Having always fancied an American car, I've finally taken the plunge and bought this -
It's a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda 4-speed, 273ci V8. Last week i sold my MGB and saw this on ebay...made a silly bid and ended up winning it! Yesterday after a 9 hour round trip from Chesterfield to Camberwell and back it's in my garage...ready to be worked on. It wasn't all plain sailing though, a car crashed into our trailer, people tried filtering into the side of us, bad traffic (7 miles in London took 2.5 hours) accidents on the motorway and bad fog made it a really long day. Well worth it though.
By the time i got home i was too knackered to do anything with it, so today I thought I'd have a look. It wasn't keen on running yesterday but after cleaning the fuel pump out it fired right up. Unfortunately it wasn't the best result -
A few seconds running filled the garage with this much smoke...and believe me it was worse than it looks on this photo. I thought it best to take it outside and let it get warm...still no better.
I'm guessing the rings have gone? Hmmm...at least i know where to start and i always knew it was a project.
So, onto my plans...a full restoration, lower, louder, faster....I'm leaning towards burnt orange with a black interior, might ditch the 273 V8 and go for something bigger now, better wheels etc...
Comments/suggestions/ideas etc are all welcome...I've never had an American car before so haven't the faintest idea where to get parts or advice...should be a fun project!
That looks the part. Should be easy enought to drop a Chevy lump in if its goosed...
Haha...you've already been there and done that with american cars though, this is all really new to me! God knows what Chevy engine will fit to the 4 speed box, might have to look into it!
I blame you entirely by the way...I wanted a TVR but couldn't quite afford one...this was the next coolest thing on ebay with a V8 and went for it!
iv'e got a '66 318 and 4 speed (should have been the 273 Commando engine)
the 273 has a sought after steel crank and solid lifters with adjustable rockers. these will fit into an early 318 and make a revvy motor even with a stock bottom end. (please don't put a Chevy lump in it)
i haven't touched mine for a while but the plan is to get on with it next year.
join the MMA club as there is plenty of knowledge and spares there.
i'm afraid you've bought a relativly awkward car to upgrade. you did get it cheap though.
wheels are not easy . i sold a set of alloys a while back as i was very lucky to get a set of 15 inch Rallye wheels cheap. the Barracuda has a strange wheel PCD so very little choice on wheels unless you convert to the bigger later A Body PCD.
the standard rear end will be a 7-1/4 which are apparently quite weak and upgrading to an 8-3/4 isn't cheap.
the 4 speed 'box is very strong and will take anything you can throw at it.
there is very little room in the engine bay for headers etc. they can be bought but again not cheap.
there are a few mods to strengthen the shell that can be done as they do flex a fair bit if you stiffen up the suspension.
these cars do look good low but again can cause problems with the very soft stsndard suspension.
i'm sure you have lots of questions but most of what you'll need to know will be on the other forums somewhere
I have a huuuge soft spot for these '64-'66 Cudas, it looks a tad sporty but not too much and quite elegant as well. Bookmarked for more! Oh and I'd say keep it stock engine-wise, a 273 V8 should be plenty enough? I have precisely no idea, being an American car virgin as well
Bozwell, thanks for the answers mate that is exactly what I needed, I'll join up on the other forums and see whats what! Not 100% sure what direction I'm gonna take with it yet, as I say it's not my usual car. I don't think the modifications will be too wild. Is the PCD not 4 x 4.5 (4 x 114.3)?
Cheers for the comments guys...bit out of my comfort zone on this so support is always welcome.
Love the current colour & matching interior. So '60's & elegant. Like the hubcaps they are all the better for being different; not the first thing people would think of. Looking forward to wider rims though.
The Barracuda seems happiest with 6 inch front and 7 inch rear with the correct offset. it will be difficult to run the car low with the wrong size or offset as there isn't that much room under the arches.
