The project has been languishing, but a friend and I got the Barracuda's engine running last weekend. It's a 318 from an '86 Diplomat with -302 heads and a roller cam that I had reground to something only slightly more aggressive. A smidge under 9:1. Early 340 manifolds. Performer intake and carb. 904 trans with the low first gear set. 8-3/4 with 3:23s. I was aiming for something fun to drive with as little drama as possible. Anyway, the thing fired on about the second rev and settled into a nice idle with only minor tweaks to timing and mixture. Progress has been made and I'm pretty happy.

It is always nice to hear the run for the first time!

you don't need 500hp to have fun.

Like the barracuda on the valve covers.

around here, we call first fires "super bowl sunday".
glad yours was successful !

Good for you on getting it running I know the feeling.

I had meant to mention that I used Moparts sponsor AR Engineering's alternator bracket kit and Denso 60A alternator. Great fit and works perfectly.

Looks Sharp! Congrats!

First fire up of one I personally built is about as close as I'll ever get to giving birth.

If I didn't personally put it together or otherwise have some investment in it, then it's a very different experience.

Roller camshafts definitely take a bunch of stress out of it.