Author Topic: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh  (Read 78291 times)

Offline turbo224

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70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« on: March 09, 2013 - 02:36:38 AM »
Okay, I thinks its about time I finally introduced myself and start a build thread for my car. My name is Tyler, I'm 30 years old and live in Salt Lake City, Ut. I've been a long time lurker, but haven't posted much since I haven't done much to my car since I've owned it. About three years ago my dad, who is a huge mopar guy, had a local friend call him looking to sell his car due to some financial issues. I already had a 70 barracuda at the time, but it was literally a shell of a car on blocks. The seller was very motivated and was practically giving it away, so we went ahead and worked out a deal on the car figuring I could just sell my old cuda project and start working on this. The story goes that the previous owner bought and restored the car sometime back in the 80s. During the restoration the po added a Dana 60 with hemi springs, a 440, and a couple other odds and ends. Overall it looked to be a solid restoration. The previous owner had a drag car at the same time and managed to blow the motor in it, so he decided to pull the motor and trans out of the cuda and put it in the drag car. The car was then placed in a storage unit until about 2010 when he just couldn't afford to keep it any more which I where I came in.

The car is very solid and 100 percent complete other than the motor and trans. It is a factory gran coupe, but the owner lost the fender tag so I'm to exactly sure how the car was optioned from the factory. I have not yet looked for the build sheet, but since the interior has been redone I have little hope of finding it. As it sits it is a white on white auto car with a center console and an automatic. The tail panel was painted white, the grill was painted black as was the trunk and the engine compartment.

Some day I may turn it into a cuda clone, but for now it is in nice enough shape that I will turn it into a nice driver. I had a 440 already being built for my old cuda, so I plan to just put it in this car. So far we pulled the Dana in favor of a shortened 8 3/4, added 11" rear drums, and new brake lines all around. While I am finishing putting the motor together, I am going to take it to the paint shop for a little work.

1. I'm adding a bulge hood instead of the flat hood, so that needs to be painted.
2. I'm spraying the engine compartment white again
3. I'm adding a rear valance with exhaust cut outs, so that needs to be painted.

I'd like to spray the grill argent again, and I'm still trying to decide if I want the tail panel argent or black. Il be adding a black hockey stripe, 15 ralleye wheels, a ralleye dash, and be getting rid of the white interior for something a little more interesting. Sadly I don't have many pictures so far of the car, but I promise to do better going forward. Comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Luckily my dad has been working on Mopars for years, I'd never be able to complete this thing with out is knowledge and parts stash.
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T




Offline turbo224

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2013 - 02:44:06 AM »
This is the only exterior picture I have of the car on my computer. It had that awful belt molding around the car which i had just got done removing.
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2013 - 09:08:10 PM »
That "awful belt moulding" gives the Gran Coupe some "bling bling".  I kept mine, but added the dual exhaust, hockey stick stripes, performance hood, and rear spoiler.  To each his own!   :drunk:

http://www.floridamoparassociation.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&album=12&pos=312

I really like the argent tail panel.  it really sets the car off, especially if you keep the Gran Coupe emblems.  They made only 7500+/- GC's in 1970, so you have a somewhat rare car!
« Last Edit: March 09, 2013 - 09:11:58 PM by EB3-GranCoupe »

Offline turbo224

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2013 - 01:35:25 AM »
That "awful belt moulding" gives the Gran Coupe some "bling bling".  I kept mine, but added the dual exhaust, hockey stick stripes, performance hood, and rear spoiler.  To each his own!   :drunk:


Love your GC, super clean! The molding I removed was the rubber stuff that goes the length of the car on both sides, not the rocker molding. I guess it's sort of a door ding preventer, but I think it looked terrible.
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T

Offline GranCuda1970

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2013 - 03:42:05 AM »
I agree with the Molding you are talking about Granny Fi's the car no matter what is under the hood. Your is in pretty decent shape. Drop in motor and tranny and she's a runner. Lucky you found her with the dana 60 already swapped in.  :2thumbs:

Offline CUDAMAN1970

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2013 - 09:30:35 AM »
Is that the original color?  Looks like dy3 (yellow/gold) which you don't see much of.  A lot people take the body side molding off but I kind of like it because it's different (PM sent).

