'66 Sunbeam Minx Project - F20C/6sp/4-link/Discs...

[mcbassin]

Congrats on getter her back home. Looking forward to the next phase. You are boing to reach the 500K hit milestone soon. You might be the only builder on here with those numbers on 2 separate builds.

[Frizzle Fry]

Well, I guess that's what happens when you start something and don't finish it for years ...and years

[Palf70Step]

You done yet?

[dammitmitchell]

where's the paint! jeesh sure taking your time!. haha

[Frizzle Fry]

Workin a graveyard shift this month and hitting the gym in the mornings after work - doesn't leave much left for wrenchin. Last weekend was full of xmas parties (thus the need for exercise ). Headed out there now!

[Frizzle Fry]

My welder is loaned out to a friend whose building a chump-car. Been hammer/doly'in a few little dings here and there. Nothing really pic-worthy. Working night shift makes the opportunity for making noise a bit limited. That ends in two days

On of those nights when I couldn't make too much noise I dove into the engine disassembly. Got it pretty well torn down (external bolt-ons only) and cleaned. Researching finishing options for the cast aluminum now.

Thinking I might have to do something like this to my intake - shaved (not black though)

[dammitmitchell]

gettin carried away, what's wrong with a glossy powder coat?

[Frizzle Fry]

Carried away = the theme of this build! I can't have all those unused vac ports wearin rubber caps taunting me every time I open the hood. They gotta go! As far as finish, I'm leaning toward painting with Duplicolor cast coat aluminum and Eastwood diamond clear satin.

Here's a bike engine done with that combo:

[theastronaut]

Have you thought about having a single stage urethane mixed to match the aluminum color you want, and adding in a little bit of flattener to knock it down from a full gloss? That way it would be a hardened paint and would be way more durable. I did a charcoal colored urethane with flattener on the block in my '64 VW (magnesium) and it's held up very well to the heat and oil over the last 2.5 years, still looks as good as the day I sprayed it. I did spray epoxy first for better adhesion.

[Frizzle Fry]

That does sound ideal. I had already picked up the cast-coat aluminum some time ago. Just received the Eastwood Diamond clear yesterday. I've read nothing but good things about it, but I do realize that any paint is only as good as its foundation. I'll execute to plan this time and see how it goes.

[Frizzle Fry]

Got a new toy in the shop. A stud welder.

I know there have been a lot of comments about how perfect the body was, but the blasting did reveal a few flaws here and there. Nothing major (unlike the front/right corner I already replaced).

People have asked me why I didn't get the body work sorted before blasting/primer. The answer is two fold:

1. The car was taken for blasting at that time to continue progress on the project while I was out of the country
2. You don't know the condition of the body 100% until it's stripped

So I'm working small areas at a time and will re-apply epoxy once I get them as straight as I can. Here are few pics of the little bit I've done so far. These are only dents with no back-side access. A few others I've already worked with the hammers/dollies:






All these dents and holes were buried in bondo! Getting to work with the stud welder:


Also started prep'ing the engine for paint:

[Bishops Trucks]

This build has come a long way. Everything looks great. I like the looks of that Duplicolor cast coat aluminum and Eastwood diamond clear satin. I wonder how that would look on a bigblock !

[Frizzle Fry]

I bet it would look awesome! A good clear should make it easier to keep clean too.

[bbrally]

It's hard to believe I've been following this as a part of my morning coffee ritual for almost five years.

It's awesome to see her so close to the finish line, but I'm going to miss seeing what you've done to her next when she's finally on the road for good.

I may have missed it, but I didn't see any posting of remounting the shift housing back onto the trannsmission. Do you have any info/pics on how you accomplished that?

Keep up the excellent work, you help to motivate me in my substantially less enthusiatic build.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by bbrally

It's hard to believe I've been following this as a part of my morning coffee ritual for almost five years.

There's 1,500 of the 4XX,XXX views!

