Fried fish - rebiulding and upgrading the Barracuda

[MEK-Dangerous]

Sounding good Jeff!   

[torredcuda]

Well.....the celebration was short-lived. The transmission (newly rebiult by a friend) goes into all forward gears just fine but will only go into reverse with a wrench on the shift lever and a lot of force, something is definitely not right.  I guess it`s coming out again to figure out why and means I`m done for this season - maybe next year it will be driving again.

[Brads70]

Well.....the celebration was short-lived. The transmission (newly rebiult by a friend) goes into all forward gears just fine but will only go into reverse with a wrench on the shift lever and a lot of force, something is definitely not right.  I guess it`s coming out again to figure out why and means I`m done for this season - maybe next year it will be driving again.

Well that rots! 

[torredcuda]

Got it fixed! I put a call out to someone who could fix it and got in touch with Jerry Hatch who is a big Stock/Super Stock racer. He told me to loosen the side cover and move it around a bit to see if it loosens it up as the clearance inside is tight and it worked. I also got the my Passon rebiuld book back from my buddy and read the procedure for aligning the side cover and may try that way tomorrow but for now it goes into reverse so I should be good. Now onto getting the grill, bumper and front valance on and getting an appointment for an alignment.  Someone stop this roller coaster I`m on!   

[Swamp Donkey]

Who needs reverse anyway.  Full speed ahead!


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[dodj]

Nice! I never would have thought the side cover could cause that.

[torredcuda]

Who needs reverse anyway.  Full speed ahead!


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Back around `83 I was driving a `70 road runner that wouldn`t go into reverse, it wasn`t a problem most of the time but every once in a while I`d be trying to push it backwards - NOT fun! 

[torredcuda]

Loaded into the trailer and brought it up to a shop for a wheel alignment. When it comes back I just need install the grill, to bolt on the front bumper and valance and should be able to drive it down to get a sticker, I may actually  get it drive it this season! I have a new goal to make a show on October 8th but we`ll see how that goes.   

https://www.castleintheclouds.org/event/castle-car-show/

[torredcuda]

Running driving car again  (stupid phone pics seem to end up sideways)

[torredcuda]

 

[torredcuda]

I`ve had it out a few times now, still some minor bugs to work out and still lot`s of things to do over the winter but I figure I`ll give my first driving impressions with all the upgrades I already did. Here`s a refresher on the suspension and chassis mods - USCT frame connectors, homemade inner fender braces, PST upper control arms, 1.03" torsion bars and solid tie rod sleeves, plated lower control arms,  Firm Feel 1 1/4" front sway bar, new Mopar heavy duty leaf springs, factory 3/4" rear sway bar, Bilstein shocks. I still have factory front discs and 10" rear drums and 15" BFG`s and I haven`t really had it on a nice windy road to push it in the corners yet but it definitely corners flatter than before. The ride is still good, you can feel the small bumps and cracks in the road but it`s not too harsh, overall a big improvement from the stock parts and cheapo harsh riding KYBs. Winter projects include a new steering box to fully tighten up the steering, figuring out what option I`m going with to get more caster out of the alignment, upgrading brakes and going to 17" or 18" wheels and stickier performance tires. Of course now that I have cool new custom seats the rest of the interior is showing it` age and needs to be redone with new door and quarter panels, new headliner etc. 

[ledphoot]

You've come a long way! It feels good to get behind the wheel of the fried fish again doesn't it? Congratulations on a job well done.

[Brads70]

" When you're ready to get serious" ( about handling\braking ) you will ditch the BFG's    Enjoy picking out your new rims and tires!   Looks great enjoy!

[torredcuda]

" When you're ready to get serious" ( about handling\braking ) you will ditch the BFG's    Enjoy picking out your new rims and tires!   Looks great enjoy!

Ya I know they are crap tires for performance so I`ll be looking for something a lot better. I just hate the thought of putting "Nitto" or some other foreign companys name on my classic American car but I know there aren`t a lot of options for decent American made rubber. Maybe I`ll grind off the lettering and get some of those stick-on letters and write "Goodyear" to fool everyone. 

[torredcuda]

I think all the issues,  headaches and work have aged me a bit though.