66 Barracuda I used to own. Slant six, 904, 2.94 gears. Ten inch front drum brakes, 14x5.5 SBP wheels with Formula S wheel covers, electronic ignition. Otherwise stock as a stove. Ran low 18s in the quarter the one time I ran it.
show me your early A!
- Thread starter needsaresto
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63 Valiant Signet convertible; owned since 1990. Originally gray with a blue interior, now red with black interior. Atlanta World of Wheels winner 1993; Garlits choice Mopars at Big Daddy's 1995. Still nice enough to show, but haven't been to one in years. Mildly modified .030 over 225 with Offy intake, 62 318 poly AFB, Comp cam, milled head with used 340 valve springs, electronic ignition and Accurate LTD 2 1/4 inch exhaust system. Pushbutton 904 stock except for 5,000 rpm governor, 7 1/4 rear with 2.94 gears. Four piston front discs, 15x7 Cragars with 225-60-R 15 Falkens. I only learned 3-4 years ago that black was not an available interior color in 63. 64-65 yes, 63 no.
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My 65 Barracuda, owned since August 1968. Originally a non-S Commando 273 4-speed with rallye suspension, 13 inch wheels, manual steering, power brakes. White with black racing stripe, black interior, 10-inch drum brakes, 7 1/4 open rear with 3.23 gears. Porsche guards red since 1990 (I painted it myself), motor is a 340, later 4-speed (conventional front u-joint) with original gear set (3.09 first gear), 8 3/4 rear with 3.23 sure grip. Hurst Super Shifter from the early 70s (much bigger shift rods than present version) with longer handle of unknown application that was hanging on the wall at Barnett Automotive in Atlanta back in the 90s. Been powered by a 340 since the spring of 1973, originally a low compression 340 from a 72 Charger (but with a forged crank). Cracked a cylinder wall in that block late 80s; replaced the block with a 71 from my Mom's old 71 Duster 340 that my brother rolled in 83, bored .030, TRW forged pistons, stock rods with ARP bolts (much less rod/piston selection back then). Bellhousing, driveshaft, rear end, rear springs and front disc brakes also came from that Duster (the original rear springs and the first 8 3/4 that was in the 65 are now in my 67 Barracuda coupe). Had 35,000 miles on it when purchased; now has somewhere in excess of 300,000 (original speedometer broke at 240K, replace 2-3 years later with the 150 mph speedo from Mom's 71 Duster 340). First 340 iteration had factory 72 manifolds. Next came fenderwell headers. Later replaced the inner fenders and switched to 68-70 manifolds. Couple years ago, I switched to TTI headers with 2.5" exhaust. Eddy heads since early 2000s. That's scratching the surface, but trying to tell the full story would get boring fast, I'm sure.
This is what it looked like in 1970. J.C. Whitney 14x6 chrome reversed wheels. Still a 273. Note the trailer hitch. (The splotches are on the picture; they weren't on the paint.)
More recent picture. Pre-header installation. Wheels are now 15x7 Cragar S/S, with 225-60-VR15 BF Goodrich Comp T/A's. I removed the rocker trim and fender well trim back in the late 70s because I used to drive on dirt roads often enough that Georgia red clay would get trapped under the trim. I still have it all; could put it back on, but I'm not in any hurry to.
340 when it still had 68-70 340 exhaust manifolds and original Commando 273 valve covers. I still have the valve covers, but there is a split just above one of the valve cover bolts and it leaks. Probably could fix it, but I always kinda wanted Offy finned aluminum valve covers and they are what's on there now.
Latest iteration, with TTI headers. It took me a year and a half to complete this installation, but it was complicated by the discovery that my old K frame was cracked and the strut rods were bent. I pulled the K frame out of my parts 65 Dart, welded in Firm Feel reinforcement kit, and had it powder coated. The strut rods came out of my parts stash and I believe they are from a Duster 360. Plus I rebuilt the steering gear box with a 20:1 gear set from Firm Feel, upgraded to NOS .890 torsion bars, completely rewired the car, re-plumbed the brake and fuel lines, rebuilt the calipers and, while I was under the dash anyway, I replaced the firewall insulation and freshened the heater assembly. Plus removed the timing cover etc. to check the timing chain (it was fine), and blasted and repainted everything I removed. My original fender tag is gone because for some reason I temporarily removed it back in the mid-1970s and set it on a shelf in my Dad's carport. He threw it away. The present fender tag is from my 64 Polara 4-dr hardtop parts car. Just so I can watch people going Huh? if they try to interpret it.
I also used to have fenderwell headers, but in November 1988 I was at the tail end of a five-car pileup on I-20 in Atlanta. Frame was OK, but I had to replace the whole front clip. The inner fenders and radiator support came as a unit from my parts 65 Barracuda after I drilled out all the spot welds holding it to the car (left the factory spot welds holding the radiator support to the inner fenders intact). Dropped the whole unit on my frame and welded it in. I decided I didn't want to cut these pristine inner fenders, so went back to OEM exhaust manifolds. Anyhoo, the radiator support is not original and so does not have the original numbers either. And the original trunk lid was replaced in the late seventies, as it had rust through on each corner. Most all the exterior and interior trim has either been rechromed or replaced. Left front and right rear floors have been patched. On the plus side, the rest of the floor, the quarters, passenger door, rockers, frame rails, trunk floor, rear window, headliner, sport steering wheel, back seat and dash pad are all original, as is the dash paint. So - despite all the mods, when I'm cruising down the road, sitting in the re-upholstered driver's seat, looking forward I see the same steering wheel and dash pad, overhead is the same headliner, and looking at the rear view mirror I see the same back seat and the same back window as I've been looking at since I was 17 years old.
