MOPAR JOHNS EK2 SUPERBIRD RESTORATION!!

[62 Max]

Thanks guys!
62 Max,
Where are you located?

South central PA.

[Mopar John]

Thanks guys!
62 Max,
Where are you located?

South central PA.

So half way will be around Cleveland, Ohio I think?
MJ

[Mopar John]

                                                    SUPERBIRD 440 SIX BARREL FUEL LINE/VACUUM LINE "S" CLIP REVISITED!
If you go back to reply #863 on January 25th 2017 I started a discussion about my missing fuel line/vacuum line "S" clip.
Fast forward to last week and I was digging through parts for my 1970 GTX and I found a zip lock bag with my original
Superbird fuel lines inside.
The neat part is that the original "S" clip was still on the fuel lines!
My first picture shows my original fuel lines that I found.
A lot of neat screw clamps and rubber hose!
My second picture is how the Superbird looked with the "S" clip I installed.
The third picture shows the the original and installed "S" clips side by side.
They look the same to me so we settled on the right clip which was the transmission cooling line clip.
The last picture is of an item that Davtona was asking about.
The original fuel line fittings have a "W" surrounded by an octagon.
I believe this to be supplied by a company called weatherhead?
So I will have to clean them up and swap them out when I get a chance!
I'm sure glad I found those parts!
MJ

[Mopar John]

John,
When you are all finished,I'll meet you half way and we can have pair to compare and a few beers !   

The get together with Bill Overcash known here as 62 Max is not going to happen.
I got word yesterday and it is now posted on this site that he passed away Sunday.
Bill was an active member of our hobby and helped many of us out!
RIP 62 MAX
MJ

[birdsandbees]

Thanks for letting us know and tying the two names together John. I heard the name yesterday, but didn't tie it to anyone here. RIP Bill 

[Mopar John]

                                                               SUPERBIRD HEADLIGHT BULB BUCKETS
   Some of you may have read my reply about headlight bulb buckets over on my Daytona post.
I recently found out that there were numbers stamped into the headlight bulb buckets.
So I also went out and removed the retainer rings and checked out the ones on the Superbird.
These are different than the ones I found on the Daytona!
My first picture shows the left high beam bucket "HI-5 LT".
My second picture shows the left low beam bucket "HI-LO 5 LT".
My third picture shows the right high beam bucket "HI-5 RT".
My last picture shows the right low beam bucket "HI-LO 5 RT".
Just sharing another detail for those trying to include them on their Superbirds!
MJ

[odcics2]

FYI- Weatherhead brass fittings were bought out by Eaton in 2002.

Here's a pic of an original #88 rear axle cooler90 degree fitting and a later "NOS" fitting.
Note the logos are spaced apart on the vintage one.  

The logos are close together on the later nos piece and stamped in a different area of the fitting.

Good way to know if you have original parts or ones produced later.

What does a current 6 pack fuel fitting look like??  

Lastly, thinking the rad drain petcock was also a Weatherhead part...

[Mopar John]

                                     I AM STILL FINDING PARTS!
When I have time I check out the ads for correct original and NOS parts.
Back on page 30 of this post I discussed the headlights.
I had just found out that the correct headlights for a Superbird were Westinghouse and not GE.
Because I didn't have much time I settled on a pair of NOS Westinghouse high beams dated 5-9.
So recently I was able to buy a matched pair of NOS Westinghouse high beam headlights dated 10-9.
This is a lot better for a car made in late Novemeber 11-9!
I have attached a few pictures of the NOS headlights!
MJ

[Mopar John]

The Westinghouse headlights that I removed have 5-9 dates.
They will be put aside for the 1970 GTX that was built during Aug 1969 8-9.
MJ

[Aero426]

Thanks, I did not know those were dated.

[Mopar John]

  I should also inform that our era ( late 60's ) were the "SAFE T BEAM" type headlights.
The newer ones are called "SUPER BEAM" and have DOT stamped in ink between the month and year on the date code.
Some of these look correct with the wide flutes in the glass but not right as far as date codes go.
MJ

[odcics2]

Can you post pics of the lenses?

