About 7+ hours in the garage today. Let me just say new Brake lines are a PITA to install. Got the short RF Bent up and installed. The union/ brake switch fought me all of the way. Will only do fronts now. Rear
main line will wait until all comes apart for paint. Will need to modify rear pipes for new backing plates anyway so will wait on those. Fingers feel major bruised after dealing with trying to get threads started on the brake switch cleaned out and then lines threaded into place. Used the old line as a template but that got me only so far. Final fit and mounting were a bend in place to get it to clear RF Shock. Let my fingers heal overnight and then back at the front suspension and LF Brake line tomorrow. RF Suspension is now hung and bolted down, springs installed, need to grease up new wheel bearings, install caliper and brake line and reinstall steering rack I removed for access to Brake Lines. Pleased with progress. RF axle took an extra shim under the trunnion for a total of 3, LF only 2. RF when trunnion nut was torqued down did not want to move. Now both axles swivel freely for nice light steering feel. Pirated one off of the old axle. Never throw anything away.
Feel pretty good but tired. 27-28 degrees in the garage and snowing outside, ski bibs, long johns, sweat pants, 2 sweat shirts, and a cap kept me toasty warm all day. I needed to loose the jacket as I was getting too warm. 60 Degrees in Dayton tomorrow. Will be much nicer to work on Bugsy tomorrow.
New gas tank got a bung/drain installed by the radiator shop. $37 well spent. That will go in over the next few weeks as I deal with the rear end rebuild. I will be driving by the end of April.
Anyone planning on rebuilding a BE or a Mk 2Sprite/Mark 1 Midget and need a Drum Brake front end. The Kingpins and Wishbones on Bugsy IV are in really good shape and could be of use for someone who is starting a rebuild very inexpensively. Absolutely no fore/aft movement. there are bolt in place replacements. No front end to tear apart. Also 7/8 Master was new along with new Wheel Cylinders and Shoes. Same for the Rear wheel cylinders and shoes. New Brakes all around were installed when I got Bugsy. All of the parts and pieces are there. I added fluid for the first time in September, system again had never seen fluid until then. I drove Bugsy 7-8 times on sorting out trips around the neighborhood and he went back up on jack stands in late October. All you need to rebuilt Front Suspension and virtually new brakes all around is available for a very good price. And I mean a very good price. Talk to me and let's make a deal.
New Front Disks and 3/4" Master and later brakes are going on for now with Rear Disc coming later.