This is what it looked like in 1970. J.C. Whitney 14x6 chrome reversed wheels. Still a 273. Note the trailer hitch. (The splotches are on the picture; they weren't on the paint.)
More recent picture. Pre-header installation. Wheels are now 15x7 Cragar S/S, with 225-60-VR15 BF Goodrich Comp T/A's. I removed the rocker trim and fender well trim back in the late 70s because I used to drive on dirt roads often enough that Georgia red clay would get trapped under the trim. I still have it all; could put it back on, but I'm not in any hurry to.
340 when it still had 68-70 340 exhaust manifolds and original Commando 273 valve covers. I still have the valve covers, but there is a split just above one of the valve cover bolts and it leaks. Probably could fix it, but I always kinda wanted Offy finned aluminum valve covers and they are what's on there now.
Latest iteration, with TTI headers. It took me a year and a half to complete this installation, but it was complicated by the discovery that my old K frame was cracked and the strut rods were bent. I pulled the K frame out of my parts 65 Dart, welded in Firm Feel reinforcement kit, and had it powder coated. The strut rods came out of my parts stash and I believe they are from a Duster 360. Plus I rebuilt the steering gear box with a 20:1 gear set from Firm Feel, upgraded to NOS .890 torsion bars, completely rewired the car, re-plumbed the brake and fuel lines, rebuilt the calipers and, while I was under the dash anyway, I replaced the firewall insulation and freshened the heater assembly. Plus removed the timing cover etc. to check the timing chain (it was fine), and blasted and repainted everything I removed. My original fender tag is gone because for some reason I temporarily removed it back in the mid-1970s and set it on a shelf in my Dad's carport. He threw it away. The present fender tag is from my 64 Polara 4-dr hardtop parts car. Just so I can watch people going Huh? if they try to interpret it.
I also used to have fenderwell headers, but in November 1988 I was at the tail end of a five-car pileup on I-20 in Atlanta. Frame was OK, but I had to replace the whole front clip. The inner fenders and radiator support came as a unit from my parts 65 Barracuda after I drilled out all the spot welds holding it to the car (left the factory spot welds holding the radiator support to the inner fenders intact). Dropped the whole unit on my frame and welded it in. I decided I didn't want to cut these pristine inner fenders, so went back to OEM exhaust manifolds. Anyhoo, the radiator support is not original and so does not have the original numbers either. And the original trunk lid was replaced in the late seventies, as it had rust through on each corner. Most all the exterior and interior trim has either been rechromed or replaced. Left front and right rear floors have been patched. On the plus side, the rest of the floor, the quarters, passenger door, rockers, frame rails, trunk floor, rear window, headliner, sport steering wheel, back seat and dash pad are all original, as is the dash paint. So - despite all the mods, when I'm cruising down the road, sitting in the re-upholstered driver's seat, looking forward I see the same steering wheel and dash pad, overhead is the same headliner, and looking at the rear view mirror I see the same back seat and the same back window as I've been looking at since I was 17 years old.
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Ah! I love a good story..
terry
Well-Known Member
looks nice. track time ?
high 10's low 11's
GSXcite
Well-Known Member
My 1966 survivor with 33K miles. All stock with the exception of the American racing wheels. I have the original 13" wheels that it came with. I was going to replace the strut arm bushings, but when I tore it down I decided to replace all the a arm bushings and ball joints. I'm in the process of doing that work now.
Rare with a column shifted automatic transmission on a 66 Barracuda!
My old 66 at the top of page 27 (post 651) was a column shifted automatic trans.
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine has the same combination.
But I don't like it - this is not very 'sporty' and does not match the overall look of the car.
The one on the left:
Sharp. What paint code? ZZ1?
GSXcite
Well-Known Member
My 63 Dart 170. I'm the 3rd owner but 1st outside the original family.
Owned just six weeks over here in the UK. From what I can find the car came via Louisiana, Kentucky, New York then here in 2017.
1966 Formula S with 10” drums, 7.25 Suregrip, factory AC. Car came with original build sheet and Certicard. Currently considering dropping in a mild build 360 I’ve located. Right now I’m replacing all the brakes from MC back.
1966 Formula S with 10” drums, 7.25 Suregrip, factory AC. Car came with original build sheet and Certicard. Currently considering dropping in a mild build 360 I’ve located. Right now I’m replacing all the brakes from MC back.
Mouse action
Well-Known Member
1964
65 Signet with 64 fenders and grill. Single turbo 5.9, full sequential fuel injection. Just put the steelies on this weekend.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
Great looking valiant! What alternator is that???
It’s a small Denso, sourced from an old 4Runner if I recall.
jbharris
Well-Known Member
My lasted purchase is a 66 Barracuda. Yellow 273 auto it is a column shift. This one I have planned to make a driver out of it. Couple mild performance upgrades but keeping it stockish with some day 2 add-on
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Shaun3406
Well-Known Member
Awesome ! Great looking 64
Shaun3406
Well-Known Member
Are you still running stock K member and torsion bars ?
Shaun3406
Well-Known Member
That's me too. I swapped my 65 wagon over to 64 front cap and taillights.
Yep. V8 torsion bars.
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