[Mopar John]

                                                ORIGINAL SUPERBIRD TRIM RINGS!
Well it's been a while since I posted about Superbird details but I have been working on some items!
Today I'm going to share some information on "ORIGINAL" Superbird 15 X 7 Rally wheel trim rings.
Back around 1980 when I did some restoration work on the Superbird myself,
I went into my local Chrysler - Plymouth dealer and ordered a new set of trim rings and center caps.
They came in and I eventually installed them on the Superbird.
The centers looked REAL GOOD but the trim rings seemed just a bit different?
By then I had converted the spare to a 5th Rally wheel complete with a 5th original trim ring.
I had set those aside with other original parts that came off the car.
Years ago I had heard about a guy out west that restored trim rings.
Finally about 2 years ago I sent my 5 original trim rings in with high hopes!
It didn't take long and my dreams were dashed!
The guy restoring the trim rings tells me that 2 of them will turn out real nice and it will go
down hill from there due to "CURB RASH"!
So it took a while due to the pandemic and I finally got my first 5 back.
I now hate curb rash! Like he said only 2 were nice enough for todays standards.
I began buying nicer and nicer cores paying higher and higher prices.
So I am happy to report after buying a total of 5 more or 10 total
I now have a very nice set of ORIGINAL 15 X 7 X 3" trim rings!
In my first picture I show a close up of an original "MADE IN USA" label.
These were found on the original trim rings and also had the part number on them.
In my second picture I show where the top of the trim ring measures in right at 3" tall.
Many owners have gotten ripped off buying the later 15 X 6 1/2 X 2 3/4" trim rings!
My third picture shows my set of 4 restored trim rings.
The last picture shows a close up of one of the restored trim rings!
MJ

[birdsandbees]

Now you're scared to hit them with a rubber hammer ! 

[Aero426]

Now you're scared to hit them with a rubber hammer ! 

No kidding! 

Is there any rhyme or reason for brushed versus polished rings?    Most Birds I have seen over the years are brushed.   

[birdsandbees]

Mine are brushed... thanks for stating that Doug as I was getting a tad nervous..   

[odcics2]

70 is polished, 71-3 is brushed.

Nice thing is that brushed ones can be fully polished by an expert
to be correct for a 1970 car. 👍

[Wingnut426]

70 is polished, 71-3 is brushed.

Sorry, but you are wrong. Early Superbirds got polished, later cars got brushed. I checked several broadcast sheets, some show 3461043 and some show 3461222 for the rings. Galens breakdown of Superbirds shows early and late. WINGNUT

[odcics2]

Lots of different info out there on these 15" rings.  

Spot checking different sites also shows the theory of 15" rallye wheel vs 15" steel wheel being polished or brushed!

In 2005 Galen changed his mind on the rings, according to some info on the e body site.

MoParts says 70 polished, 71-3 brushed.  A guy that worked at a plant stated he'd put on whatever they had next to the line.

(Didn't the rings come in the trunk?? Dealer would put them on?)

Additionally, I found out that Chrysler substituted different finishes in NOS sealed wrappers and boxes in the 70s, leading to more confusion.
Both part numbers could have been brushed, or fully polished. 


I guess original bird owners would know for sure what they got on the car when new.  Or at least what the dealer put on the car...

LOL, I'm glad my car never had any trim rings on it!  

[69 500]

 T/A 's also had brushed trim rings while AAR's had polished

[Mopar John]

I think if you own a Superbird and have the original broadcast sheet
it would show what you should have on your car.
I believe it's possible to have either one polished or brushed.
But I do think the 1970 model year started with only polished being available.
So it would be great to find out when the brushed rings were introduced?
To add to the confusion I feel that poorly maintained polished trim rings
might look brushed after a while!
Thanks for all the comments!
MJ

[DAY CLONA]

T/A 's also had brushed trim rings while AAR's had polished

Even that varies.....

[birdsandbees]

To add to the confusion I feel that poorly maintained polished trim rings
might look brushed after a while!

YEP, I had to go look at mine John and I believe that IS the case with mine. My Broadcast sheet has "43" for the wheel covers (Trim Rings)

[Mopar John]

To add to the confusion I feel that poorly maintained polished trim rings
might look brushed after a while!

YEP, I had to go look at mine John and I believe that IS the case with mine. My Broadcast sheet has "43" for the wheel covers (Trim Rings)

Wayne,
In addition to the broadcast sheet is the label on the trim ring itself.
So if you have the original trim rings on your Superbird you can check the labels.
If the part numbers are still legible you will be able to tell if the ring was born polished or brushed?
MJ

[Mopar John]

                                                     SUPERBIRD METERING VALVE SHIELD
I know we have discussed this part on this forum in the past but I couldn't find it.
Any way our Superbird has an original metering valve shield in place but not in the best of shape.
I came close to buying an NOS one on EBAY a few years ago but it was with an NOS metering valve.
The seller would not split the shield from the valve and the valve had a bunch of white rust on it.
So I passed on it and kept looking.
Fast forward a couple of years and I was buying some parts from a guy.
His e-mail address was similar to the EBAY sellers name that had the NOS metering valve and shield?
So one day I asked him about those parts and he told me that he sold the metering valve
but still had the NOS shield.
So we worked out a deal and I bought it!
I have attached some pictures of the shield and the last one shows it installed on the Superbird!
Another item checked off the list!
MJ