars out there. And I love doing that. In my past, I'd love to surprise modern Teutonic muscle cars with the brute power of my warmed-over 454 powered Monte Carlo, which basically never lost a stoplight race. However, that is a 2-ton beast and can't handle like a Cuda. So I'm looking forward to doing more surprising of unsuspecting modern cars that sell for 10 times what I have in the Cuda. That's what hot-rodding is all about and I think the fish is an ideal vehicle to carry out that campaign. What do you think? My dad & uncle bought new cudas in 69. My uncles is a 383 car (the one I have now) & dads was a 340. My dad said he could out run my uncle in the 1/4 mile but not much after that the 383 would blow right by. He said both cars handled pretty the same. Both cars had manual steering & 4spd.I drove many big block a bodies (none stock) & I can tell you what a feeling. Good luck with your cuda & keep us posted.:-D
Greetings again, folks! Boy this place has become very active! My thread used to stay on the front page for months and months and months....now after 3 months it's dropped to page 7!!
Steadily I've been trying to fix the small problems with the car. I had an electrical problem (still do, I think!) and the engine wouldn't start. Turned out it was a burned out coil. However, after installing a new coil, it runs great. On the other hand, there's a part on the carburetor that's getting really hot so perhaps that's what burned out the coil. One of the wires from the coil was going to the carb and my father in law simply removed that wire and now it runs OK with no overheating to that part of the carb. I need to figure out what the wire is supposed to be doing....anyway, there are other problems. I decided to take her for a run while the engine was running and noticed a valve clicking or something like that. So when I returned, I decided to replace the oil in this "new" 318. Turns out that the oil was "slightly" old. Very dirty and surely not doing its job. Now why would anyone pour dirty, used oil into a new engine? ;) So I was probably ripped off by the garage owner when he said he put in a new engine (and relieved me of my old engine, which I suspect was original but don't know). So after putting new synthetic oil in the car, it now runs without any valvetrain clatter. Whew. And it's very quick. So I took it for a spin and during this test, I did a few burnouts, which seemed to be catching rubber on both rear tires. Recall that I have the Spring Special option on the car, which I was informed (here) that it included the Sure Grip option, despite nothing on the data plate to confirm the Sure Grip option. Supposedly if the Spring Special option was added to the car, the data plate wouldn't list all those options in the package separately on the data plate. So I always suspected I had a Sure Grip. However, I've known cars with open axles to spin both tires on smooth surfaces where there's not much traction. So I also took off the rear axle cover, drained the rank, smelly fluid and did some research on here as to what is inside. By all evidence, I do NOT have a Sure Grip. I can see all the spider gears inside the 7.25" axle and no evidence of any springs or cone pack or anything like that. Inside, my differential looks exactly like a non-limited-slip axle. So I am major bummed about that. It's a 2800275, 2.76:1 dated 2 11 69, which corresponds directly with the 2 22 69 build date on the data plate. Also, there is play inside so I need to be careful with the burnouts because this axle needs to be rebuilt. Otherwise it looks great. So I can assume that the Spring Special package did not necessarily include the Sure Grip axle.
Steadily I've been trying to fix the small problems with the car. I had an electrical problem (still do, I think!) and the engine wouldn't start. Turned out it was a burned out coil. However, after installing a new coil, it runs great. On the other hand, there's a part on the carburetor that's getting really hot so perhaps that's what burned out the coil. One of the wires from the coil was going to the carb and my father in law simply removed that wire and now it runs OK with no overheating to that part of the carb. I need to figure out what the wire is supposed to be doing....anyway, there are other problems. I decided to take her for a run while the engine was running and noticed a valve clicking or something like that. So when I returned, I decided to replace the oil in this "new" 318. Turns out that the oil was "slightly" old. Very dirty and surely not doing its job. Now why would anyone pour dirty, used oil into a new engine? ;) So I was probably ripped off by the garage owner when he said he put in a new engine (and relieved me of my old engine, which I suspect was original but don't know). So after putting new synthetic oil in the car, it now runs without any valvetrain clatter. Whew. And it's very quick. So I took it for a spin and during this test, I did a few burnouts, which seemed to be catching rubber on both rear tires. Recall that I have the Spring Special option on the car, which I was informed (here) that it included the Sure Grip option, despite nothing on the data plate to confirm the Sure Grip option. Supposedly if the Spring Special option was added to the car, the data plate wouldn't list all those options in the package separately on the data plate. So I always suspected I had a Sure Grip. However, I've known cars with open axles to spin both tires on smooth surfaces where there's not much traction. So I also took off the rear axle cover, drained the rank, smelly fluid and did some research on here as to what is inside. By all evidence, I do NOT have a Sure Grip. I can see all the spider gears inside the 7.25" axle and no evidence of any springs or cone pack or anything like that. Inside, my differential looks exactly like a non-limited-slip axle. So I am major bummed about that. It's a 2800275, 2.76:1 dated 2 11 69, which corresponds directly with the 2 22 69 build date on the data plate. Also, there is play inside so I need to be careful with the burnouts because this axle needs to be rebuilt. Otherwise it looks great. So I can assume that the Spring Special package did not necessarily include the Sure Grip axle.
