Project Slantfish

[ec_co]

I figured it's about time I posted this, I've only been here since the site launched in 2017 ...  ready for story time? who doesn't love a good story, it's partially why we do what we do. sorry about the wall of text

1970 Barracuda, 225 slant 6, 3spd manual, B5/B5, as bare bones as they came. Early 1st week of production at the LA plant, fellow member 70/6Chall has the sister car to mine, born within 2 days of mine and also a base /6 model that he has kept original and owned for over 50 years. My dad bought this one in 1973 and specifically picked the /6 because he wanted to save gas $$ on his monthly commutes across the State. He drove it until 1987 when he parked it in the back of the property, mainly because he was bored with it. Thankfully he parked it on a 2" gravel bed, because his choice of parking spots was not ideal - eastern WA, near the start of a creek (artesian well 60' away). While the photos look crusty as hell, most of it was surface rust and very saveable.

 It took me 20 years to convince him that I love the car as much as he does and I wanted to restore it as a family heirloom. I don't think he really believed that, but he finally relented and he gifted it to me in 2013. My son Max and I rented a RAM and a uhaul trailer, traveled across several States to bring it home to CO. I spent the first several years tearing it apart carefully, bagging and tagging everything, tons of photos, tons of research on the other 2 e-body sites and here once it was up and running. Right when Covid hit I had *just* finished paying $7K to get most of the hard rust repair done - front window channel and A pillar rot, rear window channel rot, lower rear quarters + doglegs and the driver side inner fender - there are pinholes in the trunk pan, but not enough to warrant a full replacement and the floor pans were rock solid (thank you factory undercoating!). Most items I tried to restore as I was taking them off to keep everything in order and as funds became available more stuff has been restored - at this point I've refurbished/restored or bought replacements for 90% excluding the drivetrain, so I'm getting closer and closer. I've cleaned up most the seams and surface rust, liberally applied chassis saver where warranted and seeped it into every seam and metal convergence I could. At this point I need to get it painted, refurb the engine/trans/diff/brakes.

 Last year put a huge damper on my efforts. In June '23 I was working my sales job and some asshole decided he'd try and steal one of our Jeeps - while I was putting the hood down, he jumped in, put it in gear and took off with me still in front of it. I don't remember the incident, just waking up in the hospital, but there is news footage below if you want to see it - I essentially grabbed the big bumper to avoid being ran over, he drove it onto the street where I fell off in front of it and both driver side tires ran over me from ass to shoulder - 1" more and it would have been my head under the tire, if it wasn't a lifted Jeep on huge tires my head would have been oil panned. I don't know how I didn't die that day - multiple pelvic fractures, multiple rib fractures, GI/Nerve damage and ankle nerve damage. I spent 2 weeks in the ICU, 3 weeks of in patient rehab and I've been rehabbing at home ever since (getting close to closing out). I now have long term nerve damage to my left ankle, left hip/leg and fun GI issues. In return, the Perp was caught and was sentenced to 10 years in prison last December - he also had pending Federal charges for counterfeiting and meth + other county charges for other felonies .... so I don't think he'll see the outside for a while.

Fox news story
https://youtu.be/eiDNm33Ehvo?si=RAjc0359H6qXZQY5

 My goal is to have it on the road by next summer, the wife and I really want to do Carlisle or the Power Tour, so I started pushing harder. A few months ago I finally had to concede that I'll never get it done right, so I made the decision to just slap it back together with what I have, rattle can paint it and just drive it Roadkill style. Life is way to short and funds way too dry, especially now.

 However ... a little over a month ago I got a notice from an old employer asking if I wanted to cash out an old Pension, it's not much and would only be an extra $300/m .... in 15 more years. I almost died, I'm not waiting around anymore and decided the best place for that $14K is the Barracuda so I can actually enjoy it on the road rather than depressingly staring at a project in my garage everyday. So I'll now have enough to get it painted - I'm trying to find a painter now, talking to a couple guys and I'm hoping I can get it done for $7K or under (one guy said $7-10K already) because I still need to deal with the drivetrain rebuild. Engine is $4-5K, so I'm guessing I won't meet my goal of next summer, but I'll be closer at least.

photo set: Max and the Barracuda when we picked it up. My dad, Dave, and Max. interior pics when it was picked up. fender tag/decode

