If it turns out that it is loose bolts I will go nuts.. Can't deny that I was hoping against all odds that that would be my issue, given the "history" of the build up on this car.

History you ask? OK for yor amusement I will spill my guts.

I originally pulled the motor out of the Barracuda in 1980. It sat until 1985 when I tore it down and rebuilt it in my basement of a rented house after I got divorced.
I assembled it and wrapped it in heat shrink plastic. I moved it from Cleveland OH to Richmond VA, to Cincinati OH, to St Paul MN over the next 10 years. Finally in 2002 I reinstalled it and finished restoring the car.
Thats some history.