1966 BARRACUDA RESTORATION

BP29D 62 625114

This is the passenger side of the grille. The turn signal indicators are in the little chrome fins on the top edge of the fenders. The turn signal lights were in the bumpers for 1966. Before that they were in a body panel below the bumper. The body area behind the grille is painted flat black.

The center grille section is made of stamped steel painted body color. The ‘fish’ emblem was new for 1966. Early 1966 Barracudas used the older Valiant 'V' emblem. The identical ‘Plymouth’ letters were still in use on the big Plymouths in 1970.

The grille side pieces are made of chrome plated cast metal. The headlight trim ring is stamped aluminum. This is a replacement trim ring; the original was dented in the ‘rear-ender’ that also caused the two little dents on the fender edge.

This photo shows a Plymouth wheel cover on a 14” rim. 13” wheels were standard on Valiant and Barracuda and 14” wheels were an option. Tires are at least 20 years old. They are bias-ply belted. The view shows how the fender turned out after I forced it back into shape. The wheel-well stainless-steel trim has a minor crimp in it, but should be usable. The Barracuda emblem fastens to the fender at the three holes at upper left and the V-8 emblem goes at lower right. There was no Chrysler star emblem on this fender. The passenger side fender has one below the V-8 emblem.

Here is another wheel cover view. The rear wheel well trim needs some hammering. The gas tank filler neck has been loosened to facilitate tank removal. Paint below the filler opening is stained from gas spills.

I took these shots to document the nice pinstripes so I'll have a better chance of duplicating them after I get the car repainted. This is, of course, the good side - the passenger side.

Right rear taillight. The upper red section has a single two-filament bulb for brake/turn and ‘tail’ light. The backup light bulb is in the white center section. A red reflector is in the center of the backup light. The bottom section has a single-filament bulb ‘tail’ (or running) light.

Last registered in May of 1985 (expired May 1986). I think I pulled the heads in 1983 or 1984, but continued to register it. The trailer hitch was custom made by a local mechanic to bolt to the rear sub-frame.

Barracuda Rear View The rear view above shows what I have always assumed was damage from the engine exhaust. The crimped edge of the trunk at the left corner just above the exhaust pipe began to rust while the car was still relatively new. The crome on that end of the bumper is very dull, and the crome on the left taillight housing is more pitted than the right. The dent near the middle of the bumper was caused by backing into a metal post. The long dent in the body above the right side of the bumper was done by someone in a bank parking lot. When the Valiant was first produced for the 1960 model year, Chrysler considered it a separate line. Within a year or two, Valiants (and thus Barracudas) were folded into the Plymouth line. My 1970 Plymouth Fury uses identical letters. The registration ran out in May 1986. The same license plate was on the car in June 1982 when the car was photographed at the top of Pike's Peak.

View of dash and front seat area. The factory air conditioning systems outlet duct is attached to the bottom center of the dash. Above that is the AM radio and above that is the A/C-heater control panel. The factory air came with push-button controls. Valiants with heater only had lever controls.

View of the instrument panel. The Barracuda came with complete instrumentation The instruments from the left are engine coolant temperature, gasoline quantity, speedometer (0-120mph)/odometer/trip indicator, high-beam indicator light, intake manifold vacuum, oil pressure, and alternator output current. The ignition switch is beside the vacuum gauge. The control knob at the far left control headlights, park lights, instrument lights and interior lights. The knob beside it controls the windshield wipers (three-speed). The chrome stalk on the left of the steering column is the turn signal control. Turn signal indicators are on the front fenders. The chrome shift lever is hidden by the steering wheel spoke. The shifter position is indicated by an orange pointer in the little panel on top of the steering column. The headlight dimmer foot switch is visible below the turn signal lever. The parking brake handle is just to the right of the dimmer. The steering wheel is an optional imitation wood-rim wheel with the Plymouth emblem on the horn button.

Inside driver’s door. Window is rolled down. Much of the chrome finish on the plastic armrest support is gone.

View into the front area from the driver’s door . The black plate on below the vent window on the passenger door says ‘Barracuda.’ Note that the rear quarter glass has not metal frame. (The glass has a reflection of the yard in it.) The window and door handles were standard Valiant style.

View of the original front bucket seats through driver’s door. These bucket seats were like no others. A vinyl coated metal shell coverd the back of the seat and wrapped around the sides. Similar panels covered the sides of the seat. Chrome trim borders the shell. The seatbacks are not latched into the upright position, but that never seemed to be a problem. It only took a single-handed push to move the back forward for entry to the rear seat. However, there was nothing to hold them upright in a front-end crash and that could create a heavy load on the person in the seat.

Besides the typical fore-aft movement of the seat, the tilt could be adjusted slightly, but it was difficult. The seat was attached to two brackets on the floor with two bolts on each side. The bolts were in slots which allowed a little up/down and fore/aft movement which would cause slight changes in the tilt of the entire seat. The bolts had to be loosened slightly and the seat had to be pushed around by hand as the bolts slid along the slots to the new position. Then the four bolts had to be tightened. The angle between seat and back was not adjustable. There was not enough padding in the seat for me, so long trips were painful. I still think they are a beautiful design though.

View over rear seatback through the big dome rear window. There are nice interior lights on each side.

View through the back with the seat folded down. The hand rail helps keep large items from sliding forward. Two straps with chrome-plated metal loops were provided to hold the back down. The strap on this side is missing. The hand-rail was also part of the latch that holds the seatback upright. It latches into the metal brackets on the rear wheel humps on each side of the photo. The carpeted door into the tiny trunk has a bad stain on it. The slot in the painted metal molding below the window on the far side was part of the ventilation path. My daughters old 1973 Duster is visible.

View through back with rear seatback down and door into trunk. We hauled a small swing/slide sit home in this once.

PAGE ONE- This page gives some details about the Barracuda and its history. There are photos of all sides of the car,photos of the short block in the car and the empty engine compartment, and shots of the greasy engine as it was pulled out. There is a photo of wreck damage to the left front fender. There are photos of the heads that have been in storage for 20 years after they were rebuilt. There is a photo comparing the original carburetor that was destroyed in storage and a NOS carburetor that someone gave me. There are photos of the automatic transmission and the gas tank. Links to other web articles are located on Page One

PAGE TWO - Page two has more detailed photos of the exterior and interior of the car. The pinstripes are shown and the dash and instrument panel. Front bucket seats and folding back seat and trunk panel. Photos of grille sections and taillight.

PAGE THREE - This pages has photos of the engine rebuilding work in progress at Cookie's Auto Machine Shop. It shows the bare short block, piston installation, and Cookie at work.

PAGE FOUR - Page four has 14 images showing the completed engine after it was painted and then after the exhaust manifolds, pulleys, fan, brackets, distributor, coil, and such had been re-installed. It seemed to be easier to install all those things before putting the engine in the car. My only concern is fitting the left manifold around the steering column while dropping the engine in.

PAGE FIVE - Page five has photos and comments of the engine re-installation. I demonstrate that I can carry the transmission (without the torque converter). There are a couple of photos of the clean engine compartment before the engine was installed and then a couple more of the engine after it was installed. I photographed the antifreeze warning and battery charge warning decals on the radiator support panel.

PAGE SIX - Page six has a photo of the Barracuda parked out in the driveway on the first day of spring 2004 and closeups of the carburetor as it is installed and the engine compartment with the engine in running configuration. It has been driven about 15 miles since the overhaul. There is a photo of the bottom of the car and of the left rear axle and brake parts with the wheel and brake drum removed.

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Page Post Date 11/20/03