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I Scored !!!- Introducing Bugsy IV

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Congrats Jim!
Hardtop and solid car, you will be ahead. I noticed the tube shock conversion in the rear. What is up front? You may wish to go back to the Armstrongs' again which means getting a rebuilt set from PeterC. I have got a Downton intake manifold that I got from Bill, that will not work with my Speedwell bonnet. You can have it for the price of shipping. I needs a weld but is worth $$$ in the UK.
Paul
 
I don't know what is up front yet. Don't even know if it has a grille. And have never seen under the bonnet. All I know is it is a much sooner to be driving BE. 948 and rib case and new clutch will go with Bugsy II. Ideally running when pulled from Bugsy IV. Have to get it home next weekend to see what exactly I have. Tube shocks must go back to Armstrongs and yes they will be from Peter C. I already know how good they are when he's rebuilt them when I replaced the set on Bugsy I my '68. Bugsy II is a great project but I want to be driving sooner. All of the goodies I bought for Bugsy II, Will be going into the new car. 1275 with a five speed, front discs, red interior kit and carpet kit, panel kit. Not familiar with a Downton manifold. I'll look it up and let you know. Thanks.
 
No I already have one of those on a rotisserie right now. I've done the hard part getting it apart. Anyone looking for a BE project talk to me. All the sheet metal is bought and is ready to be attached, the floor pan is out, this project is ready for the reassembly step to begin. I only have a 1 car garage and need to have this project move to a new owner.
 
Three more days and I get to do a 3 1/2 hour drive to Cleveland to pick up Bugsy IV. Leaving at 7:45 am, my friend Tim Bossee, another BE owner will be helping me bring Bugsy IV home. Learning more details that support the story that this BE was purchased new in 1960 as a gift for original owner's wife, she passed away a few years later and car title was transferred to him in 1965. Incredible obtained from the 90 y.o. Original purchaser and CA Pink Slip shows a 1965 titled date.i know this is going to be an incredible find and I'm lucky to obtain him.

Yes I paid more than I wanted to spend, what project car doesn't cost more than you would ever reveal to your "better half" but as others have told me we're not getting any younger. I'm told the engine turns over freely. Car has a rib case mated to the original 948 and a spare I'll guess smooth case that may be the original tranny that must have had some issues. A new clutch was installed and car is supposed to come with spare hydraulic parts and pieces. A fair number of new bits were purchased from MOSS, lamps and lenses, etc. New windshield is included, not sure it is in frame or not. Car did take a shot in RR Corner and exterior is supposed to have been well finished. The damage underneath I am told by gas tank can be pulled out and straightened. I'll need a plan to resolve once I get Bugsy IV home.

There is a hardtop that comes with car and 2 sets of side curtains including an early '58 style set. Will need plastic replaced on both and I already have a pretty good set of side curtains that were a gift in the past. Interior and all buttons, knobs, etc are all there. Again this is a 56 y.o. Original owner car I am acquiring, it is an incredible find. Maybe I need to start calling this car a unicorn.

Plan willq be to follow Awakening a Sleeping Spridget Protocol and see if I can have Bugsy IV roadworthy for British Car Day Show in Dayton on August 6th.I'd like to get the car driving under his own power and stopping. Work through all of the mechanical and electrical gremlins and be able to drive this year. Before I pull apart and paint. .

MY garage space is limited to a single car garage currently occupied by Bugsy II sitting on a rotisserie. Rotisserie has wheels and can roll Bugsy II outside and cover with tarp. I am going to be listing Bugsy II for sale. So if anyone wants to continue the work I've already started on Bugsy II and acquire what will be another great BE when he is done please pingme. I realize I was 10 years old when this car was purchased new. I want to be out driving this incredible find. I don't have room or time to restore two BE's and Bugsy II needs to go. I have everything in the way of sheet metal already purchased. Probably 60-80 hours of effort would be needed to complete bulkhead patch and weld of floor pan. And then the car would be ready for sanding, priming, painting to start. Ping me if you know of anyone who might be interested in a BE project.

excited about Saturday. Pics to follow soon.
 
Jim, you really need to update your signature line. Be sure to include Bugsy V ????
;)
 
You mean like this !

Update Pics of Bugsy IV will follow.

Anyone need a Bugeye Project. Bugsy II is now available for sale. Ping me if interested.
 
Hmm changes did not take. Back to editing
 
One more time.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
You mean like this !

Update Pics of Bugsy IV will follow.

Anyone need a Bugeye Project. Bugsy II is now available for sale. Ping me if interested.
Click to expand...

I've got room to start another one now. I wonder what it would take to get it to Washington state from Ohio.
 
I might have someone interested who is in Cleveland. In fact he knows and looked at this car. Says it was too nice to cut up to drop a Miata Drivetrain into, That's encouraging.
 