We got the carburetor adjusted more or less properly, and also bled the brakes, and rebuilt the wheel cylinders and cleaned out the master cylinder, so the brakes work pretty well now.
I was invited by a major club in Poland to bring a few of my cars to a July 4th event in downtown Warsaw, and decided to bring the Barracuda, my 63 Olds Cutlass and 72 Ford van. I have a blog (and Facebook page) to showcase my car collection and keep in touch with my gearhead friends. Here's the entry about the July 4th event. It's really cool to be able to drive these cars around and share the best of America with the people.
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrating-july-4th-at-royal-casino.html
I was invited by a major club in Poland to bring a few of my cars to a July 4th event in downtown Warsaw, and decided to bring the Barracuda, my 63 Olds Cutlass and 72 Ford van. I have a blog (and Facebook page) to showcase my car collection and keep in touch with my gearhead friends. Here's the entry about the July 4th event. It's really cool to be able to drive these cars around and share the best of America with the people.
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrating-july-4th-at-royal-casino.html
Ben Drinkin
Hey bartender!
You've got some cool rides! Obviously the Cuda is the coolest.
Thanks for the compliment Ben!
Merry Christmas, folks!!
Sorry I've been away for a while, but life's getting in the way! Well, actually, more like working on cars, driving them and showing them keeps getting in the way!
This year I brought the Cuda out to a few events, and I've linked entries from my blog for you to see. Enjoy!
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2015/04/rebel-rides-takes-part-in-piasecznos.html
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2015/08/rebel-rides-at-5th-annual-american-day.html
Sorry I've been away for a while, but life's getting in the way! Well, actually, more like working on cars, driving them and showing them keeps getting in the way!
This year I brought the Cuda out to a few events, and I've linked entries from my blog for you to see. Enjoy!
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2015/04/rebel-rides-takes-part-in-piasecznos.html
http://rebelridesclassiccars.blogspot.com/2015/08/rebel-rides-at-5th-annual-american-day.html
Welcome back Hetman, great Christmas present to hear from you, and knowing that you're safe!! Merry Christmas to you and your family, and your pet "Blufish" too!!! Enjoy!!!
Thank you very much, Geof! It's nice to hear from you too, brother! Merry Christmas and a great and successful happy new year to you and yours.
-Mike
Greetings, friends!! It's spring here behind the Iron Curtain and I had a chance a couple weeks ago to drive and show the fish at a local car show!! I'm so excited that I decided all those years ago to go Mopar and this is a very fun and really beautiful car! I'm looking forward to making some upgrades to make it even more fun and safe. Specifically, I'd like to do a disk brake upgrade. I have manual drum brakes, and of course, small bolt pattern. I understand that the factory offered a 4-piston Kelsey Hayes system. Is this a better system or more effective system than the later 2-piston design? I do not necessarily need to keep the small bolt pattern, as I'm interested in upgrading the rear axle anyhow. What else do I need to make this conversion? Would I absolutely need a new brake master cylinder if I decide to stay with manual brakes? This is the car that I'd like to invest more in to make safer and faster (as inexpensively as possible). It looks like I'm becoming a real Mopar nut. ;) Please forgive me. LOL
By the way, this past winter I replaced the carburetor and now the engine really runs great!! What a difference. I suppose the old carb was just worn out; I haven't taken it down to see what the problem was, but now it's really responsive.
Enjoy the pictures of this nice family-oriented show.
Rebel Rides Behind the Iron Curtain: Rebel Rides takes part in Piaseczno's Second Classic Car Meet, April 16, 2016
By the way, this past winter I replaced the carburetor and now the engine really runs great!! What a difference. I suppose the old carb was just worn out; I haven't taken it down to see what the problem was, but now it's really responsive.
Enjoy the pictures of this nice family-oriented show.
Rebel Rides Behind the Iron Curtain: Rebel Rides takes part in Piaseczno's Second Classic Car Meet, April 16, 2016
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