Author: mopar vince
The school of fish takes a short swim
The school of fish saga continues. To recap. My young neighbor bought a derelict 68 fastback cuda that I had tried to buy from the long time owner several times with no success. His car had been sitting for 20+ years with a blown head gasket and a brok…
The dreaded fiberglass hood sprung spring rattle
So like many, I decided I wanted a bolt down fiberglass hood on #projectvertfish, my 67 Barracuda convertible. In my case, the AAR hood from VFN. Love it or hate it; doesn’t matter to me. It’s my car and I dig it.
Anyways…
Also like many, I decided to just release the tension from my steel hood springs when I installed the fiberglass unit. (Full disclosure I have the lighter springs)
And as many found out in the same situation, the loose springs rattle…ALOT. Driving down a…
The new stereo and the fried alternator
After "suffering" many months with just a Bluetooth speaker in #projectvertfish, I finally put out some cash to install a sound system that I could actually hear at 75 mph and the top down.
I had done the mad electrical ammeter bypass (Catalo…
Do you like smoked fish?
Should I be worried about the excessive smoke at the rear of #projectvertfish?
Alignment issue maybe?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EADKREXMbevHwhsc8
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Not your normal Mopar cooling issue
Most of the Mopars I’ve owned that have had cooling issues were the “gets hot idling in traffic” type.
But #projectvertfish has something different.
My BPE 408 runs great and stays cool (180 degrees) at idle and around town but climbs to 195-200 degrees at extended periods at 75 mph or above. 3500 rpm.
I’m thinking it might be lean issue.
Or possibly something to do with using the restrictive cast iron 273 manifolds.
Opinions welcomed.
March 7th 2021 – The fish out of water in Pebble Beach
A friend sent me info on this cruise from San Jose to the “world famous” Pebble Beach 17 mile drive. I don’t do Facebook so it was just a screen shot of the info.
Well it sounded like a good test for the car as it would be freeway, city, stop and go and idling, so we decided to go.
So at 7am, we left from Watsonville California and over highway 152 (Mt Maddona).
Then we took the curvy back roads past Uvas reservoir and Calero lake into San Jose.
#projectvertfish was an absolute blast…
It was a big day at the school of fish
After nearly a year, the day finally came for Steven to start up his 68 fastback engine. He is a former Honda tuner turned Mopar student.
I’ve been trying to mentor him and give him the benefit of my experience (mistakes).
Some things he listens and others he just has to learn for himself.
The look on his face at the end says it all.
Now we just gotta fix some small leaks and get his throttle and kickdown sorted out and this fish that had been hibernating for 20+ years will be once again…