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

[birdsandbees]

Bearings and retainers off both axles today and all cleaned up.

Slugged away on the left collar yesterday with a chisel until it opened up enough following the service manual and then cut the bearing open.. pulled the rollers out and then tried to press the bearing collar off. Couldn't find an adjustable pressing collar anywhere in town and after the edge cracked off I gave up and went to the Resto shop.

Today I did the right axle... took 4 minutes.. drill two holes.. one hit on each with chisel and collar off. Found bearing lightly loose and moved just enough that I could get 3/16 plates behind the entire bearing to press off easy.

With the left bearing I put a protective sleeve over the axle shaft and a plate clamped to retainer and cut it about 60% thru with a cut wheel.. then gave it two wacks with a chisel and it split and fell off.

..and if you ever wonder how to get an axle in the cabinet to blast it.. here's a hint..

Pumpkin installed ready for axle installation and I will put new seals in the retainers and press the new bearings and collars on tomorrow to do so.

[birdsandbees]

 

[Dino]

You're making my car look bad...   

[crj1968]

Looks great- !    

[tan top]

 nice work ! looking good 

[birdsandbees]

THANKS Guys!!! 

Sorry Dirk... 

[crj1968]

You're making my car look bad...   

That's how I feel about all the cars on here....oh well.   

[Dino]

You're making my car look bad...   

That's how I feel about all the cars on here....oh well.   

Nah, our cars our pretty much complete, running, and in good condition for their age. Plenty people here have cars that resembles debris.   

[alfaitalia]

......oh...you've seen mine then...lol!

[birdsandbees]

This mornings work. Retainers degreased, Evaporusted, new seals put in, bearings packed and both assemblies pressed into place. 5 tons to move them and set with 10.

Axles in, retainers torqued. Adjuster tighted right up to set bearings and then loosened and tightened (and axles smacked with a 5 lb .. with wood between hammer and axle) until I got a consistant .012 of end play (spec is .008 - .018).

Don't forget your lock pawl. Something my car hasn't had on it apparently since 1978 at least and I had to buy one. Amazed that it never loosened off over time.

Wheel cylinders and brake lines up next.

[birdsandbees]

Hoping the detail I'm going into helps some other "builders" get their project moved along in the future.

[birdsandbees]

Rear brake cylinders and stainless lines (from Right Stuff) installed this afternoon. They are done and my arm is done.. but the rear end assembly is ready to install to the car body when I get it back in the next week to 10 days. 

Gasket I made previously for the wheel cylinder.

Rag in place in case the cheap Dot 3 or 4 comes out and removes my paint (I'll be going Dot 5 Synthetic).

Vent stud is RPM'd and the Brass Y is clear coated in the same tarnish preventer I put on the steering box.

[alfaitalia]

Don't forget that using DOT 5 in a DOT 3 or DOT 4 system without proper flushing and removal of all traces of the old fluid will cause damage to the seals and cause brake failure.  DOT 5 brake fluid absorbs a small amount of air requiring a lot more care and effort care when bleeding the system of air. Also anyone reading this and considering putting it in a modern car...DONT....it's not compatible with abs systems. I'm sure birdsandbees knows all this...but some readers might not. Carry on!

[birdsandbees]

Yah.. well there's no ABS on my car!  .. and I already paid 80 bucks for enough to hopefully fill my system.

Funny that it's the only fluid, that the resto shop doing my body, puts into every vehicle they do without issue so they don't have to worry about paint loss from leaks or spills. Dodges, GM's, Ferraris, Lambos.. many have ABS.

Thanks for the warning Alf...

[birdsandbees]

Not much accomplished today after 4 hours of plowing a foot of soaking wet snow on unfrozen ground, but I did get my starter bolted in place and new + / - cables installed.

I show two pictures of the starter... just for those guys that like to pick on cars and colours that are "wrong" based on a photo on the internet. First shot is no flash.. second shot is double "red eye" flash. Neither show the actual colour of my engine.

Negative cable installed under the throttle return spring bracket. Both the bracket and intake cleaned of paint, coated with dielectric grease and all bolted together. Starter / + cable installed to starter solenoid.

[birdsandbees]

 

Just woke up and realized that this starter harness I bought for ridiculous money ($140) from Brewers isn't actually correct. It has a black solenoid wire vs the correct brown colour. That said, their cable has the best battery terminal end I've seen to date. I have a reproduction cable set for my 'Bird that has correct brown wire, but an undersize red + cable and a cheap swagged deformed battery terminal end.

Too bad the two companies couldn't combine and get it RIGHT!   

[birdsandbees]

Well now they went and done it... they scratched up all my clear coat...  

Almost everything has been interfaced as of noon... a bit of the body and the hood scoops to do, but then she's ready to clean up and hit with 2 more clear coats, then tape off the car and paint the bottom.

[cdr]

I REALLY like this car !!!!!    , in the late 70's I had a white 69 Bee, they are one of my favorites .

[Dino]

You think that black trigger wire insulation may turn brown if you rub it with bleach?   
Worked on my wife's dress pants. Oops.   

[birdsandbees]

LOL.. Thought about vinyl and fabric paint, not bleach! 

[Dino]

Hey what do you have to lose by trying?   

[birdsandbees]

Will grab my old harness and go colour matching..

..and Thanks CDR ! Maybe Luke has your old car ...   

I know this is a Charger site, but having the Bird and the Bee I figure I can sneak the resto of the 'Bee in here without having to put up with multiple forums. A GREAT bunch of guys seem to hang out here...

[crj1968]

Looking really good- I'm digging the Direct Connection valve covers ! 

[cdr]

Will grab my old harness and go colour matching..

..and Thanks CDR ! Maybe Luke has your old car ...   

I know this is a Charger site, but having the Bird and the Bee I figure I can sneak the resto of the 'Bee in here without having to put up with multiple forums. A GREAT bunch of guys seem to hang out here...

No its not my old one, he would not sell it to me   

[lukedukem]

Will grab my old harness and go colour matching..

..and Thanks CDR ! Maybe Luke has your old car ...  

I know this is a Charger site, but having the Bird and the Bee I figure I can sneak the resto of the 'Bee in here without having to put up with multiple forums. A GREAT bunch of guys seem to hang out here...

No its not my old one, he would not sell it to me  

I have to agree, this site, it's great. I too will hopefully have a build thread for mine. Or Charlie's. 

Luke