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

[birdsandbees]

Better safe than sorry, does anyone think that if I drop the rear end and springs onto a tranny lift or similar that the rear weight loss would jeopardize the "teeter totter"? Don't want it nose diving off the lift !  

For step 4 or 5 later, I already tried my K frame bolts and they'll all turn out easy (at least with my 3/4" ratchet). Pretty amazing after 36 years, I changed it out in '79 to fix my father's earlier damage to the passenger side lower control arm.

[green69rt]

sit the car almost on the floor, back out the bolts for the rear springs, and let the car set almost on the floor as you drop the rear end. That way if anything gets out of balance the car will just settle on the front tires.

[birdsandbees]

Thanks, kind of what I figured I should do, but my back works so much better standing upright. L4/5 are f'd and my back locks staying bent over. I'll drop the drive shaft, shocks out, brake line, make sure the 4 x 2 front spring mount nuts will all come off, get them loose and then lower it down to pull out. Makes sense and then just roll the assembly around to the other car bay.

Then I'll drop the exhaust and start getting things ready to drop the engine / trans on the K frame.

[billssuperbird]

 

[birdsandbees]

Guess I'd better get my butt in gear.... shop of my choosing had a year or so wait list I was told, but turns out one of my long time airplane customers is the shop owners sledding partner! He wants the car by the first week of February! 

[birdsandbees]

Moving along. Exhaust is off, fuel tank is out, front bumper removed and I guess I should have hit that shock nut with heat first. Can the stud be replaced or do I need to find a new lower shock mount? 

[tsmithae]

Post up in the parts wanted.  I got mine from another member when the exact same thing happened to me.

[birdsandbees]

I should have grabbed the ones posted yesterday, along with the rear shackle mounts instead of pointing caveman to the advert!!  

[rt green]

you can buy those in the help isle at the parts store.

[birdsandbees]

Really... it looks like a swagged or welded in stud.

[Daytona R/T SE]

 

[JB400]

Maybe you should have soaked everything with penetrant the night before starting disassembly

[BLK 68 R/T]

Try one of these. 

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/replacement-shock-stud-for-rear-shock/products_id/7564

[green69rt]

Try one of these. 

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/replacement-shock-stud-for-rear-shock/products_id/7564

Wow, $25 for one stud!!  I bet someone on here has a spare they'd be willing to sell, just put a note in the parts wanted section.

[birdsandbees]

Maybe you should have soaked everything with penetrant the night before starting disassembly

I did, at least 3 trips around the car in 2 days. My K frame bolts will turn at least!   Bumpers came off no issue, etc. This certainly wasn't the stud that I though would snap so easily. I heated side two's nut first before turning!!  

[JB400]

Glad to hear everything else went smoothly  There's always has to be one stubborn one though.  

[birdsandbees]

Thanks guys for the links and tips.... I have a couple months before I'll get the car back for reassembly and by then I'll get it sorted out.

Fuel line, brake line to rear, emerg brake cables, shocks, drive shaft etc all out of the car ready to drop the rear axle and trans is drained of what looked like fresh 80W90. Torsion bars loosened right off, clutch torque bar removed etc.

Need to pull the radiator, steering column, upper ball joints and torsion bars out and then I can drop the K frame and put her on rollers.

[firefighter3931]

That's a nice looking Bee ! 

Mancini carries the shock stud 

http://www.manciniracing.com/shstnutas.html


Ron

[tan top]

       

[birdsandbees]

Thanks and thanks!

K frame, engine and trans should be on the floor (roller unit) before noon tomorrow, as well as the rear end. Down to the 4 K frame bolts and two pins that I set through the trans bulkhead holes. Then I can make some rollers to bolt to the frame and start stripping out the interior. Already have the grill and headlights out.

[crj1968]

Cool ride !   

[6spd68]

That car looks rather clean as is 

All the best with it 

[birdsandbees]

That's the shame of it all, it looks good in pictures... but the paint adhesion has let go from it's 1989 paint job.  No option but to go to bare metal and back, but if I'm going to do it I'm doing it correctly one last time. My son is going to get a better car than I did from my old man!!  Mission accomplished today, pictures after I eat supper.

[birdsandbees]

Pictures of the roller frame I made from silent beams and a 4' x 2' rolling board. Dropped my K frame complete w/ drive train and suspension out this afternoon, as well as the rear end. Frame is in pretty good condition. Needs a couple spots fixed, main spot being the rear passenger K frame bolt area. Quite possible it was cracked way back when, after my father ditched her in '69 and I put a replacement K frame in her in 79 to put back on the road.

Tomorrow I hope to have a roller frame built and under the car and will pull the front windshield and start stripping the interior out.  

[birdsandbees]