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I Scored !!!- Introducing Bugsy IV

Jim, you asked me about the exhaust on my new BE in a PM. I couldn't put a picture in a PM, so here it is.

Looking through notes from the builder and former owner, it is an Abarth exhaust. I don't have more details than that.

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I'd be tempted to patch up the essentials on the existing harness just to get the car running and driving.

I think I'd do the same. Do the minimum you can to get a running, driving car. If you are planning on using the engine and tranny that came with the car, you want to find out if they're in good condition before removing them to paint the car. Replacing a wiring harness really isn't a big deal, but you don't want to put in a new harness in a car that's going to be repainted.
 
Agreed. My neighbor , a mechanic by trade stopped by and asked why isn't it running yet. He agreed. gert it running and see what you've ogt. Going to be a 1275 w a 5 speed but if 948 will run and shift
I can putter around on that and sort the bugs out. Supposed to be new hydraulics but they were never filled and bled so who knows. Discs are going in the car and subassembly is completed already to slap on.
 
Lucky dog!! :congratulatory:

Looks like a great car! If the offset isn't too great on those wheel's, I might be interested.

Kurt
 
I may drive with them a while and then got to VTO's later. Risk Fisk put in the first offer.
 
Corvair wheels were a popular switch for the BE. One upgrade that I never did was to switch the rear brakes over the later style. I check and see if I still have the parts.
Scott in CA
 
Got it all handled but 60FROG may like the change in Pedal Pressure although I never noticed and difference in braking pressure when driving him. I have a set of later backing plates already. Thanks.
 
What a find...needed a good home....it got what it needed. Look forward to following this thread/threads.
:encouragement:
 
Thanks David. Some resto on this BE was started. They unbolted the dash and recovered and of course disconnected all wiring . Now to solve that mystery. But this is a really great BE. Same owner since bought new.i can't count the guy who stored after transport from CA, never titled, and just got it closer so I could acquire it. Bugsy II my Red car has an offer , just need time to get an OH title done and he will be on his way as is to Cleveland. A good change for me.
 
A good change for me.

I hope it works out well for you, and that you have some good driving soon. Keep us updated, it's getting me even more motivated to get back to work on Penny.
 
Bugsy - Day 2
My neighbor who takes care of all the car repairs I don't want to undertake stopped by and loved Bugsy IV and gave me a dash of crap about how come I'm not driving him already. He also said, HTH can you fix anything with all of this crap in your garage. He's right. day 2 was spent purging and cleaning and making room in the garage. I now have room in the garage to take the bonnet off and place against the wall in the back corner and the hardtop is upstairs out in the Florida room.

Day 3 -
took a really close look at the things needed to get the car running. Wiring to be reconnected for the most part is the front harness. It got cut on this side of the bullet connectors. Hmm Bugsy II's front harness may well be coiled up in the back room of the garage. That fixes that problem. Blower motor just needs a new bullet connector solders on and that is fixed. One more black wire up there I need to figure out where that goes to.

Dash is in loosely. Wires hanging down are just lamps for instruments. Not sure exactly is or is not hooked up but it looks like mainly lamps that need plugged into the back of instruments. I removed and refitted the PS door. It was only connected with 1 screw in top and bottom hinge plate and 1 screw from hinge plate to door. I did find rust when Ibremoved the door hinges. OMG? But so little that the hinge adjustment plate floats freely top and bottom. A little treatment when I take the car apart or paint and good to go. door is now adjusted properly, even gaps, and shuts easily. More tweaks needed but at least door won't fall off any more.

made a list of parts to order. ELectrical tune up parts and pieces, I really could use a better dizzy as the vernier adjustment for advance/retard has been removed and it look like black roofing tar blocking up the opening. Yuck.Anyone got a decent dizzy for a good price.

Heater valve, really cool brass piece with a nice big fat knurled knob. Need lubrication. Waiting on Pb blaster to do some work on bolts there so I can take apart and lube.

QUestion, where does the little short hose that runs to bottom of the head and block go on a 948 head. The spot where that hose normally connects to is plugged on the head. Or that's what my fingers are telling me. If not there what do I do to block off that port coming off of the water pump.

radiator need to reinstall and connect top and bottom hoses. need new thermostat and top hose, radiator cap. . Will need new combo gauge. The one on Bugsy IV is trashed, need to see if I can get sensor out of the radiator. Have 2 spares if all else fails.

Oil change and and filter replace. oil looks really dirty. NEed to check tranny oil .bet there isn't any in there. new wires, plugs, cap and rotor, points to be ordered along with new throttle cable to be sourced. throttle cable is bound up or I Need new return springs, choke seems free. , dampers on carbs fall easily good thing. No fluids in car. Gas tank was drained.
Need battery of course. Add fluids., prime the engine, connect everything up positive ground, connect the battery and see what kind of compression I have.

Could the the wheels I have be Corvair wheels.? Did Corvair have wheels with holes in rims like BE's . Need 4 tires big time. see if it starts. NO brake or clutches fluids. Told the brake and clutch master were new. Nee

Need to get up on jack stands, remove the wheels and replace wheel cylinders. Hoses look new. Check and adjust brakes. Emergency brake feels like not connected to anything. Might not be any brake shoes back there.

add lights and and signals and this car could make British Car Days on August 6. Will need to do some thrashing. But potentially doable.��
 
Having that bypass hole in the head plugged is a good thing! [As Martha says]

I think I would tap and plug the water pump as well. Or if you can't get at it a short hose with a plug in it.

I'd use the fuse hooked to the battery to make sure nothing goes up in smoke when you are reconnecting all those wires.

Kurt.
 
Corvair rims with Sprite center sections, Pic from 1974 just before run to Limestone, Maine.
 

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Unknown yet. Does turn over by hand. Got some oil working to lube rings. Need to get a battery and want to have help here fist time I try to turn over to check compression as well as to fire it up. Supposed to be a rebuilt engine all I know is it has new paint on the block. Lots more to check out before I try and pull the starter switch. But in the plan for today will be trying to turn over by hand and using the finger test to feel if there is any compression.
 
Corvair Rims with Sprite Wheel Centers. That's what I have on Bugsy IV. A neat deep dish look with AH Bay Moon Hubcaps. Existing tires only say 175 on them, no Profile Size/ Guessing 175 x 70 x 13. If I can find a 175x60x13 will they work on those rims?
 
Did get engine to turn over via socket on the generator. It would rotate a number of cranks with ratchet and then stop, reversing the direction would provide the same results. Hard stop like I ran into something. I didn't force things, added some oil about a tablespoon in each cylinder and let it sit for a while. Came back an hour later and voila spins freely both directions. Now it's time to find a battery so I can spin this 948 over and see what type of compression I've got. Tried to use the electric impact wrench to spin it over but too much for the belt and it just slipped. I'm sure I was running into some sort of spot on the cylinder wall where there was some rust build iup but now everything seems to have cleaned up.


What type of Battery I seem to recall a Type 24 or Type 51. What do I need here guys. I will be going to - Ground when I add the alternator but right now to fire things up will leave as + Ground.
 
Assuming you are going to use the battery down the road with the 1275 etc. J C Whitney has a Optima Yellow Top Deep Cycle for sale for $260.56 plus 10% 0ff and free shipping right now. The battery will look cool in the BE.
 
Jim,
I bought the AGM type 51 for my Bugeye and it's perfect! It's small and lightweight and seems plenty strong...it was about $140 at a local parts store. Someone said PepBoys had a good deal on AGM batteries.
Rut
 
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