Richmond VA 1960 Bugeye Bringing Miss Eva back to life.

[hcallaway]

Windshield Installation

To pull the Windshield to Body Gasket out you don't have to use a rope.
Lay a towel or blanket and pull it forward and it will pull the gasket lip forward and into position.
This was a Moss gasket and it fit as it should.

Another first for Miss Eva. Starting to look like a car even to my friends who don't have a clue.

I had one of the front windshield screws that had lost the hidden welded nut. I had to get this started with a screw
on the pillar and then attach the windshield with the other post mounted in position for a complete assembly.

 

[SD Bugeye]

Ok
I have mine rolled back - under
I believe that is the way it’s intended to be
i could be wrong but with it rolled under there a bit of a fire wall a pillar?
exposed between the wiper escushions and the window frame gasket.

 

[SD Bugeye]

View attachment 54056

 

[hcallaway]

Ok
I have mine rolled back - under
I believe that is the way it’s intended to be
i could be wrong but with it rolled under there a bit of a fire wall a pillar?
exposed between the wiper escushions and the window frame gasket.

This is an example from Bugeye Guy.
He is usually spot on.

 

[SD Bugeye]

View attachment 54057Here is mine

 

[gfholl]

Half way thru this Bugeyeguy video he talks about rolling it under being correct. Make sense to me to do it this way, some day I will correct mine.
hope this link works

https://youtu.be/Py08j90QGLM

Gary

 

[gfholl]

PS I was reluctant to say anything at all negative because all your works looks so high quality! Cant wait to see your finished Bugeye.
Gary

 

[hcallaway]

PS I was reluctant to say anything at all negative because all your works looks so high quality! Cant wait to see your finished Bugeye.
Gary

I was going off all the pictures I have seen. I will have to check out the next Bugeye I see in person. I really have not ever seen where you roll it back.

 

[hcallaway]

Half way thru this Bugeyeguy video he talks about rolling it under being correct. Make sense to me to do it this way, some day I will correct mine.
hope this link works

https://youtu.be/Py08j90QGLM

Gary

I watched the video and see it now. Too funny as part of his reasoning is his windshield wipers create a gap. You can see I have eliminated them so a gap is not going to be an issue. I have a pretty tight fit and plan on rolling it into the sun if the rain stays away to let the rubber relax.

 

[hcallaway]

Separated the Steering Wheel from the Shaft. I went from a hub puller to a cutting wheel. It was the best and only option for me.

 

[hcallaway]

Bugeye Steering Shaft

The Steering Column Bracket

Column and shaft.

Outside Column has 2 cloth bushings. I was missing one of them.

 

[hcallaway]

Dash is going in with Steering Shaft

It will all have to come back out at least one more time. I needed to see how the dash fit after I had welded it.

 

[hcallaway]

Modified 1275 Pedal Box

Cleaned and Painted. Starting reassembly.

 

[hcallaway]

Cut out for late model brake clutch pedals and hydraulics.

What will now be open and not covered by the assembly.

Simple Cover Transition Panel.

Finished Product

 

[hcallaway]

Parking Emergency Brake System Complete

All I need to do now is a final adjustment after the hydraulics are finished.
Final product first. (Thanks to some old posts and several new replies it was put back together.)

I put late model rear drums on the rear of the early Bugeye Axle.
It does create a problem with the rods as they may need to be lengthened.
On my car only the long rod needed expanding.
I don't have a good tap and die set, so I decided to buy several 1/4 steel sleeves so I could cut splice and weld to extend the rod to match the length and angle. I also was able to match the angle of the brake actuator which will be different than an early BE.

Now I need to grind down the welds and paint it black.

 

[hcallaway]

Inside the tunnel shot with the back of the Emergency Parking Brake

I don't see many good shots of the inside of the tunnel. New cable and clevis pin.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

I used later brake rods on Bugsy IV. No muss no fuss, they bolt up with no issues.

 

[hcallaway]

Steering Nut Issues

After removing the old steering wheel from the shaft by the use of a cutting wheel. I realized that in my earlier attempts using a steering wheel puller and at least one try with a hammer I had deformed the head of the shaft. This also distorted the first few threads. Rut loaned me several taps and dies. I could never determine the ones to use and I did not really have the proper tools to hold the loaned Taps and Dies.

My other options.
Locate a more competent mechanic. (short supply and busy - friends)
Machine Shop
A Clean up the threads.
B Cut off the old threads and re-thread to a smaller nut.
Locate another shaft or as I always do when I am in a bind call my Brother in Law.
Jerry (Mr Ice in Chicago or as his job description for at least 30 some years, Head Fabricator Newman/Haas Indy and Champ Cars.)
He suggested not to get too wrapped up and make it more complicated than it what it was.
Take a file cut at a 45 1-3 Threads and then the nut should be able to rethread itself.
As Johnny Carson would say: You are correct sir!!!

Worked well and another stellar suggestion.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

Nice fix. It’s also nice to see I’m not the only person working on their Bugeye today.

 

[hcallaway]

Miss Eva rode (maybe rolled) today on all four wheels for the first time in 30 plus years. I installed 2.5 degree aluminum shims that I bought from a 4WD shop for less than $20.
I cut them down to fit the less than 2 5/8" width leafs.

They took the body down to 9" at my reference point. Dropped it a little more than an inch.

It certainly sits better than before and I am much happier with the rear stance.