New Member Posting 1970 Barracuda Convertible acquired.

[DetMatt1]

Welcome to the site from the Motor City! Great color combo!

 

[EW1BH27]

Welcome from another 318/904 'vert

 

[Surfcuda]

Hello Rob,

Wow, that's a sweet ride! so clean! I got mine in 2016, and I've been having the same vision issue.. what to do.. period blower out the hood? stock? sleeper conversion? So I have kept it inexpensive and original..

Right off the bat, my brother and I refreshed the 318 with new bearings. And I rebuilt the carb with a kit, and later took it to a fuel shop, they said good job, you only had one linkage backwards.. I also replaced the front of the engine, but that's it.. This thing isn't dying, it stays running.. My daily driver recently died, the engine is in the shop awaiting parts.. So, I have been driving my barracuda everywhere, super fun. My project car has become my temporary primary.

I did end up doing a full front end suspension rebuild. I kinda wish I hadn't gone stock but went with a performance upgrade for ride quality.. However, I did replace the torsion bars, and I would recommend that hands down. I think I went with Swayaway, and it's kindsa cool seeing these big ass red powdercoated bars down there. It's not that difficult once you get down to brass tacks. A little background reading into it and ALL of them had weak springs originally. I would suggest going stiffer than you plan. I drive a twisty mountain pass and didn't want myself skidding over bumps, but it ended up still not stiff enough.

I use gas additive for nonhardened seats, and I'm just driving it happily till she blows. where I should get started on a replacement engine regardless. If I can ever figure out which engine to build for it while I set the original aside...

Advice, since you got a drop top, drop that top and drive it around, a lot!

Thanks, Erik.

Hi Eric, appreciate the thoughts and info. I'm going to check compression first and if its within reason I will drop the tranny to replace freeze plugs (They are leaking). Then replace the timing chain, water pump, alternator, etc to freshen her up. I have a set of 340 exhaust manifolds but wavering on weather to use them on the 318 rather than the original ones. I like your advice on dropping the top and driving it!

 

[Surfcuda]

Welcome from another 318/904 'vert

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Thanks! Oh Man I Love the White Beautiful Fish!

 

[Surfcuda]

Welcome to FEBO from the desert! Nice Barracuda convertible. The little 318 can be made to run very well. And the 904 robs less horsepower than the 727.

Hi again ExCudame, what are your thoughts on putting 340 exhaust manifolds on the 318? I just happen to have a pair.

 

[moparlee]

Rob, welcome to the site from Michigan! Glad you joined up. Nice solid Barracuda! We in the rust belt get very jealous when we see those clean western cars.

 

[Surfcuda]

Hi E-Bodies, my name is Rob. I'm an Mopar guy who had a 1971 Barracuda in High School that I sadly sold prior to entering the Service. Since then life has got in the way, until last week when I was finally able to acquirer this 1970 Barracuda Convertible after three years of trying to buy this car. This little West Coast Gem is a numbers matching 318, A904 Auto, with electric windows. Its pretty much 99% unmolested (Electronic ignition was add, and top was died black from original White Top). I plan on replacing the top back to White with a new rag and Maybe a small fuel injected carb with Cruise Control. A Very low optioned car, but its all there to include the Fender Tag and no rust (Except for a small area of light surface rust on top of rear (drivers side) wheel well as shown in Photo). I'm pretty excited, however the engine is well worn (Rolled over to 27XXX miles) and pulling it and having it refreshed to include the trans. I could see doing a clone, but I like the idea of keeping her close to original. I'm still in the Vision stage figuring out which direction to take. Any suggestions and help along the way would be appreciated as I will have lots of questions. Regards Rob

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Rob, welcome to the site from Michigan! Glad you joined up. Nice solid Barracuda! We in the rust belt get very jealous when we see those clean western cars.

 

[Surfcuda]

Hi Moparlee, yes very Lucky! I pulled the carpet and no rust, everything solid. What you guy's do in the rust belt restoring these Gem's is amazing. I admire and appreciate the effort you put into bringing cars back to life. Regards Rob

 

[moparleo]

aboard.

 

[Xcudame]

The 68-70 340 exhaust manifolds where the best flowing LA Small Block manifolds. You have them, they bolt on and flow better than the stock 318's. Another great thing about the LA small blocks is the valves open on bore center so you can run 340/360 cylinder heads on your 318 and have plenty of valve clearance in the smaller 318 bore.

 

[Surfcuda]

The 68-70 340 exhaust manifolds where the best flowing LA Small Block manifolds. You have them, they bolt on and flow better than the stock 318's. Another great thing about the LA small blocks is the valves open on bore center so you can run 340/360 cylinder heads on your 318 and have plenty of valve clearance in the smaller 318 bore.

Great info, Thank you!

 

[MoparCarGuy]

Yes, I remember that episode. Greg got to drive it, and I was like Wow what a Cool Vert.

A clip of the episode, "Third Wheel", where Greg is forced to take Bobby along in the Barracuda convertible on a date to the drive-in.
And some cool pics below.

 

[Surfcuda]

Man that's so Cool you pulled up the Brady Barracuda Episode! Thanks for Sharing, Regards Rob

 

[hdwrench]

awesome car ! love the color, don’t see that often. welcome to febo…

 

[Surfcuda]

Pulled the interior and carpet. Pleasantly surprised at condition of floor plans. Replaced Timing Chain, alternator, and cleaned up oil pan/new gasket. Pulled exhaust manifolds (Sand Blasted/Ceramic Black). Working on putting cooling system together (26” Rad, Fan (Tony’s), Thermo Fan Clutch and hoses, etc. It’s a start 🏝

 

[Cuda Hunter]

That floor looks great !

 

[moparlee]

That floor looks like it just came off the assembly line. What a great find and sounds like you are moving right along on fixing the things that need attention.

 

[Surfcuda]

That floor looks great !

Yes, very cool! Southern California has been good to this fish. Also being in a shipping container since 1985 helped. 🏝

 

[Surfcuda]

That floor looks like it just came off the assembly line. What a great find and sounds like you are moving right along on fixing the things that need attention.

Thanks Moparlee, it’s going to be a fun ride getting this Fish back on the road. Going to be even better when I’m driving down the Coast with the Top Down. Being new to this Great Forum I’m not to well versed on the rules or what area of the forum I should be posting my progress. Any and all tips welcome. Regards

 

[moparlee]

Thanks Moparlee, it’s going to be a fun ride getting this Fish back on the road. Going to be even better when I’m driving down the Coast with the Top Down. Being new to this Great Forum I’m not to well versed on the rules or what area of the forum I should be posting my progress. Any and all tips welcome. Regards

For documenting your progress start a thread in the Restoration Forum even though you are not doing a full resto. For specific questions you may have on say the engine, suspension, cooling, or whatever start a thread in those specific forums. Hope this helps.