Okay, let’s dive into my little project with the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda ‘Cuda.
It all started with a random online find. I was browsing through some classic car forums, and boom, there it was – a ’70 ‘Cuda project car. It was rough, real rough, but I saw the potential. I’ve always loved the aggressive lines of the ‘Cuda, that classic muscle car look.
So, I took the plunge. I contacted the seller, haggled a bit (you always gotta haggle!), and ended up trailering this beast back to my garage. It was a shell of its former glory, honestly. The interior was pretty much gutted, and there were rust spots everywhere, but the frame seemed solid, and that’s what mattered most.
The Teardown
First things first, I had to get it down to bare bones. I started stripping everything out. Seats, carpet, dash – you name it, it came out. I labeled every single wire and bolt, bagging and tagging everything. Trust me, that saves you a ton of headaches later on. My garage looked like a ‘Cuda exploded, parts everywhere!
- Engine removal: The old engine was seized, so with a cherry picker and a helper, we pull it off.
- Body work begins: I spent weeks with a grinder and a welder, tackling the rust. Patch panels, sanding, more welding…it was a grind, literally. I’m no pro welder, but I got the job done. There were some seriously sketchy spots, especially around the rear quarter panels.
- Cleaning Parts:Every part that will be reused is cleaned.
Rebuilding and Assembling
After I had to order a ton of parts, I started assembling and painting step by step.
It has been a long but fullfilling way.
I’ve been sloooowly getting this ‘Cuda back to its former glory.
It’s a long, slow process, but seeing it come together, piece by piece, is incredibly rewarding. It’s not perfect, far from it, but it’s mine, and I’m learning a ton along the way.
