Ben's 1970 Barracuda

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    Author Topic: Ben's 1970 Barracuda  (Read 5868 times)

    Offline falcben

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    Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « on: September 05, 2018 - 07:37:41 PM »
    Hello all! Welcome to my build thread!

    I am a student at McPherson College, I hope to have this car at least in paint by my senior year. We have a big car show on campus at the end of each year, so that is my goal.

    I picked up this '70 Barracuda back in April. I had enough time to get an A-Pillar done before I headed to England for an internship. I should have plenty of time to get things done now. Needs a new front left frame rail and most of the exterior panels as well.

    Some specs:

    1970 Plymouth Barracuda
    383 HO 4-bbl (don't have it, unfortunately)
    4 speed with pistol grip
    8 3/4 posi rear end, 3.23 gear
    B5 blue with a white vinyl top
    White interior
    Air Conditioning
    Manual steering and brakes

    The plan:

    Full restoration-ish. Some upgrades here and there, but I want to keep it looking stock. Especially the color combo, which I think is beautiful.

    I have a 440 6 pack to build and put in it, but I am also leaning towards a Gen 3 Hemi swap as well. I plan on keeping the flat hood if the engine can fit beneath.

    Thanks for any advice you have along the way! I'm learning through this experience while also learning in classes, so bear with me on some of it.















    « Last Edit: September 05, 2018 - 07:39:35 PM by falcben »
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    Offline larry4406

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #1 on: September 05, 2018 - 07:53:16 PM »
    Cool. Watching. Will be a fun build.
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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #2 on: September 05, 2018 - 10:29:34 PM »
    outstanding project, by the looks of things you are going to get the full experience  :bigsmile:

    As to what you should do with it; coming from someone who grew up with these cars back in the day, currently have a 440-6 Challenger and a 340-6 (stroked to 416) (both are EFI 6 pack/barrel) and have an A body (68 Cuda) and a B body (70 Roadrunner) waiting, I would tell you to look hard at doing a Gen III swap. You will be MUCH happier with the result IMO. That's exactly what I will do with my A body, maybe even the B body but I already have a 66 426 Hemi for it, but it will be EFI for sure.

    If you do go old school, I HIGHLY recommend a roller cam and EFI.

    Think of it this way, you can pick up an entire GIII equipped car these days for like $2500 (for a 5.7) and get a pile of parts. What you don't use you can sell as parts and help fund your project.

    Either way, good luck and we will be watching and following.
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    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #3 on: September 07, 2018 - 04:29:51 PM »
    I have ordered all of the pieces to make the front half solid and rust free! I already have the upper cowl, both a-pillars (one is already installed), and both floor halves. I ordered a left frame rail, both shock towers, inner fender wells, and a left fender well to cowl bracket today!
     :woohoo:
    I am going to replace the left frame rail while the fender well and shock tower are still in place to avoid any problems. I will remove both fender wells, then replace the shock towers one at a time. there is a little area to patch on the right rail, inside the shock tower to take care of before that shock tower can be put on.

     I have a couple patches to do on the front of the firewall, and some patching to do on the panel below the upper cowl before the new upper cowl can be welded in. Inner fender wells can then be put in and then some new floors!

    Obviously this is all a lot easier said than done, but I am hoping for some smooth waters.  :burnout:

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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #4 on: September 07, 2018 - 04:32:05 PM »
    Goes without saying

     :useless:

    LOL, sounds like you have a good plan
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    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #5 on: September 08, 2018 - 05:23:52 PM »
    Got the rear end pulled out this morning. I’ve never had a car this far apart and neither has my dad. What a sight!

    I am in drivetrain class this semester at school, and have gotten permission to rebuild my transmission and rear end in class. So that worked out very well!

    Sheet metal should be here next week. I painted the ground below my frame rail white to write down measurements. I’m excited to see how this car progresses.






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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #6 on: September 08, 2018 - 10:51:34 PM »
    Outstanding work.
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    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #7 on: September 18, 2018 - 05:35:22 PM »


    Cowl is off! Inner fender is off! Cleaned up everything a little bit tonight. I have a few more patches to do under the cowl than I had hoped, but nothing I can’t handle.

    Does anyone know what gauge sheetmetal the firewall is?

    I hope to have the A-pillar done in the next couple days, and the cowl back on by the end of this week. I hate how it looks without all of this metal on it!!











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    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #8 on: September 18, 2018 - 05:38:47 PM »
    In the meantime during class, I have been rebuilding my 4-Speed. Hot tanked the box, tail and cover. Waiting on bearings, synchro rings, and gaskets. Then it should go back together smoothly.

    I was surprised to find fairly new gears in it, this car either had very few miles on it or it has been rebuilt once or twice. It had blue paint on it, so I am guessing it has seen a rebuild before.

    Does anyone know what factory markings there would have been on this transmission? I have seen some with yellow numbers painted on the side over the bare metal.





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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #9 on: September 18, 2018 - 11:55:05 PM »
    Man you are getting after it!! Nice.

    I think the cowl is 20 gauge, maybe 18 but I dont think so.

    Can't answer about the markings on the A833, Might think about contacting Brewers or Passion.
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    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #10 on: September 24, 2018 - 01:33:10 AM »
    The right hand A-Pillar is done and welded in. This one went a lot more smoothly than the other side. Practice makes perfect. The left side I just tried to bend the metal on top of the pillar out of the way which of course distorted it too much. This side I decided to cut the metal off to be welded back on. Unfortunately, the metal was a little too pitted to weld nicely to so I was chasing some holes a bit. A little more holes to fill an d I will be looking pretty good. Next up are some firewall patches.















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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #11 on: September 24, 2018 - 11:17:49 AM »
    Slowly but surly its beginning to look like a car again. My 2 favorite times when building a car are

    1. when the sheet metal is on and the car looks complete and solid again. It provides a huge sense of accomplishment and makes you feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

    2. when the car is running and moving.

    Kind of a Alpha and Omega situation  :bigsmile:

    Great work, stay on it.
    Logged
    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline falcben

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    • Posts: 19
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #12 on: September 28, 2018 - 11:16:37 PM »
    Moved on to some patches on the firewall. A couple more patches and some b5 blue and the upper cowl can go back on! I probably should have replaced the whole firewall, but this is a great spot to work on my metal skills before I move on to some highly visible areas.

    Also finished up my 4-speed rebuild! Just in time for it to sit for a long while.









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    Offline 70chall440

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    • Posts: 6484
    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #13 on: September 28, 2018 - 11:50:39 PM »
    its a process but you are doing great.
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    Current Mopar
    70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
    05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
    Past Mopars
    9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

    Offline 'Cuda Hunter

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    Re: Ben's 1970 Barracuda
    « Reply #14 on: September 30, 2018 - 09:33:50 PM »
    Yeah it looks great!  Love seeing the progress.  Don't be shy with the pictures!

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    "All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee
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