View attachment 43536 IMG_2738.jpgIMG_2740.jpgIMG_2741.jpg
 
Bugsy IV – What I know 6 25 16
1. A ½ Ton Crew Cab Chevy truck towing a 25’ Trailer consumed 55 gallons of fuel today during a 450 Mile Road Trip to Cleveland and Back, Thanks Tim Bossee for the loan of the truck and the trailer and for Driving.
2. Bugsy II is as advertised a Rust Free BE a true Unicorn
3. Someone started a restoration on this car. Dash has been out, all of the wiring is not connected behind the dash and lots under the hood. This is going to take a while to resolve. Wiring is cracked and fabric
harness is very faded, I think this will need a full replacement. It will take as long to figure out the existing harness as to go all new.
4. Engine is supposedly “rebuilt” well as least it has a new coat of grey paint on it No clue why grey why not Green. Need to look at Horler. There is oil in the engine but dirty and dark.
5. Dash need all new gauge knobs and recovered in Red Vinyl. Unknown what the real mileage in on this car. Speedo shows 62k.
6. Engine Combo Gauge was cut at Temp Sensor Bulb, that will need replacement
7. Oil Pressure side may be ok, Unknown yet.
8. Mechanical Fuel Pump Blocked off and some weird Electric Fuel Pump is at front of Engine. That will need to go to RR Panels Mount
9. Generator and Tach Drive is there.
10. Lot’s of work will be needed under hood worting out wiring
11. E-Brank Handle trashed I have a good spare. DO not believe E-Brake Cable was connected.
12. Supposed to be a Rib Case with a new Clutch Installed
13. I now own 3 Downflow radiators, Unknown if any are good. Will need to pressure Test, Plan is to add Electric 10” fan as a pusher
14. Master Cylinder is supposed to be new, same for Brake Master, no fluid in either one. Not sure why.
15. Will need to examine Brake lines in detail. I have a kit of lines but if I can avoid replacing = time vs. safety
16. Wheels are interesting. Stock BE Rims have been widened to accommodate a 175 x 70 tire. Deep Dish look really trick. Someone may be interested in these.
17. BMC Factory Radio Installed. Told these are valuable, Wil not be using, May need to get a new uncut dash from AH Spares. Lots of extra holes cut included a an extra switch and Map Reading Lamp
18. Bonnet very straight and so is boot. Seams incredibly good. No cracking really nice.
19. Sway bar is installed but appears to be unstalled upside down. I have a sway bar to replace.
20. Oh and I forgot to mention the big score , cost me $150. Set of Rear Levers Shocks with Mounting baseplate to replace the Tube shocks. A major score that I could not pass up.
21. I picked up all of the jewelry including new front and rear Turn Lenses, Complete Stop Lamps including gaskets and bulbs, wiper bezels, and new chrome top Clips that go on boot deck. Brand new.
Not cheap he wasn’t giving anything away.
22. Hardtop is in good shape will need seals along with extra wing nut and bolt. A PITAS to store in my 1 car garage. Need to find a place for it. With only a 7’ Ceiling in there suspending above is not an option.
Needs painted inside and out. Going to be Red as contrast to OEW Car.
23. No Top or Tonneau came with car. I have a new Black To[ and Tonneau never installed that will work for now. Eventually Red Tonneau and Red Stayfast Top. Top Bar he had two that I passed on
$150 was too much and the one I have is as good as he was offering.
24. Hole for top mounting screw for rear over rider has been filled in. Not sure why but will need to drill out before painting.
25. Need new boots on steering rack. They will be replaced when I add Disc Brakes and Backing Plates and check out the rest of the Front End. I mentioned the Sway bar being wrong but it may be
period correct for 1960.
26. Discovery is underway, Need to lay out a plan of action
27. The only way this car will get to British Car Days in Dayton on August 6 will be on a trailer and entered in the Diamond in the Rough Category.
28. Tired and time for Bed, Been a Long Day. More Pics when I have better light.
 
2016 06 25 - Engine.jpg2016 06 25 - California Deep Dish BE Rims .jpg2016 06 25 - Swaybar.jpg2016 06 25 - Bugsy at Home.jpg2016 06 25 - Tires we need tires.jpg
 
Sounds like a great day and a great start!
 
Scott, after compiling that list last night and seeing Bugsy II outside in the driveway covered with a tarp I thought WTH have I just done. Needs paint and wiring and all of those parts iVe been accumulating for Bugsy II but this is a BE that has the potential to be as good or better from a starting point as what you built with 60FROG. I hope better just to tease Bill and give him something to aspire to. I was not anticipating total rewiring work to make this one a rolling restoration. But I'm committed. Time to roll out and get started today. Do bills, cut grass, weeding, Bugsy and continue to make the plan on what to tackle first.

Hey what about those wheels, a real So. Cal look.
 
I'd be tempted to patch up the essentials on the existing harness just to get the car running and driving.
 
Trevor a possibility. Just had a few hours to evaluate things. Back to the garage later this PM/
 
Already discovered why the doors don't fit right, on screw in each hinge plate and zero screws from doors to the hinges. Good grief. Time to head to Barney's Hardware. There are some nice flat Allen Head screws available at True Value that are good substitutes until I can order the correct PosiDrive Screws for the Door Hinges.
 
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