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

[birdsandbees]

Finally got an RMA for those miserable seat belts so I could return and started pulling my engine components off for media blast and repaint. Figured at this point all frost plugs should be replaced, the water pump inspected as well as the timing chain and gear. Would suck to find out after reassembly that the plastic coating on the cam gear was all in the pan.

Interior of the pump impellor, housing and all the water jackets is amazingly clear, considering it's all been together since '78/79 after a rebuild in that era. Back when I stored the car in '82, after getting married, I had added about 1/8th of a quart of oil to the radiator fluid. Not sure that was the ticket, but the block passages are incredible clean.

Timing chain, can someone tell me the normal deflection. With a straight edge across the chain and it pushed back I get 9/32nds of deflection at the mid point. Time to replace or is it fine??  

[b5blue]

  Looks really nice but I would not trust old nylon or rubber seal on the pump just due to ageing. Again your making remarkable progress! 

[birdsandbees]

Pump seal spring isn't even rusty and spins as smooth as can be. Water pumps an easy thing down the line if need be, but considering I had it running before pull down I think it's fine. It's the timing chain I'm worried about..

[igozumn]

Awesome thread and great progress!  I'd throw a double roller in there and be done with it. 

[b5blue]

Pump seal spring isn't even rusty and spins as smooth as can be. Water pumps an easy thing down the line if need be, but considering I had it running before pull down I think it's fine. It's the timing chain I'm worried about..

I agree, while my car sat for about 5-6 years I've had it "in service" the rest of 20 years for the most part. Early on I was accused of doing "10 year fixes" to every problem that involved more time and money. I knew I was buying mechanical service time, the car had to earn it's keep or I'd be forced to sell it. Your cars are at a level I can't even dream of (My 70 Charger's body is kind of a hot mess but it runs good.  ) so just considering how beautifully done it will be soon I cringe at any engine/transmission repair later!   

[birdsandbees]

Awesome thread and great progress!  I'd throw a double roller in there and be done with it. 

Thanks! Cloyes or Edelbrock?.. I can get either easily. Even though the slack is apparently normal, I figure it's time for the old "silent chain" OEM to go.... before the plastic teeth let go.

[Dino]

My old chain had more slack than that and the new chain is way tighter. But I guess it'll develop slack once it has been running for a while.

Whatever you do, don't rely on the marks on the timing gears and degree that cam!   

[birdsandbees]

Yah.. but you were on drugs at the time!! 

Hopefully I can lock things down so nothing moves.. but probably won't get that lucky! 

[Dino]

Well..yeah...but it wasn't my fault!   

It'll be hard to have it not move at all, not to say you can't make a mark somewhere but I'd still degree it!

I take it you're leaving the engine pretty much alone then?

[birdsandbees]

No reason to pull it down, runs smooth, no smoke or knocks and all exhaust ports are nice and dry. Guess I should have done a compression test before pulling the starter and bell housing, but I could do that by spinning with an impact gun on the harmonic bolt I guess.

[igozumn]

Thanks! Cloyes or Edelbrock?.. I can get either easily.

I'm sure either would be fine.  I have a Comp Cams in mine.

[birdsandbees]

Thanks, I ordered the Cloyes double roller last night so it has the weekend to travel. Want to get the covers back on and a new oil pan, so we can hopefully blast, epoxy prime and paint the engine next weekend.

[firefighter3931]

Good call on the new timing set ! 

If that has the stock cam I'd be inclined to degree it in @108-109 to help with torque and throttle response. 


Ron

[birdsandbees]

Thanks Ron, pretty sure it was just a stock cam on rebuild in '79. My cam is a single bolt cam gear.

[Dino]

Man I wish I could paint my engine but it's too damn cold!

[birdsandbees]

I was going to do it myself, but the resto shop owner convinced me to bring it over on a Saturday and we'll blast, epoxy prime and he has about 1/2 a gallon of some $$$$ helicopter paint already mixed the correct orange (or close enough). Stuff takes 14 hours to dry. Says it's my Birthday present... that I'm sure will fit in on my bill somewhere later.. 

[Dino]

Well that's cool! Especially if it doesn't show up on the bill!

Helicopter paint huh? How many HP does that add?   

[birdsandbees]

He does a lot of Ferrari and Lambo restorations, where customers have to have their car and 'copter paint match. The thankful side is that Aviation paint is still not legislated to water base thanks to these guys with $$$$$'s keeping it available. My car even got ZINC epoxy primed...    As I build aircraft I can still get zinc epoxy chromate as well, but it's getting damn hard to obtain.

[CDN72SE]

Found you, will be following along. Beautiful Bird you have there as well. 

[birdsandbees]

It's an '88 or so repaint as well (I bought the car Fall '89).... and while it could probably use a full restoration, it ain't gonna happen on my dime. Supposed to be an EW1 Alpine White car. I'd sell it and buy someone else's hard work for 10 cents on the dollar first!    That said, I do have about 3 grand worth of "trinkets" that I bought over the winter for it, to clean it up back to somewhat presentable. Bought a formed hood pad, new steering wheel, NOS tail light lenses & front signal lenses. Battery tray, proper battery cables, nose jack and a bunch of little things that add up quickly. Doesn't take long to spend money these days as I'm certainly finding out with the 'Bee.

Time to shine up the wife's '64 Vette and get it sold so I can pay for all of this!!  

[birdsandbees]

My rear frame rails finally showed up from California today and I ran them right over to the resto shop just in time. Drew's been busy!

Front passenger rail, both inners, upper windshield cowling, main floor, passenger inner sill and cutting out the rear wheel wells and floor as I arrived. Our over axle pan is still undelivered, but it's supposed to ship out of AMD tomorrow and our missing passenger outer sill is to be delivered tomorrow.

[birdsandbees]

 

[birdsandbees]

Got some decals in the mail today from the great folks at PCG !!  David even threw in the safety standards decal for the drivers door frame, that goes above the dome light switch and the correct part # air cleaner sticker for my Ramcharger hood, realizing that was all to complete my car and I hadn't ordered them.

Great folks to deal with. Now all I need is a painted car....... 

[CDN72SE]

Now your rockin, puts my minimal metal work to shame, lol.

Did you consider Pheonix Graphix at all? Just curious.

[birdsandbees]

Both PCG and Phenoix get good reviews here. Not sure what the real reason, but I guess PCG's site seemed easier to click, add to cart and buy. (and the stripe was 10 bucks cheaper.. that'll buy me a Ramcharger hood decal! LOL) Looking at Phenoix's site just now, realized they have a complete "technical" decal kit that is supposed to have everything but I think I have most of it covered already anyhow.