Author Topic: Newbie from VA  (Read 3831 times)

Offline imopar

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Newbie from VA
« on: January 05, 2014 - 10:44:48 PM »
Hi all, thought I would say hi and introduce myself -my name is Rob. First time poster, but long time lurker - seems all I do is read read read!
Bought my first Barracuda back around 1987 - a plain jane 71 barracuda w/ a 318. That was my daily driver for years, then i bought another barracuda a couple of years after that - that time was a 73. Kept them both for awhile, but due to circumstances at the time, I ended up letting the 71 go  :(  . I parked the 73 back in 1996 - and I didn't really start truly working on it until this past year, and it finally saw the pavement about 3 weeks ago. Still a long way to go, and nowhere near finished, but she's mine, and I'm just looking to make her a nice driver. She's doesn't have the original engine or trans (didn't have them when I bought her) - and I'll probably catch some flak on this one - has been somewhat "resto-modded" into a 71 (I did keep a lot of parts of the 71 before I had sold it) - sorry for the long 1st post!!






Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2014 - 11:09:21 PM »
Welcome. Shame about the 71, looked pretty, but you'll enjoy the heck out of the 73 too. Where in VA? I've been in Northern VA most of my life, although not at the moment.


"She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

- Han Solo, Star Wars

Advice Thread - Taking Pictures Of Cars

Offline Sleepychallenger

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2014 - 11:37:26 PM »
Is the picture you posted of the 73? I doubt you will get much flak here as we have all done our cars to our own likings. Welcome to the board. Post up some more pictures when you can. She looks nice From that angle but we like to see more

Offline imopar

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2014 - 09:14:59 PM »
Hi HK,
I'm in southwestern VA, right outside of Roanoke.

Welcome. Shame about the 71, looked pretty, but you'll enjoy the heck out of the 73 too. Where in VA? I've been in Northern VA most of my life, although not at the moment.

Offline imopar

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2014 - 09:18:02 PM »
Hey wheels,
the picture is of the 73 from just a couple of weeks ago, I'll post a few more up shortly.


Is the picture you posted of the 73? I doubt you will get much flak here as we have all done our cars to our own likings. Welcome to the board. Post up some more pictures when you can. She looks nice From that angle but we like to see more

Offline imopar

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2014 - 09:23:23 PM »
Hopefully these will work  :thumbsup:


Couple pics while it was on the rack getting aligned in mid December...






« Last Edit: January 06, 2014 - 09:33:41 PM by imopar »

Offline jimynick

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2014 - 10:46:02 PM »
Welcome to the site and don't apologize for the nice car you have!  :wave:

Offline usraptr

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2014 - 12:34:51 AM »
Welcome  :wave: :newbie:  Great car!  Keep us posted on your progress and remember to post lots of pics because:  :useless:
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda.  Matching numbers 440 U Code, 4 speed pistol grip, Rallye dash, AM 8 Track, Shaker hood, 15 inch rallye wheels, Dana 60 4.10, Super Track Pak.  One of 134 - 440 "U" coupes codes built in 1970 and one of 100 - 440 Super Track Paks built in 1970.

Restoration pictures at:  http://spanks4thememory.smugmug.com/Cars/70-Cuda/7240639_M24oi#465274575_2MBqW
(Edited 8-1-17)

"usraptr" = United States raptor - bird of prey = United States Bald Eagle.  FYI, somebody else thought of it first so I had to drop the "O" in raptor.

Offline hemiken

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2014 - 04:58:09 AM »
Cool car, Welcome to the site :2thumbs:

What is the original colour of your car :popcorn:
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 Super Blue 72

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2014 - 08:53:31 AM »
Hi Welcome to the site!  :wave:

That's a '73?  Nice job with the transformation!  Make it the way you like it!  :grinyes:

Question though, just curious, why did you sell the '71 and keep the '73?

