Richmond VA 1960 Bugeye Bringing Miss Eva back to life.

[hcallaway]

New Ring Gear and Surface Grind

 

[hcallaway]

Rocker Shaft had to be replaced.

 

[JPSmit]

mmm shiny!

 

[hcallaway]

Armstrong Lever Shocks from Worldwide arrived today. Front suspension work can now begin.

 

[hcallaway]

Wishbone Spring Pan (A-arms)

It was not as easy getting them installed with the inner fulcrum pins as I would have hoped. It is such a tight fit.
I have read that the large and small cork seals were a tight fit, but they were very easy to fit.

I am just doing a trial fit on both sides before final assembly.
I will have to remove the spring seats to get the springs in place. It did not take long to realize that the springs would not just slip in place.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Helper bolts from threaded rod,will get it close enough to install real bolts

 

[hcallaway]

That was my plan. I read they need to be 6” long.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

Very easy to do. I bought 5/16 by I think 5 inch bolts threaded all the way from Lowes. They were grade 5 and I used grade 8 nuts. Put them in holes 180 degrees apart with the nuts on top. Put a box wrench on the nut and use either a ratchet or as I did use an impact wrench. Run each one up a little at a time alternating bolts until you get up to the a frame. Then put the permanent bolts in.

 

[hcallaway]

Progress. It may be a one person job but having one of my sons to help made a lot of difference on bolting this together.

 

[hcallaway]

Little update on my front suspension installation. I thought I had finished the passenger side. Only thing left was to install the pin in the bottom of the swivel pin. This locks the fulcrum pin in place so it cannot back out. I had it all aligned and then I installed the spring. Guess what? It did not line up. With the fulcrum pin under pressure it does not move.
If you are replacing the swivel axle. Install the wishbone on the car. Install the swivel axle on to the wishbone with the locating pin installed. Then attach it to the lever shock. Now you can install the spring. I have wasted too many hours installing and then taking the springs back out. Twice on each side. The final straw was the rebuilt swivel axle on the drivers side. I was sold two passenger side parts, not a right and a left. Add another $125.00 and 2 day shipping from England, I had the correct part. Of course I did not pick up on the issue until I had it installed. LOL Then I started the process all over again.

 

[BlueMax]

You may want to turn your front upper trunnions around, they look like they are own backwards..

 

[hcallaway]

I see what you are saying. Thanks

 

[Jim_Gruber]

You would have noticed once you put wheels on and put it on the ground and it looked like \----/. We've all BTDT.

 

[hcallaway]

Passenger side corrected.
Drivers side corrected.
I am pretty fast at pulling and replacing springs. Not because I am an ace wrench.

 

[hcallaway]

I am stripping the steering rack. I was almost shocked at the lack of play. It was kept greased and the boots were solid. The rack had been removed many years ago and put in storage.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Pay attention to where shims go. If qyou don’t rack will lock up at inopportune times.

 

[hcallaway]

Cleaned and painted. I did not take it apart so the shims were not an issue. Hope to get new gaiters and tie rod ends in this week.

 

[JPSmit]

as an aside I don't own a horizontal shop surface either that clean or that uncluttered.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Nor I.

 

[hcallaway]

I have many areas in my garage that need attention. LOL