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1967 Plymouth Barracuda Commando vin: BH23E72265456
This is an extremely solid, reliable car. It's a very unique one with the fifth character in the vin (engine code) being "E" for the Commando High Performance package and factory air conditioning. This high performance package was offered 1965-1967. Specs and more information on the 273 Commando: http://www.angelfire.com/pa/66valiant/engine.html
Everything mechanical has been gone through for great drivability. I am very particular about the functionality of my vehicles and have taken great pride in my work on this car for the past 13 years. Since I drive this car daily, it has been important that it function well, be reliable and get good mileage. You will notice in the photos that the car is very clean. The paint, body and interior are far from perfect, but it's clean and has been well maintained and cared for. It's been kept in my carpeted garage. Even the drivetrain is kept very clean.
I believe the car is originally from Massachusetts, but came to California in 1969 or so since it had blue California plates on it when I got the car. I rebuilt the engine in 1998 and have been driving it to work, which is about 8 miles a day. I have all receipts for what I’ve put into the car.
Engine and Driveline
Rebuilt original 273 Commando Engine. The engine was bored .030 over with 9:1 Ohio pistons and molly rings. Crank turned .010, Cloyes True Roller chain, Sealed Power oil pump, Competition Cams 252H series. Heads have new stainless valves and hardened seats for unleaded fuel. New Mopar Performance valve springs, rockers, and Comp Cams hydraulic lifters. Stock Commando valve covers, air cleaner, and the correct hard to find four-barrel Carter #4305 AFB carburetor. Mopar Performance electronic ignition kit with orange ICU. Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. High torque starter #3259. New 3-row core in the original radiator. When the engine was out of the car, the engine compartment was repainted the original body color RR1 Yellow. The engine is in no way a souped up competition engine. I built this engine to perform as closely to the original Commando engine as I could. I am religious with oil changes and always use synthetic.
The original 904 automatic transmission has been rebuilt with a Trans-Go shift kit, new clutches, bands and seals. Late 1970’s valve body was installed with part throttle kick-down and the Mopar Performance deep transmission pan. Great for city driving and good gas mileage! The transmission cooling lines were replaced with new reproductions from Inline Tube.
The drive shaft has been balanced and had new Spicer U-joints installed.
8 ¾” rear-end housing was bead-blasted and painted black. The 741 case center section makes a slight amount of gear noise. It is an open unit with 3.23 gears, and it should be rebuilt or replaced to be perfect. The axles are C-body units shortened by Moser Engineering for use in the A-body housing. New bearings, seals and studs were installed.
The exhaust system is stock manifolds with dual 2 ¼” aluminized pipes with a crossover, Dyno-Max Super Turbo mufflers and little 10” glass packs at the rear for extra sound control and resonance. (Nice exhaust work!)
Brakes and Suspension
I just finished a complete brake and suspension upgrade for big brakes and large bolt pattern wheels. Beginning with a late model K-member, which I reinforced around the lower control arm pin holes, and added gussets where the steering gear mounts. I used Schumacher spool type motor mounts.
I installed late model A-body spindles with 10.87” brake rotors up front and 11” drums in the rear. This car stops like a new car! I replaced the brake lines with steel reproductions from Inline Tube and installed a Mopar Performance master cylinder with DOT 5 silicon synthetic brake fluid. The E-brake handle is broken.
The car has 15”x7” Chrysler steel wheels, painted body color, with new 235/60/15 BF Goodrich tires. I’ve installed chrome acorn nuts so the car looks nice with or without the dog dish caps. Leaf springs are stock units, rebuilt with Energy Suspension bushings front and rear, and installed Just Suspension Heavy Duty shackles. These were a great upgrade! There is a spare 15”x7” steel wheel in the trunk. I haven't gotten around to having a tire mounted on it.
The front suspension has been rebuilt with Moog suspension and steering components and Energy Suspension Poly-Graphite bushings and KYB shocks. The car has the stock front late model sway-bar. Control arms have been bead-blasted and repainted black with Energy Suspension bushings. Power steering gear and pump are rebuilt. No leaks! I also upgraded the tie rods and ends to the heavy duty 11/16” units. Nice, tight and responsive!
Accessories and Interior
All Air Conditioning parts have been replaced, including condenser, evaporator, hoses, compressor, clutch, seals etc. I had all the original A/C hoses rebuilt to be compatible with 134 refrigerant. It’s currently charged with R12, blows “cool” but could stand to be recharged. The heater/AC box has been rebuilt with a new heater core.
The dash pad is flawless, the carpet has been replaced with stock black with the correct heel pad and extra sound deadener. The carpet could stand to be replaced again. The speedometer works, but not the odometer or trip meter. When I had the dash out of the car, I soldered the dash harness pins and rebuilt the main harness bulk head. The entire dash was upgraded to solid state regulation with the chip in the fuel gauge. Great upgrade for the problematic ’67 Barracuda dash problems. The dash lights all function nice and bright. The stock oil sender was replaced for the mechanical oil gauge, so the one in the dash doesn’t function at this time. The alternator gauge works accurately. The fuel gauge works, but is off calibration by about ¼ tank.
The windshield wiper motor was rebuilt, and the pivots were resealed with Schumacher seals. I installed Zerk fittings in the pivots so they could be greased. All the wiper linkage was reconditioned and lubricated. The wipers work as smooth as a new vehicle.
The stock AM radio does not work, but I replaced the speaker with a new direct fit replacement.
I purchased an interior set including from Legendary Auto Interiors. I had the rear seat recovered, but did not get to the fronts yet. The front seat covers are boxed and will be included with the sale of the car.
The headliner has been replaced, and additional sound deadener was installed. The sun visors need to be replaced.
Body
The body is pretty straight and rust free for the most part. No major bodywork is needed. There are a few dings with the largest dent just behind the passenger side rear wheel on the quarter panel. The car has been repainted close to original color, but this happened before I took ownership of the car.
When I got the car, the nose was pushed in. The damage was just cosmetic. There was no damage to the bumper, radiator, core support, or fender wells. I replaced the affected parts: nose panel, grills and surroundings. The nose was never painted to match the body, so it’s still just primer.
The lower trunk molding has a dent. There is some body filler on the top of the trunk lid. The trunk weather strip has been replaced. It seals perfectly, no leaks in the rain, or during a wash.
There was some rust in the lower corners of the rear window, but it has been cut out and properly repaired with sheet metal. It’s better than new now!
The body around the driver side door striker was cracked as most A-bodies are. I welded this and ground it down so it’s stronger than before and should look perfect once the car is repainted.
The windshield is brand new and the gasket and trim have been updated to the later style. The rear window has also been re-sealed with a later style gasket, but I haven’t located the correct trim for it yet.
What the car still needs
Correct wheel opening trim.
Front seat covers need to be installed.
Lower trunk trim.
Passenger side fender is from a ’69 and should be replaced with a ‘67.
Sun Visors.
Spare Tire.
For additional photo documentation of the car please to go: http://photobucket.com/BarracudaCoupeCommando
Feel free to contact me and ask any questions.
Thank you for looking at my car. Check my feedback. 100%!!!
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