Sunglasses Required!

[Troy]

Yay! It's Labor Day weekend - the end of summer. As a gift to myself I finally got the Barracuda back on the road. I originally took it apart in March for a few "minor upgrades" and things snowballed from there. I planned to have it roadworthy again by May but life got in the way and here we are. Any way, here's the reason for the sunglasses...



Troy

[Brock Samson]

One pic?.. that's it?..      looks nice. 

[aussiemuscle]

pretty freakin' awesome 

[Troy]

You may remember that I took pictures at the same park on my very first drive when I got it home. Here's what it looked like then:


then I put a grill in it:


then a cooler hood:




but it still looked a bit ratty:



so I reworked the grill for the second time:



fixed the messed up tail:


installed a new interior:




threw on some new wheels, moved the bumpers all the way in, added weatherstripping to the doors, some radiator blackout, shined the chrome, and installed some XV seat belts and moved it outside the garage for the first time in over six months:


Here's the end result after a bath and a little sunshine:







It took approximately 12 miles before someone offered to buy it and less than 50 before I got pulled over.  It still needs paint but no one can tell as long as I'm moving.

Troy

[Troy]

One pic?.. that's it?..      looks nice. 

I wasn't finished yet. You're too fast for me (I'm an internet noob).

Troy

[Brock Samson]

big improvements, the argent grill headliner and the auto pistol grip look great! those needles supposed to be blue?.. i thought they all were orange.. 

[Troy]

Judging by my forensic analysis, the car was once white with a blue interior and I guess the owner though blue needles would be a nice touch. I didn't mess with the dash or gauges yet because I wanted it on the road. Oh, and the whole grill was painted - silver, black, and orange. I went through a lot of tape and sandpaper.

Troy

[Lowprofile]

The Cuda looks great Troy! Nice Job. 

[TruckDriver]

  I like it I like the new wheels much better too. What year is it again?

[BrianShaughnessy]

Pretty cool     (for an E body !!!)       Much improved over the beginning pics - congrats.

Does this mean you'll have to hang out in the back row at Carlisle now?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Good work Troy!  Whats with the finger?  We still don't believe that you actually did any work on the car.......if that's what you were trying to prove

[71ChallengeHer]

That looks great.

[70charginglizard]

Sweet cuda Troy. I didn't know you had one.

Thats really nice.

Great job. 

[68RT4ME]

Man Troy, What a nice garage  ...... Oh and the car is nice too...lol  Great work

[Troy]

The Cuda looks great Troy! Nice Job. 

That looks great.

Sweet cuda Troy. I didn't know you had one.

Thats really nice.

Great job. 

Thanks! I got it last year just before Carlisle because my Chargers are taking so long to finish and I was tired of not having anything to drive. After one "ordeal" with yet another body shop I said "screw it" and just bought a drivable car. Unfortunately, I promised NOT to take this one apart until a Charger was on the road but I did any way.

I like it I like the new wheels much better too. What year is it again?

It's a 73 but I ditched the 5 mph bumpers, fillers, and brackets. The tire store kept asking why I wanted "truck" wheels on it. Anything was better than the old ones (in my opinion).

Pretty cool     (for an E body !!!)       Much improved over the beginning pics - congrats.

Does this mean you'll have to hang out in the back row at Carlisle now?

I took it to Carlisle last year but you didn't grace us with your presence so you missed it. You can see it in the left of this picture (please disregard the fireman copping a feel):

Good work Troy!  Whats with the finger?  We still don't believe that you actually did any work on the car.......if that's what you were trying to prove

No I didn't do anything... that was actually my 22 hour thrash to get the hood done before MoparFest. I still had to wet sand it twice more after that pic. The good news is that I'm learning a whole lot about body work on this car so I can do more myself on the Charger(s).

Man Troy, What a nice garage  ...... Oh and the car is nice too...lol  Great work

Thanks! It's not mine though - I have to rent it. This all started with one car and expanded. I have no idea how that happened.

Troy

[hemi68charger]

Great work.......... Looks sweet... Great color combo......

Troy (the other Troy  )

[Nacho-RT74]

Sweet cuda Troy. I didn't know you had one.

Thats really nice.

Great job. 

[TeeWJay426]

Lookin' good, Troy! Especially since you can brag that ya did it yourself! 

[BrianShaughnessy]

Pretty cool     (for an E body !!!)       Much improved over the beginning pics - congrats.

Does this mean you'll have to hang out in the back row at Carlisle now?

