Now Complete Restoration / Pulling my 1969 'Bee down for strip and paint

[birdsandbees]

Making the resto shop a weekly Tuesday visit now, trying to push them along (or should I say supplying cheques!  ) . A week or so before the '68 Cuda's paint job is done and the mine should be right in behind it.

Took my new to me grill, tail lights and tail panel over for test fit today. Everything fit perfectly with nice even gaps, so I gave them the green light for final block sand, prime and get it painted!

[birdsandbees]

 

How can you not love that "ass" ?

[lukedukem]

I love it.... of course I'm a little biased, i have an ass like that as well. Butt, it is in need of some attention. 
I'm learning a lot from this thread. 

Luke

[birdsandbees]

Today I got more of the front end together, just wish I had my steering box done. At least my seals are on their way from FFeel.

1 out of 3 upper spindle to backing plate bolts came out with some persuasion, after 3 days soaking in penetrating oil. Guess it's torches tomorrow for the other three, so I can get these spindles and backing plates cleaned up (c/w all new brake pads and hardware) to install to the lower ball joint.

[birdsandbees]

Well I figured out how to hold the steering knuckle / brake assembly and with lots of heat I got the two passenger side bolts out. Snapped off the drivers side bolt. Took 11 tons in the press to break the 47 year old rust bond to push it out. Now to get it all cleaned up, ready to assembly again.

[moparnation74]

Great work as always...coming along nicely

[birdsandbees]

Realized I'd forgot one of the first things that needs to go back in on assembly... the windshield wiper arms. Needed to clean up the mess of paint the last lazy paint shop got on them in '89 and make sure they were ready to go the next 50 years. Was trying to figure out how to bend all 4 tabs back on the plastic bushings without breaking them, when I realized the answer was in my pocket. Sharpie marker cap. Cut the top end off until I got the correct diameter to slip between the metal post and the plastic tabs. Bonus was the other end was the exact size to compress the tabs to slip the bushing out of the metal arms.

Cleaned everything up on the wire wheel and coated the arms with gun oil. Drilled the pivots for press in bushings. Note that the upper pivot in the picture is a good location for the fitting.. the lower one I hit the bronze bushing, but still worked out okay. After drilling I repeatedly sprayed multi lube in to flush the rust etc out and then pressed the fittings in and greased.

The water seal kit states "do not use a mechanical spreader"... but there was no damn way those things were going over the arm mount head. A silicon tube nozzle worked perfect with the "ribs" ground smooth. Slipped right over in 2 seconds.  

[birdsandbees]

 

[moparnation74]

Believe it or not but they will go over w/o a spreader but its a Royal PITA......works wonders on your finger tips

I am glad you posted the pic with the spreader, great idea

[birdsandbees]

Thanks! .. and I thought the sharpie cap was the best part! 

Not much done today, but spindles and backing plates are soaking in degreaser. Actually have the spindles clean and in Evaporust to clean up a bit of rust at the base of the spindle. Don't want to hit that with the media blast gun, but will be cleaning the knuckle up with media blast, same as the backing plates. Still haven't decided whether to cosmoline them, RPM or paint. 

Saved myself $4us + postage and made my own spindle seals from some packaging foam.

Final shot has the bolts out of the wheel cylinder... means only 4 bolts left to go and EVERY bolt has been removed from my car. Just the rear wheel cylinders still on their backers and when they're off EVERY piece has been removed. How did I get here  

[birdsandbees]

Glass media blasted the knuckles today. Wasn't going to get caught in the house using the wife's stove again so I brought that bugger out to the shop so she couldn't catch me again!  (actually a spare). Coated the knuckles in RPM after warming up in the stove. Gave them two coats for good measure. Hope to get the backing plates done tomorrow. Can't decide whether to RPM them, clear coat or dip in Cosomoline.. 

[moparnation74]

Looking great....

I got my backing plates black zinc plated, similar to the factory black phosphate but more durable...

[green69rt]

I'm starting to like that RPM more and more.  I think I'll order a can to use on some stuff, like my front suspension parts.  I like the natural look.  I might have to use the oven when the wife is away..

[birdsandbees]

Looking great....

I got my backing plates black zinc plated, similar to the factory black phosphate but more durable...

Other places I've read and seen that the backing plates were bare.. or cosmolined... like in Gino's thread. But as I degreased them, mine certainly looked like they where factory painted? black. Not sure what to do with them.

Have an airplane engine cylinder to get back on tomorrow on a rare 11C late November day, so I have a day or so to think about it (or take suggestions).

[moparnation74]

Looking great....

I got my backing plates black zinc plated, similar to the factory black phosphate but more durable...

Other places I've read and seen that the backing plates were bare.. or cosmolined... like in Gino's thread. But as I degreased them, mine certainly looked like they where factory painted? black. Not sure what to do with them.

Have an airplane engine cylinder to get back on tomorrow on a rare 11C late November day, so I have a day or so to think about it (or take suggestions).

It was not cosmoline....it was a coating that had a slight green tint.  The guy who is doing my plates, remembers that coating back in the day but had no idea how to create that today.  He also said GM used it as well.  I have also pulled plates off that were black phosphated.  As far as bare steel, the few true survivor cars I have seen did not have bare steel...they had one of the two above...

This topic will always be debated between phosphate or the other "unknown" coat......on 68-70 B I have yet to pull a plate off that was painted.....

This is one of those few grey areas on these cars for correctness

[birdsandbees]

Okay THANKS!

Almost sounds like a really flat black (like high heat stove paint) would simulate black phosphate better than the semi gloss seen on so many?

[moparnation74]

Okay THANKS!

Almost sounds like a really flat black (like high heat stove paint) would simulate black phosphate better than the semi gloss seen on so many?

Correct!

[birdsandbees]

Thanks.. lunch is over, back to the airplane engine. Should have it running by supper and then I can get back to what I really want to work on..  

[birdsandbees]

Airplane running and flight worthy again !  Wish it had of been a paying job... 

While we're on backing plates... so the rears, where they phosphate as well or painted semi gloss like the rear axle housing? 

[birdsandbees]

This about what we're shooting for???     It's a bit darker in person.. flash lighted it up to look gray.

[birdsandbees]

Got my new seals out of the mail box today, so it was time to get the steering box back together. All new bearings and seals and I even managed to keep it clean during assembly. Generally there should be some aviation gasket sealer smears on it somewhere, but I pulled it off. Yes I know the pitman arm should be bare like the rest of things, but can't bring myself to strip that nice black paint.. same deal with my idler arm so at least they match! 

[birdsandbees]

 

[birdsandbees]

Steering box bolted in place and torqued down to 80 ft-lbs. Tomorrow I'll torque all the link / tie rod nuts and then install the brake backing plates and front spindles.

Note the steering box mounting bolts. 12 point and I can guarantee they are original to the car. All resellers, and there are many, show "original" steering box bolts have a thick head and are 6 point. May be true for some, but apparently not '69 Lynch Rd cars...

[birdsandbees]

Backing plates and spindles installed today. These pictures give a better "look" as to how my backing plates came out color wise. Pissed off that I went to install the brand new wheel cylinders and the bleeder screws are so damn long they hit the knuckle and I'd just been to the auto parts store this morning. Oh well, I guess another trip into town on Monday.

[Dino]

Looking damn good!