When you have both cars, did one drive better than the other?  Would be interesting to hear your pros and cons of both of the cars. 

Was the '73 a Barracuda or 'Cuda?  Just thinking of handling and engine comparisons.

Thanks and have fun here!  Feel free to ask lots of questions.  :thumbsup:
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456046/1972-dodge-challenger

Offline 69ChargerRT

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2014 - 10:05:02 AM »
yeah like others have said, you wont find judgment here for converting your car to the way you like it.  I think it looks really sharp!  welcome to the site!

Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2014 - 10:48:15 AM »
Yeah, if that's the 73, then 1) very nice, and 2) good job


"She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

- Han Solo, Star Wars

Advice Thread - Taking Pictures Of Cars

Offline imopar

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2014 - 07:40:17 PM »
Cool car, Welcome to the site :2thumbs:

What is the original colour of your car :popcorn:

Thanks! Let's see, I've currently misplaced my fender tag (have it somewhere though), but based on the pictures of when I was redoing the front end this past summer (and the interior paint is the same color), it looks like the F-3 Amber Sherwood, what do you'll think? (oh yeah, it was like an autumn/burnt orange color when I first got it)
 




« Last Edit: January 07, 2014 - 08:23:46 PM by imopar »

Offline imopar

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2014 - 08:06:30 PM »
Yeah, if that's the 73, then 1) very nice, and 2) good job
Thanks, I have done most of it, but I can't take credit for the tail panel - the previous owner had already done that sometime in the 80's, and that is one small reason I kept my old 71 front end and decided to transform to the look of the 71.

Hi Welcome to the site!  :wave:

That's a '73?  Nice job with the transformation!  Make it the way you like it!  :grinyes:

Question though, just curious, why did you sell the '71 and keep the '73?

When you have both cars, did one drive better than the other?  Would be interesting to hear your pros and cons of both of the cars. 

Was the '73 a Barracuda or 'Cuda?  Just thinking of handling and engine comparisons.

Thanks and have fun here!  Feel free to ask lots of questions.  :thumbsup:

I'm trying to make it like I like - just can't wait to start driving it more! As for the decision between which one to keep, there were several.
71 had manual steering, the 73 has power steering
71 had manual brakes w/ drums all the way around, the 73 has power brakes w/ disc up front
71 was an auto on the column, the 73 is an auto w/ the slapstick console (man I loved that when i first saw it)
71 had no A/C, the 73 was an A/C car
My 71 had been rear ended back when I was in high school one evening - i was so "upset", as it broke my Barracuda and By Plymouth emblem on the tail panel, knocked the tail panel in some, and scruffed up the rear valance - not only that, but it was done by a 64 Ford Galaxie 500, a behemoth of a car, and just may be the reason I'm not too fond of Fords to this day   :biggrin:
71 had some issues w/ both rear bottom quarters, and a little issue on the passenger sail area, the 73 wasn't in too bad of shape.
All in all, I didn't know much about body work back then, and could not afford the prices of the body shops locally - that and being young, I decided to let the 71 go. A decision that I have regretted for a long time - way before the prices went astronomical - hind sight is always 20/20 though, right?

Both the 71 and the 73 were Barracuda's - the previous owner had already done me the favors of putting on the rear cuda emblem, along with the cuda door panel emblems - the "By Plymouth" emblem on the tail panel, was the one I salvaged off my 71 when i was rear ended.

Offline hemiken

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Re: Newbie from VA
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2014 - 08:24:30 PM »
Thanks! Let's see, I've currently misplaced my fender tag (have it somewhere though), but based on the pictures of when I was redoing the front end this past summer (and the interior paint is the same color), it looks like the F-3 Amber Sherwood, what do you'll think? (oh yeah, it was like an autumn/burn orange color when I first got it)
 



I am not sure if it is F3 or J4  :clueless:
What colour are you planning on painting it anyway ? Or are you sticking with the sinister flat Black look :bigsmile:
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.