Hi all. I have been asked by several members about details and pictures on my 68 Barracuda project (round 3) and though I am in the final stages of the major transformation of this old friend I finally have some pictures and a few minutes so here it is...
First the long background. I was 15 1/2, it was 1982. I had been corrupted at an early age by a friends uncle who had a nice Superbird 440 - (B7 blue and as fun as it got for a car junkie) and was in search of a Mopar for my first car and wanted a Cuda. I found a 68 in OK listed as "needs some work". It was just at the edge of the wrong side of town but I went anyway. What I found was a pure beater. Holes rusted through floorboards and rear quarters at usual spots, V8 (-318- with chevy 2bbl on 4bbl intake (weird adapter), 727, and 391 single leg rear, slotted mags, few dents, bad paint, etc... Not sure what they were trying to do with this thing but it was a White 68 fastback and I had to have it. $200 later I was driving it home using the coat hanger tied to the broken throttle cable and pulled through the firewall as a gas pedal. I might have been a little stupid to take on such an animal but I was proud as hell! I fixed the throttle, added a carter AVS, headers, and new-ish tires and drove the heck out of this car. The following year I built a stout (for the day) 318 and regularly ran 14's at the drag nights each w/e.
Through the remaining years I painted it white twice (once myself), wrecked it, turned it over on its side, got a few tickets, used it to drive away from my first wedding, and never lost my love for it. My father and his friends always lamented about all the cool cars they let "get away" and I vowed to hang onto the cool ones if I could. Luckily for me I have been able to do so.
As I said, I am in the final stages of getting this car back on the road as a fun street car with track potential as well. Here is a short list of the things I have done. I would be happy to elaborate on them if asked but I talk too much anyway so here is the done list.
1. New quarters/floor pans.
2. 6-Point custom roll bars.
3. Conversion from white ext w/wine interior to Plum Crazy ext w/Black int.
4. Peppy 360 w/alum heads, roller internals, also has electric fans, water pump and ignition.
5. Complete rewire with Pro-Street kit.
6. Custom dash with Mopar gauges and "old school toggles" for the electronics
7. 16" Torq-Thrust II's
8. Removeable Sterring Wheel mod
8. Tubular Upper A-Arms (the good ones)
9. Front/Rear disc conversions (74 duster fronts, SSBC rear kit)
10. New rear axles.
11. New seat covers, dash, headliner, etc...
12. B&M Hammer shifter with line loc setup.
13. 10Gal fuel cell in trunk.
To Do:
1. Rear spring relocate and replace, new drive shaft, gears (if needed)
2. New tires (drag radials in rear)
3. Quick ration steering box.
4. Some trim work
5. Tune and Run!!!
These pics are not the best but you'll get the idea. I know that most everything in the way of mods, paint, interior, etc... has been done before but this car is just how I wanted it thus no reason not to be happy with it. I did not do the bodywork and paint, nor the roll bars, but I have done all the rest of the work myself. As I said, if anyone has specific questions on anything PM me and I will reply as I have time. I may do some drill-downs on some of my favorite mods as well.
Thanks for all the help and wisdom I have received from the FABO group - you are all an excellent resource and though I rarely have time to post I appreciate this community. :-D
First the long background. I was 15 1/2, it was 1982. I had been corrupted at an early age by a friends uncle who had a nice Superbird 440 - (B7 blue and as fun as it got for a car junkie) and was in search of a Mopar for my first car and wanted a Cuda. I found a 68 in OK listed as "needs some work". It was just at the edge of the wrong side of town but I went anyway. What I found was a pure beater. Holes rusted through floorboards and rear quarters at usual spots, V8 (-318- with chevy 2bbl on 4bbl intake (weird adapter), 727, and 391 single leg rear, slotted mags, few dents, bad paint, etc... Not sure what they were trying to do with this thing but it was a White 68 fastback and I had to have it. $200 later I was driving it home using the coat hanger tied to the broken throttle cable and pulled through the firewall as a gas pedal. I might have been a little stupid to take on such an animal but I was proud as hell! I fixed the throttle, added a carter AVS, headers, and new-ish tires and drove the heck out of this car. The following year I built a stout (for the day) 318 and regularly ran 14's at the drag nights each w/e.
Through the remaining years I painted it white twice (once myself), wrecked it, turned it over on its side, got a few tickets, used it to drive away from my first wedding, and never lost my love for it. My father and his friends always lamented about all the cool cars they let "get away" and I vowed to hang onto the cool ones if I could. Luckily for me I have been able to do so.
As I said, I am in the final stages of getting this car back on the road as a fun street car with track potential as well. Here is a short list of the things I have done. I would be happy to elaborate on them if asked but I talk too much anyway so here is the done list.
1. New quarters/floor pans.
2. 6-Point custom roll bars.
3. Conversion from white ext w/wine interior to Plum Crazy ext w/Black int.
4. Peppy 360 w/alum heads, roller internals, also has electric fans, water pump and ignition.
5. Complete rewire with Pro-Street kit.
6. Custom dash with Mopar gauges and "old school toggles" for the electronics
7. 16" Torq-Thrust II's
8. Removeable Sterring Wheel mod
8. Tubular Upper A-Arms (the good ones)
9. Front/Rear disc conversions (74 duster fronts, SSBC rear kit)
10. New rear axles.
11. New seat covers, dash, headliner, etc...
12. B&M Hammer shifter with line loc setup.
13. 10Gal fuel cell in trunk.
To Do:
1. Rear spring relocate and replace, new drive shaft, gears (if needed)
2. New tires (drag radials in rear)
3. Quick ration steering box.
4. Some trim work
5. Tune and Run!!!
These pics are not the best but you'll get the idea. I know that most everything in the way of mods, paint, interior, etc... has been done before but this car is just how I wanted it thus no reason not to be happy with it. I did not do the bodywork and paint, nor the roll bars, but I have done all the rest of the work myself. As I said, if anyone has specific questions on anything PM me and I will reply as I have time. I may do some drill-downs on some of my favorite mods as well.
Thanks for all the help and wisdom I have received from the FABO group - you are all an excellent resource and though I rarely have time to post I appreciate this community. :-D
