1967 Plymouth Barracuda

Archive for the ‘Body’ Category

After 90% of the car being stripped to bare metal, I finally figured out how to use chemical stripper.  It seems that chemical stripper will only remove 2-3 coats of paint so if a car had 8+ coats of paint on it, to strip it to metal, you’ll need to strip it 3 times… Live and learn…  The last picture is what 8 layers of stripped paint from a fastback roof looks like…not counting what was put into the atmosphere from the DA.

Started on the roof panel… drivers side.  A combination of stripper and 40-grit on a DA.  Don’t want to use the grinder on the roof for fear of any warpage.  So much paint…..

… this time finishing the trunk lid, leaving the rear valance, the roof and the remainder of the hood.

Started stripping the hood.  Removing all of this paint is brutal and makes a huge mess, but having said that, I think all of this paint probably helped keep this car rust free.

This is just an idea… the thought is NASCAR type spoiler across the trunk lid.  This is just a small piece but gets the point across.  3 inches tall, not sure about the angle.  It’ll be one piece welded in the middle to accommodate the pointed trunk and will take the shape of the trunk.  Bolted to the trunk lid and extending over the tail lights.

Made a full cardboard template.  I think I’ll actually pursue this and make it out of sheet metal.

Started stripping/grinding the 8 layers of paint from the trunk area and passenger quarter panel..  Used a combination of aircraft stripper and a grinder with 24-grit and 36-grit discs.  After it was down to bare metal, then a red scotchbrite pad to smooth the surface in prep for primer.  Overall the metal is in great shape with the exception of the passenger quarter panel as it is rusted in the lower section behind the wheel and there was a considerable amount of body puddy (filler) applied previously to smooth out some sort of previous impact.  I will be replacing the lower rear section of the quarter panel with a patch piece that is currently on backorder.  That will fix the rust issues on this panel.

Still on the to-do list is stripping the hood and the roof.

Removed the seats, front and back.  Broke out the ole shopvac and cleaned up the passenger compartment area and prepped it for some Sound Deadening Lizard Skin.

Picked up a $5 spoiler at an Estate Sale… seriously considering it for the Barracuda…. Not really.

This was the result after primer.  Still requires body work, but we have clearance Clarence.

I had a tire rubbing on the front fenders so decided to cut a pie shape wedge out of the fender for clearance.  Problem solved.

I decided to start piecing the car together and get it on the road.  It will not be in final paint or have a new interior, but I’ll be tearing up the streets in it before I die 🙂

Lot’s accomplished tonight:

1. Turn signal issue diagnosed and fixed.  It was a faulty plug by the front of the drivers door where the rear harness connects.  Turn signals all work.
2. Seam sealed the shifter tunnel to seal in the weld
3. Installed the Hurst shifter boot
4. Installed the drivers door handle hardware
5. Installed the passenger seat
6. Installed the interior door panels and all hardware.  The window winders, the armrests and handles.
7. Cleaned up the wiring in the engine compartment
8. Replaced the dimmer switch solving the low-beam/high beam issue