I took it to Carlisle last year but you didn't grace us with your presence so you missed it. You can see it in the left of this picture (please disregard the fireman copping a feel):


Troy

Will you accept a doctor's note signed by my mother ? 

[Troy]

Pretty cool     (for an E body !!!)       Much improved over the beginning pics - congrats.

Does this mean you'll have to hang out in the back row at Carlisle now?

I took it to Carlisle last year but you didn't grace us with your presence so you missed it. You can see it in the left of this picture (please disregard the fireman copping a feel):


Troy

Will you accept a doctor's note signed by my mother ? 

As long as it's written on a $100 bill I don't care who signs it. Hopefully next year I'll have a Charger there.

Troy

[Troy]

Great work.......... Looks sweet... Great color combo......

Troy (the other Troy  )

That's the original combo and I wasn't sure I'd like it at first. That isn't Y1 though - it looks more like a chrome yellow. You can see remnants of the original yellow and the later white paint in some of the door pics. It will need painted at some point but for now it's a 20 footer... as long as I'm moving. 

Lookin' good, Troy! Especially since you can brag that ya did it yourself! 

I did everything but cover the seats and the clear coat on the hood (I couldn't see where I was spraying it with all the lights in the booth). It still has a way to go in my opinion but it seems more than good enough for everyone I've talked to so far. Next step is the engine and trans upgrade but I'll definitely wait until winter before taking it apart again!

Troy

[Charger_Fan]

Wow, you even shot your own paint? That's impressive!

Looks really nice Man, congrats!!

[Old Moparz]

Wow, you even shot your own paint? That's impressive!

Looks really nice Man, congrats!!

He's not in charge of this site for nothing, you know.   


Looks good Troy, maybe I should leave my car with you for awhile, some progress might be made.   

[70charger_boy]

What a nice car, Troy.  It's nice to be rich.  Ok, you're not rich, but you have one kick ass website.
Thanks Troy

[69charger2002]

i'll take partial credit for you owning a kick ass DRIVEABLE cuda.. how many of your chargers are done now?? lol and that would mean you would be driving and enjoying ?? yeah it's nice to have a driver. who cares if it "needs" paint
trav

[69_500]

Hey Troy, this is just a thought, but if you put 80% of that effort into one of those 68's you have, wouldn't it be done by now? 

[41husk]

I gotta get one of those auto pistol grips, Maybe this weekend.  Looks real good, I miss cruizen in an E body, maybe soon I will get mine done.

[firefighter3931]

Car looks great Troy ! 

Why ya slummin with an e-body    This is a Charger board, isn't it ? 



Ron

[41husk]

Variety!!!

[Old Moparz]

I bet he's posted a bunch of Charger pics on the Cuda-Challenger board.   

[bull]

Very nice. Good to see some work getting done around here once in a while.

[Mefirst]

....even though its an E-body

Good work Troy

/Tom

[gtx6970]

So!!!!!!!!
are you going to St Louis with it

if your interested,,, I'm  leaving late friday afternoon. call me if need be.

[Chris G.]

Looks great Troy! I love the yellow white combo. It's seldom seen. I thought I had a before pic of that beast at the hotel, but can't find it.

[Blue Pentastar]

Lookin good Troy

Now go drive it some more and enjoy you deserve it man.

Hope to see you at Monster Mopar this year but realizes it is a ways to go for you.

Mike Schrader

[Troy]

Wow, you even shot your own paint? That's impressive!

Looks really nice Man, congrats!!

He's not in charge of this site for nothing, you know.   


Looks good Troy, maybe I should leave my car with you for awhile, some progress might be made.   

I had a bit of help on the paint. I joined a DIY body shop a while back and it has been a tremendous resource! The pictures of the hood that aren't in my garage and the paint booth are at the shop. The best part is that there's always someone around to help if/when I get stuck. One of the guys stuck around with me to shoot the clear at 3 AM. I work in spurts - I may get a lot done in a week and then not touch anything for a month or two. Progress is a relative term.