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by bbrally

It's hard to believe I've been following this as a part of my morning coffee ritual for almost five years.

Wow, and first post! Thanks for stickin with it. I know progress gets pretty slow at times.

Originally Posted by bbrally

I may have missed it, but I didn't see any posting of remounting the shift housing back onto the transmission. Do you have any info/pics on how you accomplished that?

I had it welded by a guy set-up with mig and tig for al. After he left I noticed a slight bind on the shift rod, so I tapped (hit it pretty hard) laterally with a rubber mallet and it partially fractured the weld(s). The bind improved and the shifter housing was still secure, but it was never completed to the point of my satisfaction, and is on the to-do list. I now have the ability to weld aluminum myself, so I'll give it a shot soon. Good memory by the way

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice progress on the Beam. I have one of those stud pullers in my shop. (borrowed from a good friend). They are a life saver on body repair. A must have! congrats

Yeh, I'm digin it already

Originally Posted by sparkydog

There's 1,500 of the 4XX,XXX views!

Hah, and probably 66% of them were met with disappointment

[Bishops Trucks]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I bet it would look awesome! A good clear should make it easier to keep clean too.

I had to do it. I think it turned out pretty well. I agree on the ease of keeping it clean. The finish is smoooooth!

[Frizzle Fry]

Hey guys. Been working crazy hours again (6x12+)... hoping for some shop time soon. Gotta fix the heater in the 64 first (my daily with no heat or defrost in January).

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

heared a lot of good things about this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8cruauERmI

Been wanting one of those. It might be time

Originally Posted by 1Bad 37

Amazing build!!! Love the attention to detail and little details! A+ thread sir!!!

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

I had to do it. I think it turned out pretty well. I agree on the ease of keeping it clean. The finish is smoooooth!

Attachment 1207179

Oh man, that is sweet! Can't wait to get mine done. Details? Coats, learnings?

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress on the Beam. I have one of those stud pullers in my shop. (borrowed from a good friend). They are a life saver on body repair. A must have! congrats

[Low Elco]

Love my Stud Gun. Great for making heat shrinks if you're not confident in your torch abilities (like me). This thread never disappoints. Whatever gets it on the road and the Tahoe up to bat! Damn, I love that truck.

[watahyahknow]

heared a lot of good things about this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8cruauERmI

[1Bad 37]

Amazing build!!! Love the attention to detail and little details! A+ thread sir!!!

[Bishops Trucks]

Hey FrizzleFry, Thanks. I stripped the block to bare metal. Sprayed 2 cans of Duplicolor engine primer which gave me 3 coats. Sprayed 3 coats of the Duplicolor cast coat aluminum and then 3 coats of Duplicolor clear. Does the eastwood clear your talking about have a slight pearl to it? if it does, that would add some pop to the finish. I've had this motor for 11 years and never fired it up. Unfortunately, I have to sale it cause I haven't worked in awhile and funds are about non existent. I keep looking at the small block 1970 LT1 sitting in my truck, then the big block, then the small block again. I have come close to swapping them but I came to realize how fond I was of the small block. Besides, with the price of gas now a days, the LT1 is a better choice. Can't wait to see yours done and sitting in it's new home.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

Looks great! Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

heared a lot of good things about this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8cruauERmI

Just ordered a shrinking disc!!

[Frizzle Fry]

Back from the (3rd back page of) dead!

Been working like a dog at the "real job" but I'm still moving along with little beast

Continued working a few little dings here and there with the stud gun. Haven't tried out the shrinking disc yet (still need to puck up a 9" grinder).

...also yet to paint the engine, but...

I have been ordering parts

like this: (7.5lb flywheel. down from ~14)


And an Exedy OEM replacement clutch (no need to get super grippy with a light car)


What else ...A guy on the Hillman forum is remaking many of the rubber parts for these. I already bought his vent window seals. He just finished tooling for the fuel grommets. Here's how they generally look unrestored:




and new: