Barracuda or Clone Cuda?

[bugsydog]

Make it into what you want , not what everybody thinks it should be. It's your money time and your vehicle. Mine was a plain jane 1971 barracuda and i turned into what i wanted.

[Road_Runner]

Build a driver...6.1L, A-518 and 3.91's.  Throw 17's on it with discs all around.  Confederate Cuda has a beauty that takes this concept to the next level (actually about 3 levels above).

I've got to admit that the great price of the new Hemi crate motors has me at least considering one, but my first instinct is to stay with a relatively period correct block as a starting point.  I've also got the entire pistol grip setup out of a 70 RT Challenger which has me considering that as an option to.  If I leave it an automatic, I'll either go with something like a 3.55 in the rear, but I'd really like to go with a 4.10 and a Gear Vendor gear splitter if money permits.  Haven't really thought about rear discs but I probably should, and as for the 17's I'd like to consider them but I've seen some that look great and others not so much.  I think its the stance that makes the difference with the top of the wheel & tire needing to be hidden in the wheel well, kind of sitting down on the larger wheels, for it to look right to me.  Right now I'm leaning to 15x7's & 15x8 rallyes but nothings decided yet.  But you have the right idea as far as what I want out of this car, a hot looking fun to drive car that doesn't look like everything else on the road.

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

I removed the bumper guards from my car, I didn't like them and originality doesn't matter to me - it started out as a column shift 318 2bbl.
The chrome extensions you mention won't swap in directly but it is possible to make them work. '73 & '74 bumpers were moved further out from the body so if you put those smaller chrome pieces in place of the larger rubber pieces, they leave a fair sized gap to the valance. If you move the bumpers in, they will work with a little ingenuity. '72, '73, '74 bumpers are all different. Bolt spacing and/or bumper brackets.
There are differences in the valances (70-71, 72-74)but I believe they are interchangeable?

Thanks, that's good info on the differences in body spacing between years.  I didn't know that.  I thought about possibly needing to go to an earlier version of the bumpers, but looks like I'd need to change brackets too.  So you just left off the big rubber extensions and used the same bumpers as before?  Did it leave holes where the guards attached to the bumpers or did you use extra bumper bolts or something similar to fill the holes?

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

I chose a round tail light specifically to modify. I liked the grille better too. Sounds like you have a blank page to start with.Having a direction is key.Or a "vision" to hold onto.I got into the vintage trans am/g machine theme.Mostly because of members here. There are lot's of different types of cars around.All colors,styles. I like people who make their car their own.It's worth more all done up anyway IMO. And you get to make a statement of who you are.It's like an art form.You become part of it. Look around,ask questions.Lot's of cool people on here.Maybe get a photochop from Aaron?      Budget dictates a lot. Tell us what you need it to do.    Welcome to the best site on the net. And feel free to post up sum pics!      R/T

Trans Am/G Machine?  Sounds very cool.  I grew up when Trans Am racing was hot and AAR Cudas, TA Challengers, Boss 302's etc. roamed the streets!  Of course I was into 1/4 mile times mostly back then so big blocks ruled, but something more streetable is exactly what I want for the Cuda.  Budget-wise, in the short term it's going to make the 73 a dependable car mostly, something that I can trust to get from point A to B, but over the next couple of years I'll be fixing it up as I go.  Kind of like I did with my Roadrunner as a teenager. 

One last thing, Photochop by Aaron?  Is he a member here and are there examples I can see?  Sounds cool whatever it is. 

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

This is what we did to my wife's 73 Barracuda. Never regretted it.

No I'm sure you didn't!!  That is gorgeous!!  And its possible that is the color mine is supposed to be, hard to tell with it faded so much.  I'd love to see a list of all the mods you did to it.  It obviously looks like an earlier year, but still learning the differences too much to recognize what all the changes are.  Beautiful car, congrats!!

