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Richmond VA 1960 Bugeye Bringing Miss Eva back to life.

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While waiting for the body to be sprayed, I decided to start pulling the donner cars axles and center section.
Having a compact tractor is like having an outdoor lift anyplace anywhere.
It is a very simple process to pull the rear axles for any year sprite.
Jack it up in the air. Remove both wheels to expose the brake drums.
There should be a Phillips screw on the drum. Remove the screw and then start prying the drum off the axle. Tap the drum to loosen.

Looking at the axle you will see another Phillips screw. This holds the axle in the rear end housing.

You have to separate the axle hub from the axle. The lugs are on the Bearing Hub. The Bearing Hub is behind the face of the axle. Gently pry the pieces apart. It should not take much effort. Once they are apart, pull the axles out. Support them and keep them level so you don't damage the splines that go into the center section.
To pull the center section or pumpkin, take off the nuts that are on the carrier section and once again gently separate it from the rear axle.
 
And even better with a 5 speed and a 1,326cc to push Bugsy IV along. I'm doing the opposite tonight. Rear end is in moving jack stands from under the rear floorboards to under the rear axle. Weight will now be on the axle and on the suspension so I can tighten up all of the rear suspension bushings. A Note to all: Do not tighten up all of those nice new rubber bushings and suspension mounts until there is weight on the suspension. Otherwise you will tear your nice new bushings. Axles get installed tomorrow night and brakes on Saturday. Sunday Bleeding and getting him back on his new wheels and tires, Installing gas tank and fluids. And maybe even make him go Vroom, Vroom. Boys with their toys.


PS those are not Phillips Head Screws they are PosiDrive Screws. A PosiDrive Screw Bit on an Impact Screwdriver will get them loose without damaging the screw heads.
 
Wow! Stunning
 
Rear Axle Bearing Hubs - Pushed out old bearings and seals.
Cleaned the threads with a lug nut first. Then used a die to really clean the threads. They were not in very good shape with all the rust and crude. I was thinking I would press in new lugs, but it was not needed.


Die 3/8 24






Pack the new bearings and install.
 
I went w Subaru 207FF sealed bearings for the rear.
 
I started installing the new springs and rear suspension. As with about everything you do, nothing is completely bolt on.
The springs have a centering pin that goes into the spring plates. The pin is bigger than the hole. I had to ream out the plate's guide hole with a 1/2" bit

The base plate guide hole.



You have to ream out the spring assembly to get the bolts to line up as the leafs are not perfectly centered. 3/8 bit. Drill from the top and bottom to clean the proper bolt angle.

U bolts had to go into a vice to get the proper width.

 
Stock Gaskets for Axles are too thick and will likely leak. Get a proper Shopping bag, trace pattern from a new gasket, punch holes, and use Hylomar to assemble. Axle will balance quite nicely on a floor jack, I was able to balance and reinstall all by myself with no issues. A Heavy Duty Ratchet Strap or come along fastened in my case to the tie Rod up front allowed me to rotate the whole axle forward to get the top bolt on the Radius Arm installed. If those are new style axle straps from one of the usual suspects throw them away and buy a set for $30.00 or so from The Strapping Lad. And if you must use them, do not let the axle hang from those straps as they will break before you even put the car on the road.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Stock Gaskets for Axles are too thick and will likely leak. Get a proper Shopping bag, trace pattern from a new gasket, punch holes, and use Hylomar to assemble. Axle will balance quite nicely on a floor jack, I was able to balance and reinstall all by myself with no issues. A Heavy Duty Ratchet Strap or come along fastened in my case to the tie Rod up front allowed me to rotate the whole axle forward to get the top bolt on the Radius Arm installed. If those are new style axle straps from one of the usual suspects throw them away and buy a set for $30.00 or so from The Strapping Lad. And if you must use them, do not let the axle hang from those straps as they will break before you even put the car on the road.
Click to expand...


Are the rubber O Rings to be greased when installed?
 
I am surprised that no one else has beefed up the spring plate bases.

I was tying a roll cage into the plates next to the spring plates. I have decided not to install the roll bar because of the space it takes away from the seats, but the added metal is a plus either way.

I also added metal in a different plane to give it strength.
 
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