BugShield on the road to recovery.

[Bug shield C500]

Well it's been almost 5 years since I bought and trailered this car home from Montana to Vancouver wa...
Last seen the road back in 1979 if not longer. Car is 100% orig paint and in pretty good shape. Has one palm size dent with about 2 inches of rust threw on the left rear lower quarter with pitting threw the lower part of the strip (to fix or not to fix, that is the question ). A few other spots of surface scale were some paint has flacked off. I would never repaint this car or do any major restoration work on it but it is tempting to fix the one dent and have someone blend in those few spots. The one big thing I am doing is pulling the engine out to redo gaskets, freeze plugs, timing chain, and clean off the 40 years of oil and grime. I don't plan on repainting anything if I can help it. I will redo the cooling system, brake system and probably the mufflers and tail pipes since those were changed at some point anyway. Luckily H-pipe is in good shape.  I do also plan on getting the A/C working again as well!!!
I will post as I go. Was hoping to get it done by the end of June but that has quickly turned into maybe the end of July...

[Fred]

 

[Bug shield C500]

OK.... trying to post pictures but it keeps rejecting them!!!

[Fred]

What's it saying?

[Bug shield C500]

either I have posted a picture with that name already... And I keep changing the name.. or 'you all ready posted that and must have double clicked...

[Bug shield C500]

pulling the carpet looking for build sheets...yea!

[Fred]

either I have posted a picture with that name already... And I keep changing the name.. or 'you all ready posted that and must have double clicked...

You really need to start over. (Don't modify) And yes, you'll need to rename them again. Us plenty of numbers as well as letters. I just whack my hand on the keyboard a couple of times and that way I'm sure to come up with a different name for the pics every time and one that no one else has used in the past.

[Bug shield C500]

ok. So this is how it has been sitting for the past 4 or 5 years... and the bottom picture is when I first got it after getting it home.

[Fred]

Just goes to show, practice really does make perfect.  

Looking really good.  

[Bug shield C500]

Thanks Fred...

Pulling the charger out to turn it around after pulling the gas tank.

[Bug shield C500]

Amazing, clean tank with no rust or scale. just a few rocks that came down from around the tank when I removed it. The second owners told me story's of flying down the gravel roads 100+ mph back in the day.... "WOW"
Check out the dents on the front of the tank. Funny thing is that I bought a new tank to put in because I thought for sure it was trash. But since this one isn't rusty back in it goes.

[Bug shield C500]

This is the pile of gravel that came down on me as I removed the tank.

[Fred]

WOW! you can say that again. You got yourself a gem there. 

[Bug shield C500]

before I put it in storage years ago I had to see what it would look like with a set of ram charger wheels.

[Fred]

This is the pile of gravel that came down on me as I removed the tank.

Wow, that's a pile alright.

[Fred]

before I put it in storage years ago I had to see what it would look like with a set of ram charger wheels.

Not too shabby.  They compliment the butt stripe. 

[Bug shield C500]

now this is the task at hand. Pulling the motor, (without removing the hood) to change all the freeze plugs and gaskets and clean up some 40 years of leaky cork seals...

I may still drop it all out from the bottom to make it easy once I am ready to put it all back. A/C stuff is always fun to take apart.

[Fred]

I'm very impressed in the condition the car is in.
Dropping it out from the bottom is definitely the way to go. Just make it so much easier. 

[Bug shield C500]

Yes, and it beats braking the factory paint on the hood bolts.

Fun stuff on the car. K-mart rear shocks and a Montgomery Words electronic ignition convertion.... That's a keeper if it still works.

[Bug shield C500]

insides not bad. I hate factory consoles so column shift is fine with me. Factory Am 8-track 3 speaker car.

[Fred]

You must be on cloud nine. 

[Bug shield C500]

Thanks


It will be fun to get back on the road. 

[Fred]

Just do me one favour, will you.........remove that horrid bug shield.    It hurts my eyes.

On the other hand if you're partial to it......please except my apologies offended you.

[remta1]

hey is it ok if I join this post ?  seriously though .........this is a very clean looking car .Did you find the build sheet in the end ? loving that colour too.

[Fred]

The more the merrier, I always say. 

[remta1]

hearing ya brother 

[69 OUR/TEA]

Love the green/green with white stripe !!!!!! Rocker molding car huh  

[moparstuart]

love it with the white painted wheels  , 

[hemi68charger]

Lookin' good !!!   

