69 Barracuda FB. The next evolution

[gomopar440]

Mo' progress...

After removing the clamps, I installed six rivets to lock the two pieces together. On the inside area of the plate, I covered the ends of the rivets with RTV in case the rivet shanks ever try to pop loose. The air filter should keep them out if they did, but better safe than sorry.

Next I removed the existing air cleaner hold down rod and replaced it with a 18" piece of 1/4" all-thread. Once the base plate/riser and air filter were installed, I cut the rod to length.

With that done, I was finally able to set the scoop on the engine. Vertical alignment is good, but will need to be rechecked after I swap out the intake.

Overall I'm happy with how it sits, right now. If the new intake causes a substantial upward elevation change, the riser will be shortened at the bottom to get the scoop back to where it's sitting now.

Lastly, here's a pic showing how far the scoop is off the centerline of the car. The radio and heater controls are right on the centerline, so the scoop looks to be 2-3" towards the passenger side by comparison.

 

[b-body-bob]

It was the opposite for me. Drill and drill then oops I missed the center so it's still stuck.

I also found IME you're better off buying HF cutters than Blair because no matter how much you pay for the cutter, it's going to end up wrecked.

There's no avoiding the offset. Factory stuff through the hood could account for it but if you've gotta come straight up that's the way it is. You only look at one side at a time anyway.

 

[gomopar440]

I've never really used one of these cutters before. But for the price, and the fact it came from HF, I fully expect it to be a disposable tool. I just hope it makes it through this project before it turns into

The only reason the offset matters, to me in this case anyway, is those raised hood inserts. If the scoop were aligned dead center with the hood, the hole would fit between the inserts. With the offset, it looks like I'll need to cut into the pass side insert some. At least both the steel hood and the inserts are already in rough shape. It won't hurt as much to take the cutting wheel to the hood with how badly pitted it already is.

On a related note, last night I decided to replace the engine mounts before I commit to the hood cut. The existing mounts are of unknown age and likely sagging, possibly unevenly, which could affect the hole placement. I also want new mounts in there so I don't have to worry about the scoop hitting the hole in the hood when the engine is running. Since the 360 was transplanted into this car, and not a factory option for '68, I need to look and see if I have early or late style mounts before I order them.

 

[gomopar440]

Thankfully the engine mounts are the newer style which are easier to find. Both engine mounts appear to be inact, but the driver side mount is compressed more than the pass side. The trans mount doesn't appear blown out, but I'm replacing it anyway. I ordered two new engine mounts and a trans mount today from a LPS, which should arrive tomorrow.

While I was under the car looking at the trans mount, I looked around the area for any other issues. There is a missing bushing at the bottom of the shift linkage, and the neutral safety switch is missing the plug for the wiring. I'll need to source replacements for both of those parts.

The new intake is also supposed arrive tomorrow, along with a fuel pump block off plate.

The new mechanical fuel pump I installed a while ago is coming back out since I decided to run with the electric fuel pump. I just left it where it is until I picked up a block off plate to take it's place.

While out ordering the mounts today, I also picked up some new screws for the valve cover baffles, and some screws for the headlight retaining rings as well as a 8-32 tap and tap handle. Those broken baffle screws can now get fixed properly.

 

[gomopar440]

Drilling those broken steel screws out of the aluminum valve covers was NOT fun. One hole on each of the valve covers is a bit oblong, but the threads are holding. I'm going to pick up some JB Weld to fill those two holes so I can drill and tap those again, properly this time.

BTW: Those bins of random impulse buy junk at the LPS are my kryptonite...