What a nice car, Troy.  It's nice to be rich.  Ok, you're not rich, but you have one kick ass website.
Thanks Troy

Haha, if I don't count the hood and the other parts I bought last year (interior, screws, etc.) I bet there's not $200 in it this summer. Basically it's paint thinner, degreaser/cleaner, several cans of spray paint (white, flat black underneath, dark argent silver, Hemi orange, satin black on the tail and grill, filler primer, and etching primer), two rolls of good masking tape, plumber's epoxy, a roll of masking paper, a bunch of old newspapers, several razor blades, some scuff pads, two scrapers, 3M spray glue for the headliner and carpet, weatherstripping adhesive, various grits of sandpaper, and an endless supply of Mountain Dew. I had a lot of sandpaper and the glazing putty left over from the hood. I have no idea how many hours I put into it though. I think it took about four evenings to get the carpet right and about five evenings and a Saturday to do the headliner and trim. The wheels and tires are actually swiped from one of the Chargers until I get the 17s for this car (I need them to clear the new brakes).

i'll take partial credit for you owning a kick ass DRIVEABLE cuda.. how many of your chargers are done now?? lol and that would mean you would be driving and enjoying ?? yeah it's nice to have a driver. who cares if it "needs" paint
trav

Um, yeah. No seriously, the moral support and encouragement is much appreciated as these projects can certainly get depressing at times. Now, if you want to donate a 68 R/T I'll give you a lot more credit...

Hey Troy, this is just a thought, but if you put 80% of that effort into one of those 68's you have, wouldn't it be done by now? 

If I put 80% of this effort into a Charger it would still be a shell. My Chargers are completely torn down and the closest one to being finished is missing a lot of important parts (like wiring). Besides, I just figured out how to wet sand and the Chargers need welding. I'm actually using this car to "practice" on before I screw up a Charger. I know it seems like the long way of reaching my goal but that's how I justify it.

I gotta get one of those auto pistol grips, Maybe this weekend.  Looks real good, I miss cruizen in an E body, maybe soon I will get mine done.

Let me know, I can probably get you a good deal. You finished an entire car in less time than it took me to put an interior in.

Car looks great Troy ! 

Why ya slummin with an e-body    This is a Charger board, isn't it ? 



Ron

I got tired of people asking "where's your car" so I bought one. They should have been more specific because now all I hear is "where's your Charger"... Speaking of Chargers, where is yours? 

Very nice. Good to see some work getting done around here once in a while.

....even though its an E-body

Good work Troy

/Tom

Looks great Troy! I love the yellow white combo. It's seldom seen. I thought I had a before pic of that beast at the hotel, but can't find it.

Thanks!

So!!!!!!!!
are you going to St Louis with it

if your interested,,, I'm  leaving late friday afternoon. call me if need be.

Lookin good Troy

Now go drive it some more and enjoy you deserve it man.

Hope to see you at Monster Mopar this year but realizes it is a ways to go for you.

Mike Schrader

I'll be heading out to Monster Mopar on Thursday night and hanging out at the wing car group/gathering/meeting/cookout on Friday. I was checking the weather and there's a rather high probability of rain between here and there all the way through Sunday. Unfortunately, the car still leaks. I didn't worry about it much last year because I knew I was replacing most of the parts that could get ruined but now all that stuff is new. So, right now I don't know if I'll be taking the car even though I'd love to take it on a road trip. I'll make a final decision Thursday at work.

Troy

[Brock Samson]

    Nice to have a thread of your own, huh Mr. Boss Man?.. 

bring some electrical tape to keep out the rain, it's wide enuff and comes off with out any problems and looks a whole lot better then duct tape... 

[The70RT]

Nice car Troy. Hope you get to drive to the show  Nothing like having everyone pass by with thumbs up.......then hammering by a bunch at a time

[69_500]

Hey Troy, your going to hit up the wing car day again? I'll be there again in the C500, and my neighbor is driving his 67 Baracuda over with me. So you won't be the only non-aero car there.

I'm sure I'll see ya at some point this weekend.

[Timm]

Nice Car!

[Silver R/T]

one nice mint Cuda

[firefighter3931]

[

Car looks great Troy ! 

Why ya slummin with an e-body    This is a Charger board, isn't it ? 



Ron

I got tired of people asking "where's your car" so I bought one. They should have been more specific because now all I hear is "where's your Charger"... Speaking of Chargers, where is yours? 

Troy

Hey, mine has some paint on it, at least ! 

You gonna make Norwalk ? We'll be there all w/e ! 


Ron

[Magnumcharger]

Great work.......... Looks sweet... Great color combo......

Troy (the other Troy  )

OK...now I'm confused. I thought you were one and the same...

[4cruzin]

WOW that is looking SWEET!!  If everyone here gives you too much sh!t over it being an e-body, I could take it off your hands to ease the pain.       

Great job Troy . . is that my trunk lid??   

[chargermick]

Sucks that you didn't have it all summer but, it looks like it was worth the wait!