[ec_co]

items I found in the car, the button/pins were attached to the headliner above the mirror. Build sheet *NOT* for my Barracuda (not surprised). What an original slant 6 engine bay looks like - except the air cleaner. window channel rot I had repaired. back of the dash frame. interior a bit crusty. engine bay with inner fender replaced. Flaming Tilt column I got for a smoking deal last spring, @ $400 brand new .... didn't realize I need another $500 in F.R. parts to make it work though 

[ec_co]

original emblem. dash pad refurbished. AM Radio conversion - bluetooth/USB sound board, still using the original volume knob, strictly for the single speaker in the dash so I can have it playing low power tunes at a show while I walk around (I'll have a hidden real stereo for normal driving). Completed dash - except I added a Tach to the blank clock hole and swapped the radio power control to a different switch.

 The plaque is a dedication that I mounted to the dash giving a little history. I'll be passing it down to my son eventually (I actually put his name on the title already to avoid any hassles, tax or probate issues down the road).

last pic was my poor attempt at trying to do the rattle can paint job a couple months ago. hopefully I won't have to continue down that route. paint has gotten way too damn expensive

recently finished dash https://youtu.be/JwGwDNxRA1w

[ec_co]

picked up the hood, trunk lid and 5 steelies from the media blaster today.

[Brads70]

Wow glad your on the mend. Horrible part of the story! Looks like a great project many would love to have! Enjoy!

[Bullitt-]

  Wild story... Your coming along nicely from what I see. 

 

[70_440-6Cuda]

VERY cool!  Thanks for sharing!

I am always fascinated by people that "store" cars for no particular reason in not the best conditions - I would think if you were going to just park a car forever it would make more sense to sell it.  Just something I have never quite understood.

Coming along nicely though - great project!

[ec_co]

VERY cool!  Thanks for sharing!

I am always fascinated by people that "store" cars for no particular reason in not the best conditions - I would think if you were going to just park a car forever it would make more sense to sell it.  Just something I have never quite understood.

Coming along nicely though - great project!

I didn't get it either, it took me 20 years to convince him otherwise. Thankfully most of the rusty issues were light surface rust. I just had a body and paint guy out this morning to get me a quote, he was very impressed with how solid the vehicle is.

*Lots* of parts being delivered this week. All new front suspension yesterday + clutch. Rear bumper, seat foam and 16:1 manual steering box today. Hardware bolts and some other miscellaneous items tomorrow.

[ec_co]

Just a small rant because I know y'all understand. I never really understood how expensive these restorations can be, especially Mopars. I seriously give each and every one of you the highest respect that I can, because this whole endeavor is maddening when you're on a budget, and probably even if you aren't. Even after spending $7k for metal repair work in 2020, it's still going to cost me $9k to finish up the body and put paint on it. I also went through my list yesterday, and even after spending tons of hours restoring parts and thousands of dollars buying parts over the last 10 years, I'm still 5 to 7 grand away and that's not including the drivetrain. Absolutely maddening and frustrating. So I either have to revise my goals, or I just put it in primer and slap it all together. I just can't do that, because I know that if I just put it into primer it will never get paint. So better to just bite the bullet now and keep plowing through like I've been doing. It's crazy how much money I'll be buried into this even considering it was a free car, I don't know how y'all do it. Good news for my son who's going to inherit it, he shouldn't have to do a damn thing to it. Monday morning rant over.

continuing to clean up all the nuts/bolts and figuring out what's left to restore or replace, I still have a couple small boxes to go through, but I'm closing in...

[ec_co]

Dropped off the radiator for a full rebuild and I also finished knocking out the steering wheel - leather wrapped with blue stitching

[Cuda Cody]

       WOW!!!

[ec_co]

I'm super excited, I was finally able to get an a833 OD (long tail housing, from a truck application) with it's matching /6 bellhousing, new clutch + TB and the yoke for a stellar price. This is huge for me as I really want to be able to do long highway drives, hopefully the Power Tour if things work out.   

[b5cuda]

You'll like the 833OD upgrade. I run one in my '69 cuda and it really helps on highway cruising.

[Bobbydodge]

Wow! Great story,glad your okay.that video was scary.should have got more than 10 years.keep up the good work.

[YellowThumper]

Wow on your injuries. Glad the dude is locked up for awhile.
Yes, every turn there is more $$$ necessary.
Looks like you are well on your way though.
Thanks for the updates