Looking for input on potential panel replacements

[70_440-6Cuda]

Repairing the rusty areas would be for my own satisfaction. I'm a perfectionist and I can't leave stuff alone if I know it's not exactly the way I want it. It's a bit of a curse sometimes because it tends to bog me down. Not sure how to un-learn that!

I have this same problem, but have also learned that is the part I love the most.  It is that way for everything - I remodeled our home and everything was done like I was building a car - I couldn't stand poor gaps, crooked moldings etc - makes me mental even though NO ONE cares or notices but me - takes 2x as long, and is 2x as expensive

[jimynick]

My Barracuda was restored by me back around `92-96 in a barnboard garage and after 30 years of driving it hard on the street sometimes in the rain plus hundreds of drag strip passes it is showing it`s age. It has held up pretty well and is a decent 10 footer but lot`s of nicks, scratches, a few dings and a crack in the bodywork on the drivers roof/quarter seam. I would love to redo it fixing the minor bodywork issues and repaint but that would involve taking it apart, stripping it all down, sanding, priming, paint etc. which takes time and money. It also has a miss in the engine which I think is top end valve/set issue. I am currently in the middle of my road runner restoration so for now I`ll keep driving it as is for another year or two while I finish the road runner then I`ll decide to either ter down the Barracuda or just say screw it and keep driving it as is. I`m not sure I have another resto in me at my age. 

Did you consider pulling the plug wires off one after the other while it's running to see which cylinder isn't pulling it's weight? With the loss of zinc in the oil there's also a chance it's eating a lobe- hope not! I admire your "f... it, drive it" attitude. Beats looking at it! 

[torredcuda]

My Barracuda was restored by me back around `92-96 in a barnboard garage and after 30 years of driving it hard on the street sometimes in the rain plus hundreds of drag strip passes it is showing it`s age. It has held up pretty well and is a decent 10 footer but lot`s of nicks, scratches, a few dings and a crack in the bodywork on the drivers roof/quarter seam. I would love to redo it fixing the minor bodywork issues and repaint but that would involve taking it apart, stripping it all down, sanding, priming, paint etc. which takes time and money. It also has a miss in the engine which I think is top end valve/set issue. I am currently in the middle of my road runner restoration so for now I`ll keep driving it as is for another year or two while I finish the road runner then I`ll decide to either ter down the Barracuda or just say screw it and keep driving it as is. I`m not sure I have another resto in me at my age. 

Did you consider pulling the plug wires off one after the other while it's running to see which cylinder isn't pulling it's weight? With the loss of zinc in the oil there's also a chance it's eating a lobe- hope not! I admire your "f... it, drive it" attitude. Beats looking at it! 

The plan was to dig into it over the winter and figure out the issue but obviously that didn`t happen. I will pull the valve covers and visually check things and if I don`t see anything then pulling the plug wires one at a time may at least help narrow it down a bit. I have solid lifters so I will check the clearance and if any have grown a lot which would lead me to believe the cam may be going.

[rmchrgr]

You know, at least from the outside these quarter panels do look OK. Looking at it from this perspective makes me think I'd be nuts to cut the car apart.