FASTBACK340

Thanks to board member SeanD for stepping up and suppling a key piece I need to do my `Cuda. I have to wait for said part to arrive before I break out the blade…..

I have no complaints over the moderate snow fall we had. The media made it sound like it was going to be much worst…. You people up in the northern mid-west, wow! I'd be reserving a U-haul and load it up.

I just showed Amy your "after" pictures Bill. She's too says you look incredible and congratulates you! In that bottom picture you look absolutely Diesel….. Dude, you hitting the gym too? But the one thing I find truly amazing is the incredible builds you knock out in that work area!

Bill, you look FANTASTIC!!!!! The last time I had seen you the dieting just started and the results were starting to show. Now? Wow…… Your transformation is just as dramatic as mine! In my thread on my Quick Build Barracuda the topic came up and I started posting pictures. I too was over 330 lbs. but I'm only 5'9". I too had developing health concerns. When I peaked at 338 lbs. I was hospitalized with Congestive Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol levels. I was taking 5 pills a day for various weight and diet related issues. After being hospitalized I made an effort to do something. Like Bill, I cut back on the obvious: Sweets, Carbs, and Calories. Fast forward and after 10 years I lost over 150 lbs. that I joking refer that I almost gained it all back the day I got married (Amy hates that joke…..) If your 10 or a 110lbs. overweight, do something. My medication has been cut to a fraction of what it was. I too went from a 50 waist to a 33-36 depending on brand. Shirt size is Med, sometimes Large now. And I also find that I MUST wear my wedding ring if I go food shopping by myself, which I find flattering. Suddenly strangers want to start conversations with me. And they're mostly female….. My before My after

I'm getting such a kick watching you get progressively more involved in the hobby Bob. You started on a tray table and a kit. By the looks of your set up in your picture you posted, your moving up, out, and onward! Good for you!

I'm not feeling the trunk lid spoiler either, but the rest of it is killer! Love the color, stance, scoop, cage, wheels, car, etc…... BTW: How you been Dan? It's been a while since we crossed paths!

Nice `69! Love the paint too! What have you got planned for it? Those head lights look good, but they are still undersized. That's one of the reasons why I rebuilt mine. Plus the shells are so thick! Re-doing the grilles was the only stipulation on doing the build as I hate the kit piece. Tomorrow we paint, so there are some updates coming. BTW: I had those same polished Centerlines on my Barracuda like the ones on your model. I like the steelies w/ caps better. BTW: Just wanted to add the color is going to be the original factory color. LL1 Surf Turquoise Metallic. One year only color, second rarest color in `68 (Turbine Bronze is the rarest…)

…….……….. ……………….. THAT"S BEAUTIFUL!

Yup…. your in DEEEEEEEEEP

I might prime tonight…. we'll see how warm the basement is.

Some of my observations on the new `Cuda so far: The interior/engine bay dog house was severely warped and distorted. Two well places slices and I should be able to clamp it together. The instructions mention to omit decals #00-00-00 Huh? They're pointing out the license plates. I don't get it…. Same goes for painting the dashboard body color. Huh? The door mirrors look like they might be uber-finicky to install. Any feedback on these please? My chrome is perfect, minimal flash on the chassis. I have everything prepared for primer. When I shoot the `68 I'll shoot the `70 too.

Dude, that Matador is sick! Nice builds! Yeah, he does a good job and for the $2 it's well worth it. I'll use him again. Especially since my printer died a while ago.

I remember watching Pure Vision build that car on an episode of RIDES for the SEMA show. Nice build!

What a gruesome, grubby, disgusting, ratty, piece of ###### that thing is….. Great job!

Great. Instead of worrying about my stuff tumbling off a high shelf in the truck or getting punted by a delivery primate, now it might get dropped from the sky……

Niko, that 409 is sa-weeeet!

OK…. probably the final up-date before it's painted. The interior is done and a very close reproduction of my car. I still have to add the Halon Fire Extinguisher to the trans tunnel. Looking at it mocked-together in the car it's going to be fine. The entire interior is black so it's not too bright inside…. Here's the shot I love….. That's my car! I can't wait to squirt this sucker In the meanwhile, there's a Pink Hemi Cuda on my mind.

Me too….. I'm stopping myself before it starts. I too was thinking 440-6, Steelies, Pink hockey sticks (Keith Marks??), etc. I want a quick-build here. I have the paint, kit, and desire. Let's get it done.

My wife knows what an M code `69 Barracuda is…. As for the 440-6, I'll get back to you on that.

Al, the front fenders on my 1:1 Barracuda are worth more than what I paid for the entire car 16 yrs. ago….

My workbench right now? …….

……………………… …….. WOW! Certified MAD MAN in da house!!!! I love your post "I have no idea what I'm doing". Looks to me like your getting a good taste of an addiction. We pray for your recovery! Bob, your a man after my own heart. Years ago when slot cars were happening I went to the races 3 weeks in a row watching and asking questions. Came back week #4 and dropped about $300 in one shot and had a ball for the next few years. Your in deeeeeep dude. DEEEEEEP. And wait until how reasonable model are compared to restoring old Mopars. Especially A bodies….. $400 for an old Hemi under Glass kit is a relative bargain compared to $600 for trunk trim on the 1:1! Keep at it. Slice, dice, carve, create. Make it YOURS.

I'm actually doing it in Pink because that's my Wife's favorite Hi-Impact color. Besides, why not? I'd never own something this, er…. visually LOUD, but I can appreciate it's attraction. And I am tempted to stuff in a Ross Gibson 440-6…..

I started my mechanic career working for a Porsche/Audi dealer in Hewlett, NY back in the late 70's. I went on to stay with them for the next 10 yrs. and remember these cars very well. Although I never had the pleasure of driving or working on a 914/6, servicing the 4 cyl. was challenging enough! That engine cover opening ensured you were laying across the fender with your head in a hole. Throw in doing anything fuel-related (remember the old H O campaign where every fuel hose was replaced?) and headache city! The batteries would over-charge, boiling over, and the corrosion would eat the passenger side suspension pivot point. We'd put them up on a lift and watch the panel lines widen as you lifted it. You would never dare lift one with the doors open…... BUT…..they were neat cars when they were maintained. A 2.0 w/ Webers, exhaust, and ignition was a FUN car! Too bad not many survived in these parts. It seems these things were built from rust. I love what your doing with this build. Getting all the details right can be maddening, but rewarding. The final shape of the flares look great as do all the structural details are well done. Nice work!!!!

I know the owner, Pete, of the original Panther Pink Challenger pilot car from the`69 auto show circuit. It's a loaded Pink & White convertible and it's absolutely stunning in person. I might hack the roof off the `Cuda too. Need to research other threads for boot options... Who's going to do FC7 / In Violet? http://www.rickcarey.com/ColorNames.htm