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

[birdsandbees]

Code readers please.... is this my correct original spare??? I think it's been in the trunk during my life time..

14 x 5 1/2 JK
B MADE IN CAN 830
A 1 4 19

Had my tires removed from rims today, getting ready to clean and install my Goodyear Speedway Red Streaks, and the tire shop thought I was nuts. Perfect Michelin radials. Soft, pliable, full tread, installed in 1989 !   5 guys + the owner and all said they'd run them..  

[6bblgt]

no part number - but what dates/info is here by the valve stem hole?  what your car's SPD?

[birdsandbees]

M5
7     4   19   55

So I guess it's a 1967 wheel.. april 19 th

The 55??

Must have been just something I grabbed to have a spare a few decades back...   

[6bblgt]

M = manufacturer - Motor Wheel Corp.
5 = plant - Chatham, Ontario, Canada (opened in '66)

5.5 = 5.5" wide (probably from a c-body built in Windsor) 

[6bblgt]

here's a typical ('68 &) '69 b-body 14x5.5" US made steel wheel - I don't think this wheel design will fit the '70 & newer sliding caliper

[birdsandbees]

Thanks.. got it all blasted up, primed and painted ready to put my Goodyear Speedway Redstripes on it that FedEx dropped today from Universal Vintage Tire in PA (freshly ordered from Goodyear). Just have to get my other 4 wheels cleaned up first then back to the tire shop. 

[birdsandbees]

I have the bestest wife in the world!!  I sure hope that she doesn't get home for awhile, as I have 3 more to go!! LOL


.... seriously, she helped me bend the plate pegs so I could get it in! I want to see if it will clean the dirt out of all the webs.

[CDN72SE]

Enjoying your thread, curious to see what the wheels look like after they come out.

[birdsandbees]

I actually forgot that our water / dishwasher turns the old aluminum pots bronzish... so I washed the other three before I started sanding and polishing. Dishwasher did a good job cleaning 39 years of dirt out of the webs though!!

What's happening with your car CDN??

[birdsandbees]

Almost 1.5 hours a wheel. Was able to turn and sand the back side in the lathe, but could only reach in as far as the web on the front while being very careful not to catch my hand. I couldn't turn the wheel around as the rim in that position sat over top my chuck keys. Webs and hub face all done by hand pretending I'm going in circles.

Still need to hit the fronts with 600 / 1000 and then 2000 and then I'll clear coat.

They're not actually California Wheels.. just a cap I have. Wheels were bought at Canadian Tire in 1978! 

[Dino]

Wow excellent job!   

Those are going to look a-ma-zing on your popping blue ride!   

[Lennard]

Awesome job on the wheels.  Looks better than new!

[birdsandbees]

Thanks guys.. still need some work and then I'm going to clear them with the same tarnish preventer I put on the steering box. Still not sure the Raceway Red Streaks are going to look right on them... but early next week they'll be mounted. Pending that.. I'll be looking for Magnums I guess.. 

[Dino]

I think they'll look just fine.   

You could always try to add a thin red stripe on the rims with removable vinyl paint. It should make for a better match. A red center cap wouldn't hurt either.

[6bblgt]

I have a pair of similar wheels in 15x8.5" - a buddy had them on a '73 Charger - I've had them on a few cars

yours must be MOPAR parts - complete with PENTASTAR!! 

[birdsandbees]

 

[moparnation74]

68 and before steel wheels have only 3 ribs for the dog dishes

           One of the KEY differences and there are other subtle differences

69 and above steel wheels have 4 ribs to grab the dog dishes

Rims can be a PITA.....I just went through this with my GTX.  I had a heck of a time finding four not beat up, rusty etc...  I have someone that welds the dated area and restamps the codes you want.(PM me if you need to know)

Steel wheels got pitched back in the date and are very difficult to find good ones...

Great progress as always... I love the fact your have a washer and a oven in your shop!

[birdsandbees]

Nah.. the dishwasher is in the house!! So was the first oven run with my center link.. 

Spare steelie only has 3 tabs for dog dish attachment.. 4 flats welding center to rim... so I guess it is a '67 wheel. It's in good shape and once the tire is on and jack base plate and hook is on top no one while know any different (other than the 1000 people here!)

[moparnation74]

Nah.. the dishwasher is in the house!! So was the first oven run with my center link.. 

Spare steelie only has 3 tabs for dog dish attachment.. 4 flats welding center to rim... so I guess it is a '67 wheel. It's in good shape and once the tire is on and jack base plate and hook is on top no one while know any different (other than the 1000 people here!)

They beauty of your car will cloud that 1k crowds focus!

[6bblgt]

68 and before steel wheels have only 3 ribs for the dog dishes

           One of the KEY differences and there are other subtle differences

69 and above steel wheels have 4 ribs to grab the dog dishes

Rims can be a PITA.....I just went through this with my GTX.  I had a heck of a time finding four not beat up, rusty etc...  I have someone that welds the dated area and restamps the codes you want.(PM me if you need to know)

Steel wheels got pitched back in the date and are very difficult to find good ones...

Great progress as always... I love the fact your have a washer and a oven in your shop!

that's some incorrect info  thanks for sharing!!

[birdsandbees]

You saying that steel wheel info isn't correct 6bblgt? Also remembered that I have other steel wheels out in my highway trailer beside the hangar... should dig though it.  

Got all 4 wheels sanded out with 400 today and then two of them done with 800. Enough arm therapy for today. Will do the other two tomorrow to 800, then maybe all in 1000. Then maybe 2000 before clear coat of tarnish preventer.

BTW.. these are flashless photos, just the shop lights reflecting off of them...  

[Dino]

    

[birdsandbees]

George came home from a week of sledding and used a nice quiet, dust free, employee free shop on a Sunday to work his magic on my final 2 coats of clear. Just wish he'd learn how to take pictures...  

Painting the bottom of the car tomorrow or Tuesday after they get the upper all taped off.

[Lennard]

WOW!! I bet you'll need to wear shades to look at your car in the sun.

[hemi-hampton]

Nice Blue, Looks Good.   LEON.