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Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 23 3:52 pm
by rocket70
Thanks John

Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 23 7:25 pm
by Blue
Lately I have mostly been buggering about with distributors. For maximum accuracy I am converting to crank trigger ignition, this means the only job the distributor has to do is get the spark to the plugs, advance mechanism, vacuum pot, trigger wheel, reluctor etc are all surplus to requirements. I bought a used Dizzy to gut, it turned out to be a Lucas built unit for Australian Valiants. It’s much the same as US built units but a bit better quality and uses the same cap and rotor as a Rover V8. This cap has a wider lead spacing which isn’t a bad thing.
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 23 7:31 pm
by Blue
Stripping out everything you don’t need leaves you with this. Just needs the top of the shaft slipping on to the lower and welding solid. Add a sheet metal baffle to keep oil from the bearings out of the cap, cover the vacuum pot hole and that’s it. Waiting for the Crank trigger to arrive and then I can finish the job.
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 23 11:38 am
by Dave Napier
Are you running a ign box with a programmable curve ? or a start retard module ? I've had a trigger sensor go bad which is common apparently so I now keep a spare but i left all the parts in the dizzy so I can swap to distributor triggering for fault finding or get you home (dizzy is locked out)
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 23 3:18 pm
by Blue
My ignition is programmed to crank at 14 degrees and then go to 34 above 500rpm Tig. I’ll carry a spare sensor and have my locked out dizzy with me at the track in case of problems. Doing the utmost to screw as much out of this small block as possible!
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 23 3:53 pm
by Dave Napier
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Fri Oct 27, 23 8:14 pm
by Blue
After a year of running wheels up low elevens with little more than a lap belt for safety common sense has prevailed. Dropped the car off at Andy Robinsons Today to get a roll bar made and fitted, legal to 10.00 that will do me.
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 23 7:10 pm
by Stu
A very sensible decision.
That cooling mod is really interesting, not seen that before.
Have you found a colour match for your distributor cap yet?
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 23 8:23 pm
by Blue
Probably sort it when I’m in the paint shop next week Stu .
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 23 6:27 pm
by Blue
Just picked the car up today, very nice job! Door bar is removable for street use. Painting it is going to be a challenge though…
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 23 8:00 pm
by SAV@RPM
Looking good Blue, I did see your car at Andy’s when I dropped a diff off. Quality workmanship.
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 23 8:08 pm
by Dave Napier
10.0 cage not 8.50 ?
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 23 8:52 pm
by Blue
Yes 10.00, won’t be going faster than that.
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 23 9:18 pm
by Stu

Looking tidy!
Re: Blue's Barracuda
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 23 12:35 pm
by Dave Napier
Blue wrote: Thu Nov 23, 23 8:52 pm
Yes 10.00, won’t be going faster than that.
Looks good, should still be able to get folk in the back too !
A while ago I was looking to upgrade the cage in the Challenger to chrome moly, it was expensive back then and I don't think it's got any cheaper since

. £5k+ to save maybe 100lb

Though to be fair, the cage goes from the front to back and is well above spec in wall thickness. The next car will be a lot lighter though
