"I own a 1964 Barracuda. This car has been an off-and-on daily driver for the past 5 years. It was purchased to replace a really rusty 1977 Road Runner project car, but has definitely served more than "project car" duties.
I still realized that if my primary car went, I'd be back to the 'cuda yet again so I kept my eyes out for another cheap daily driver Mopar in the classifieds. Fortune came Dec of 2001 with a cheap 83 Cordoba that only needed a new transmission. As of Feb 02 both the Cordoba (daily driver) and Volaré (parts chaser/backup car) serve transportation duties, solidifying the 'cuda's restoration after 4 and a half years! Its amazing how much rust accumulated after adding 10,000 miles to the odometer.
My current goal for 2002 is to fully strip it to the unibody, patch
up the body, weld in subframe connectors, and hopefully have it at the
paint shop by the end of the year. I'm looking for the "X"
to make its debut in time for Carlisle in 2004, whether it's completely
finished or not. Gary "CudaZappa" Viola, Middlefield, CT |
Just
prior to my senior year in High School, a friend of my mother's was
moving to Virginia, and had to sell this Barracuda. So in late August
1997 I became the third owner of this 225 powered fish for the reasonable
price of $1000. Originally purchased by a 60 year-old lady, the car
hadn't even accumulated 40,000 miles before she passed. The next owner
purchased with intent to restore, but the Barracuda sat for 5 years
outside under a cover, before I rescued it. The 'cuda's paint was worse
for wear and aside from severe fender rot, the car was pretty much rust
free, exactly what I had wanted to get away from. The 225 had sticking
valves, which BENT the pushrods. My parents wouldn't allow me to take
possession of the car unless it ran, so during the end of August and
beginning of September I worked after work and school learning first
hand car repair. $220 in parts and tools later I drove it home on CT
temporary plates. During those 20 days I managed to put tires on it,
have a custom exhaust put in, rebuilt the Carter 1bbl, new fuel pump,
learned about brake fluid evaporation (after a SCARY drive to work),
and had 3 valves finally get stuck (again). During the remainder of
the school year, I slowly worked on the car to get it permanently registered.
The only large problem presented me was fixing the rust on the front
fenders and bad ball joints. Thanks to fiberglass and Bondo I fixed
the fenders, and filling the ball joints with grease got me through
CT safety inspection to put plates on the car.
During
the next 4 years, the 'cuda has served off and on as my daily driver,
hindering any restoration process. It started the summer of 98 when
I lost the brakes in my primary vehicle. In January of 2000 I sold said
primary vehicle to pay for college, so with the 'cuda as my only car,
I drove it everyday at college, 250 miles from home. That experience
alone taught me much about repair and maintenance as I replaced a rear
end, electrical system, and several other "minor" things.
Fortunately I had fixed the ball joints and updated the 9" drums
the summer of 99. Also, the typical college kid in me managed to put
in a stereo which included 3 10" subs in the back panel with a
400W amplifier. Those 5 months also supplied me with a lifetime of memories
about the 'cuda. In May of 2000 I purchased another primary car, and
toured the 'cuda the following summer and fall at car shows as its "before"
state. I parked it in Oct of 2000, hoping to restore it after the Spring
2001 semester but yet again, just another hope. I purchased a 67 Barracuda
that December which was money that I now realize should've went to this
64. In May of 2001 my primary blew its tranny so once again the 'cuda
stepped back up to the plate until July when I purchased a Volaré.
Just when I think it's safe, Oct of 2001 brings a blown 7.25 rear to
the Volaré which sidelines that car for a couple weeks. I also
managed to realize my real love by then and sold my 67, one project
is enough!
My
plan with the 'cuda has always been to modify it. I've always wanted
to set up a stiff chassis for autocross and drag racing to provide a
nice cruising car. I initially got a 318 for it, but after considering
the costs to redo a V8, I decided to keep the 225 over putting in a
318. I later acquired, for free, a thick wall 360 block that will eventually
reside between fiberglass fenders. This project is now dubbed "Formula
'X,'" because we know that there were no Formula 'S' cars in 64.
The exterior will show restored red paint with a bright red 65 sport
stripe, and fiberglass replacing bad sheet metal. I also have 2 hoods
for the car, one to "go" with the car, and the other with
a 68 SS scoop on it to be painted organosol black. The kicker is the
lone emblem I will be making up, with X in the place of S which will
be placed on the rear sail panel, where some 64s have the Valiant residing
(mine never did). The "X" will ride on 16" rims and low
profile rubber, tucked in the original wheel wells, not the jacked up
Super Stock spring look. The interior will be mostly business with a
radio delete plate (big change from ear shattering bass) and a 6 point
roll bar. I'm still not sure what the back seat will be doing there
after the jungle gym is in place. The drive train will consist of said
360, far from stock, putting power to a 904 transmission and further
down to the ever faithful 8.75 rear end, which I'll have 2 gear sets
for. Planting the tires is the rather basic Chrysler suspension, consisting
of front and rear sway bars, thick torsion bars, "Formula 'S'"
rear springs and stopping the "X" will be the Chrysler 11.75"
discs up front.