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2013 - 12:50:18 PM »
Ah, the V5X (or whatever color), OK.  Mine was gone when i got my car.  And if the car had the V6X hockey stripe, you couldn't get the V5X anyway.

Keep the other things that make it a Gran Coupe, and i think you will like the results, and the comments you will get!

and keep the pictures coming!  :cheers:

Offline turbo224

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2013 - 01:48:22 AM »
Haven't forgotten about this project, but I work out of state during the four summer months so I haven't been able to work on it. I'll be back home in September and ready to get the motor in this thing!
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T

Offline hemiken

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2013 - 04:59:36 AM »
Welcome :wave: and it is great to see another Gran Coupe being saved as a Gran Coupe :clapping: :2thumbs:
1970 Barracuda   (O^--^===|===^--^O)
1971 Barracuda   (O O {]{]{]|[}[}[} O O)
1970 Challenger  (O O [======R/T=] O O)
1971 Challenger  (O O ===== ===== O O)
I pay homage to the best Mopars ever built.

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2013 - 06:43:41 AM »
 :popcorn:

Offline turbo224

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2013 - 02:01:02 AM »
Here's a quick teaser, I'll post an update tomorrow.
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T

Offline hemiken

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2013 - 10:15:40 AM »
6 Barrel Gran Coupe :drool: NICE :2thumbs:
1970 Barracuda   (O^--^===|===^--^O)
1971 Barracuda   (O O {]{]{]|[}[}[} O O)
1970 Challenger  (O O [======R/T=] O O)
1971 Challenger  (O O ===== ===== O O)
I pay homage to the best Mopars ever built.

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2013 - 07:03:07 PM »
That's gonna look real nice all painted orange!

Offline turbo224

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2013 - 12:22:10 AM »
So here is my dilemma. I was planing on having my engine bay, new hood, and new rear valence painted the same white that the rest of the car is painted, and then a couple other spots touched up. My paint guy stopped by to look at the car and gave me a quote for the work. After thinkin things over, I'm having some serious reservations of paying someone to match the white paint that I already hate. The car needs zero body work or metal work done, so I've just decided that I may as well paint the entire car a color that I actually like. My dilemma is whether i want to keep it a Gran Coupe or a Cuda clone, and what color I want to paint it. My paint guy doesn't want the car until after Christmas, so I have a little time to figure all that out. As of right now I'm leaning towards doing it as a vitamin c Cuda clone.

I spent a few hours last week pulling off the marker lights, tail lights, grill, and turn signal indicators. Tomorrow I hope to have the bumpers and most of the exterior trim removed as well. Hopefully I'll have some more pictures after tomorrow.
~Tyler Larsen~Salt Lake City

-1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6pk Tribute
-1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T

Offline moparstyle

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Re: 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe Refresh
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2013 - 04:35:52 AM »
I would keep it as a GC, they are quite rare.
Anyway, its your car so you do as you feel. If you decide to go the Cuda way and want to sell GC specific items such as emblems, moldings etc, let us know. There are some of us in need of those (myself for ex).

So here is my dilemma. I was planing on having my engine bay, new hood, and new rear valence painted the same white that the rest of the car is painted, and then a couple other spots touched up. My paint guy stopped by to look at the car and gave me a quote for the work. After thinkin things over, I'm having some serious reservations of paying someone to match the white paint that I already hate. The car needs zero body work or metal work done, so I've just decided that I may as well paint the entire car a color that I actually like. My dilemma is whether i want to keep it a Gran Coupe or a Cuda clone, and what color I want to paint it. My paint guy doesn't want the car until after Christmas, so I have a little time to figure all that out. As of right now I'm leaning towards doing it as a vitamin c Cuda clone.

I spent a few hours last week pulling off the marker lights, tail lights, grill, and turn signal indicators. Tomorrow I hope to have the bumpers and most of the exterior trim removed as well. Hopefully I'll have some more pictures after tomorrow.
72 Challenger, 440 stroker, 727 (70 clone)
70 Barracuda Gran Coupe
And on the side:
67 Pontiac GTO
63 Lincoln Continental