1967 Plymouth Barracuda

Archive for the ‘Transmission’ Category

Had issues with the old Hurst Shifter…. called up Brewers Performance and picked up a new one.    Problem solved.  This one shifts like a dream.

The new engine has made it’s way into the car.  Now to connect it all back up.

Replaced the aftermarket leaf spring shackles with factory style from SummitRacing, adjusted the z-bar and clutch, removed the carb spacer.  Still have issues with idle, but I was able to pull it out of the garage under its own power and… well, the sure-grip works

Made good progress today. Ben fabricated a support brace for the 4-speed z-bar. This reinforces the inner fender wall area where the stud attached to the ball-stud comes through. It was welded to the inner fender and also the frame rail…and provides a stronger brace than the factory one. It was fabricated out of 2 pieces of angle iron and a solid piece of steel to connect them all together. After it was welded and re-installed, I sprayed it with an undercoating so that it would just ‘disappear’.

Re-installed the steering column and all of the steering components. Need to order Outer Tie-Rod ends.

Getting closer to firing it up!  Tested and installed the radiator and upper/lower hoses.  Had the starter tested and then installed it.  Installed the Mopar HEI distributor and bolted down the valve covers.  Had to do some fabrication to the clutch adjusting rod to make it longer… Won’t be long….

Shortened the shifter by about 2 to 2.5 inches and drilled 2 new holes.  Installed and fits perfectly.

Home Depot supplied the brass heater hose fitting for the intake and the heater hoses have been installed.  Also installed the Temperature Sending Unit and have to figure out how to modify the brass bypass fitting.  I attempted to clean up the thermostat housing and it disintegrated under a little sandblasting …. so I’ll be replacing that.

Also, picked up a Hurst ‘Indy’ shifter handle from eBay.  Turns out that it’s too long and using it would cause severe knuckle damage when power shifting into 3rd gear… it needed modified.  About 2-2 1/2 inches was cut off the end.  New holes will be drilled shortly and the new shifter handle will get installed.

Got the PVC, Coil Bracket and Coil and the belts installed.  Next, Radiator and hoses.

Ben is becoming a great fabricator.  The reverse linkage rod was approx 2 1/4 inches too long.  He cut out 2 1/4 inches out of the rod and welded the threaded end back in place… after installing it… PERFECT fit.

Added new throttle return springs and bracket.

Driveshaft installed.

The 1st/2nd gear shifter rod was hitting the crossmember.  The crossmember was clearanced a little to make room.  After installing the rods, it no longer hits the crossmember.

Mocked up the throttle cable.

The z-bar needed modified as the rod to the clutch fork didn’t reach and the z-bar itself was a very, very tight fit.  The z-bar was cut in half and about 1/16 – 1/8 of an inch removed.  Then we fabricated a sleeve using some pvc pipe and some masking tape.  This allowed us to put the 2 pieces together and keep them lined up while we twisted the halves of the z-bar into the best position.  After we got it lined up, we marked it, tacked it with the welder and then ran a nice solid bead around the whole thing.  The weld was ground down, then the z-bar was primed and painted, then cleared.

Some pictures of the current status… Oct 2012.