[XS29LA47V21]

This is the pile of gravel that came down on me as I removed the tank.

That's funny. 

Great car you have there, as we have visited before, I would keep it as original as possible and drive it. 

I forgot it was a rocker molding car, that I think looks nice on dark colored cars..   

[tan top]

wondered whats been happening    , them floors look awesome      love the look of the white steel wheels too , 
looking forward to seeing more pictures & up dates ,   

[70Sbird]

That car looks really solid!
Good luck with the project, the Bug Shield is kinda growing on me. I remember those from back when they were a popular accessory, along with plastic seatcovers!

[Aero426]

Amazing, clean tank with no rust or scale. just a few rocks that came down from around the tank when I removed it. The second owners told me story's of flying down the gravel roads 100+ mph back in the day.... "WOW"
Check out the dents on the front of the tank. Funny thing is that I bought a new tank to put in because I thought for sure it was trash. But since this one isn't rusty back in it goes.

If you have a new tank on hand and the old one is already out, install the new one.   It is a big time hassle saver.    There has to be some silt and crap inside the old tank even though it is not rusty.  

[JB400]

Welcome back to the forum   Your car is in incredible condition for being all original.   I have to disagree with Fred (one of the few times ) I'd leave the bug shield on it.  As big of an eyesore that it is, it's a unique part of the history of the car.  Makes it cool in my book, along with the white wheels.  The shield is not something I'll add to mine though.  Looking forward to seeing more of this car in the future

[Fred]

Welcome back to the forum   Your car is in incredible condition for being all original.   I have to disagree with Fred (one of the few times ) I'd leave the bug shield on it.  As big of an eyesore that it is, it's a unique part of the history of the car.  Makes it cool in my book, along with the white wheels.  The shield is not something I'll add to mine though.  Looking forward to seeing more of this car in the future

How dare you! Go stand in the corner with your hands behind your back at once.   

[Scaregrabber]

What a great looking car.

Sheldon

[Dodge Boy]

 

[Bug shield C500]

Welcome back to the forum   Your car is in incredible condition for being all original.   I have to disagree with Fred (one of the few times ) I'd leave the bug shield on it.  As big of an eyesore that it is, it's a unique part of the history of the car.  Makes it cool in my book, along with the white wheels.  The shield is not something I'll add to mine though.  Looking forward to seeing more of this car in the future

The bug shield sure did save the front of the hood, easy enough to snap on for shows at least.
The car came stock with the Mag type hubcaps which look o.k but 'yes' I like the white painted wheels a lot better. The picture shows 15 x 8 all around but I would probably do 15 x 7 up front and just the 8's in the rear. We will see, first I need to get the motor out and clean it up.

[Bug shield C500]

Thanks everyone for the great comments. I will keep the pictures coming over the next few weeks. Happy 4th to everyone!!!

[maxwellwedge]

I am about the sickest person out there when it comes to survivors - and yours is very nice..........but do yourself a favor and remove the hood (mark the bolt locations with masking tape). Your odds of damaging stuff with the hood in the way are far greater than trying to save the paint on and around the 4 bolts. Always store a hood on its side - not on the "points". Besides - many, many survivors have had their hoods, doors and decklids adjusted by the dealership when they were still new. 

[Highbanked Hauler]

   WOW Congrats man you have a gold piece there !!!

[surmanajaja]

love that car. especially the front seat and column shift

[JB400]

Welcome back to the forum  Your car is in incredible condition for being all original.  I have to disagree with Fred (one of the few times ) I'd leave the bug shield on it.  As big of an eyesore that it is, it's a unique part of the history of the car.  Makes it cool in my book, along with the white wheels.  The shield is not something I'll add to mine though.  Looking forward to seeing more of this car in the future

How dare you! Go stand in the corner with your hands behind your back at once.  

Can I come out now?   I'll behave, maybe

[Fred]

Welcome back to the forum  Your car is in incredible condition for being all original.  I have to disagree with Fred (one of the few times ) I'd leave the bug shield on it.  As big of an eyesore that it is, it's a unique part of the history of the car.  Makes it cool in my book, along with the white wheels.  The shield is not something I'll add to mine though.  Looking forward to seeing more of this car in the future

How dare you! Go stand in the corner with your hands behind your back at once.  

Can I come out now?   I'll behave, maybe

So sorry, I forgot.  Yes you can.