1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe: 5.7 Hemi/A833

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

Here is my build thread for the Barracuda AKA: diyhemi-cuda

I previously owned 2 1973 E-bodies. One was a 340 BS Cuda, the other was an early production BH 318 car. Both cars were very rough but their prices were right.

One day while browsing Cuda-Challenger.com, a user posted a craigslist add for a 1970 Gran coupe project with power windows. The car was vary complete and in much better shape than my other projects. Thus I bought it and sold the two 73's












The round trip took just under 22 hours, and I could not sleep when I arrived home... So to the auto parts store I went for a battery and some fluids.


With a little encouragement, the ole 318 fired right up and I took a shaky spin around the block!


I knew the long term goal was a GenIII Hemi transplant backed by an A833, but figured I would refresh the 318 and drive that until I sourced out the proper Hemi candidate.


Upon removal of the powertrain, I discovered that the engine was a 71 year model and the transmission was swapped for a 72 model year 727.

I first converted the car to floor shift and sent the 727 out for rebuild using Mancini hemi bands and bolt in sprag. Then I refreshed the 318 to discover that it had 340X heads on it and the intake/carb off a 75 year model dodge pickup 360 engine... WEIRD.



A few months later, I acquired an AAR hood and bought some 18" wheels at Mopar Nationals


Eventually I sold the 318 and purchased a fresh remanufactured 2006 5.7 Hemi AND traded a guy on craigslist straight up, my 727 for everything I needed to convert my car to a 4 speed



Then the metal work began

[Cuda Cody]

   You're making good progress!!!       What's next on the list to do? 

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

  You're making good progress!!!       What's next on the list to do?

Thanks Cody!

I have more to post as well, just need to sit down and upload all the pictures, haha

Next on the list is to finish the metal work and test assemble.

The car was pretty rust free, living most of its life in west Texas, but had been in a fender bender where the passenger rear 1/4 was poorly replaced. I have new AMD metal that I'm putting on and have been installing the US car tool stiffening pieces.

Once metal is done, it's off to be painted, which is good because I need to pick a color




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[70chall440]

awesome project!

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

PST bracing on lower control arms


Smoothed and coated new brake calipers




blasted and seam welded the K member, then notched for GENIII hemi AC compressor

[soundcontrol]

Nice! Following this since I just decided to put a 5.7 Hemi with a A833 in my next project, a -73 Challenger. Bought the engine, still don't have the tranny.

[Cuda Cody]

Nice attention to the details.     Going to look great!

[soundcontrol]

Is that a stock skidplate on the K-frame?

[anlauto]

Is that a stock skidplate on the K-frame?

YES

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

Yep, that is actually the K member from a 73 340 cuda that I used to own. It was a front and rear sway bar car with appropriate lower control arms. I used it as my stock 70 K and control arms were non sway bar.

The car now sports sway bar, QA1 adjustable strut rods, hotchkis greasable pivot shafts with delrin bushings, all new moog ball joints, PST tie rod sleeves and PST 1.03 torsion bars with 20 degree indexing. 

Rear suspension sports lowering leafs from summit and DR. diff offset hangers with a B body rear axle and prothane bushings [emoji41]

On the shelf are QA1 geometry correcting upper control arms


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[HP_Cuda]

What was the original color of this one Blake?

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

What was the original color of this one Blake?

The 70?

It was FY4

My 73 H code cuda was A5 silver frost with black longitudinal stripe, black vinyl top and black leather/cloth interior

My 73 BH car was FE5


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[EB3-GranCoupe]

Are you going to keep the Gran Coupe badging and tail panel trim? The argent painted tail panel is always an attention getter!   

[Blake@diyhemi.com]

Are you going to keep the Gran Coupe badging and tail panel trim? The argent painted tail panel is always an attention getter!   

That's a good question. I'm not really sure at this point what I will do for paint. Part of me wants a slightly modified B5 AAR tribute and part of me wants to re spray it in the FY4 Citroen mist she was born with, along with the Gran Coupe trim and argent grille/tail panel.

I also think of a Citroen mist AAR tribute, as I have never seen one, even though it was an optioned color. Hmmm

I've also been thinking about maybe going back with the original P6XY interior. Two tone black and metallic gold.


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[Blake@diyhemi.com]

I did a little late night activity yesterday. I finally test fit the powertrain! Don't judge, I also sat in the car with the shift linkages undone and practiced rowing gears, hahaha.






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