Later, Jim

[70burntorangeT/A]

Here are some of aarons Chops

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=53793.0

[Road_Runner]

I have trouble making up my mind too (the color changing thread is mine so you probably could have guessed i cant make my mindup) just do whatever you want...that will make you that happyest in the end..but if you are going triple black you better make sure that body is super strait because you will see every little imperfection. I painted my 66 f-100 black and looking back on it i kind of regret it

I know about Black, it either looks great or it looks terrible.  Even keeping it 100% clean is a must or they just look OK.  With the white top & interior, I'm looking at colors that would work with those too, but right now only blue seems to jump out as an option.  Otherwise, the top & interior are going black and then lots of colors work: orange, red, black & .  The good news is that I have some time as I want to get the drivetrain decided on and in before the paint goes on.

Later, Jim

[Road_Runner]

We built my brother's Cuda ( a proper 'Cuda, but only a '74 318 version )
into what we felt was the car we wanted.

71 fenders, moved the antenna, early bumpers, pushed the front bumper in, a lot of cues from the '70-'71.
It's yours, build it your way!

Agreed, did you leave the 318 in it?  If not, what did you go with?

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

It`s a 318 Barracuda,not a numbers `cuda so build like you want.

  That's why I shopped for something a little less 'collectable' just so I could do what I want with it including driving it without worrying about risking an one of one type car.  But you know, even plain old Barracudas are nothing to sneeze at given Mopar's low production numbers compared to all the Mustangs & Camaros running around from the same years.  But yeah, I'll do it my way as soon as I figure out what way that is!

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

build your dream cuda that you want.  What year is your favorite?  What color is your favorite or dream?  Think about all of this then make it like you want.

  That's kind of the path I'm probably going to take with my Roadrunner.  I always said I wanted a hemi in it back in the day, and now that's probably the route I'm going to take with it even though it has the original 383, torqueflite & 8 3/4 rear in it.  So the Barracuda is going to be a little more grounded at least initially, plus I want something I can enjoy driving today in the world of $3 & $4 dollar/gallon gas!! 

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

I agree with everyone else.  Make it the way you like it.  There are a lot of very cool looking Barracudas/Cudas on this board that you'll have plenty of options to look at.

Are you going stock Cuda look or not so stock?  I kind of like the standard dash bezels because some of the guys have used that to house Autometer gauges that looks really racer like IMO.  If not, the Rally gauges are cool.

I might be crazy but the bumper guards on the '73-'74 cars are good if you have a daily driver.  I live close to Boston and parallell parking is basically like parking by Brail method sometimes for some people.  It'll protect that nice grill!   

It's funny you mention parking in Boston.  I was there for a conference a couple of years ago and watched several examples of what I'd call bump parking.  I watched as drivers just backed up until they hit the car behind them, then pulled forward until they bumped the car in front and then backed up half way to center their car!!!  I couldn't believe my eyes, this would get you shot in Atlanta trust me, must be a northern thing or something, they'd never survive down here. 

And I've actually thought about doing exactly as you describe with the round bezels of the standard gauges seem perfect for some period correct Stewart Warner or similar gauges.  The only thing is I think I'd have the same or more into that setup as I would with a rallye gauge cluster although that could be optimistic on my part as the rallyes seem to be going for serious $$$.

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

Make it into what you want , not what everybody thinks it should be. It's your money time and your vehicle. Mine was a plain jane 1971 barracuda and i turned into what i wanted.

I couldn't pull up the picture, but it looks like you went with a shaker hood.  That would be my first choice if I was going with a bigger engine than a 4 bbl small block.

Later, Jim

[Road_Runner]

Here are some of aarons Chops

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=53793.0

I am SOOOO going to do that, THANKS!!

[BB73Challenger]

Agreed, did you leave the 318 in it?  If not, what did you go with?

Thanks, Jim

The 318 had a mild build (cam,intake,carb,headers, you get the idea)
so it's dependable, still a V-8, but down the road we are looking at a bigger
motor - we are leaning towards staying small block but doing something
a little out of the norm. Possibly stroked small block or something of that
nature.
It's running pretty good so we are just driving for now ( or were - now in storage  )

[whitesatinmopar]

Your money and your car,................enough said, along with the also stated advice of being honest if and when you decide to sell. Most all non Mopar people won't know the difference anyway, and Mopar guys if seeing vin# on the dash or fender tag will know anyway. Have fun building another great car, you just may even have some fun driving the sweet thing too.