Frank Tate

Thanks Lew. Well I figured it out. Did a quick bead blast of the frame part and it had a stamp....MP40 mgc68. A quick google search and these are parts for a replica German Machine Pistol from WWII. How in the world they made it into my box of TBird parts I'll never know!!! LOL Well, I guess I will go on the model gun forums and see if anyone wants them. Best, Frank

Hi Lew, Thanks for the response! I don't see any part numbers, so I am going to throw them into the rust removal solution and see if anything appears. However, I think you are right and they are TBird parts. So, I will take a few more pics and throw this out into the "what is it" section. If I don't need it and someone can identify it and does, then I think they should have it! Best, Frank

So, I am working on the 55 Tbird that I bought as a basket case awhile back. Just trying to identify what I have and what I don't have as I start the restoration. I have pulled these two parts and for the life of me, I can't figure out what they are. The bracket has a knurled knob (circled) on the bottom that is spring loaded and seems to act as a catch (arrow). I initially thought it was part of the parking brake assembly, but I cannot find it in any diagrams. The shaft with the stud like part at right angles has a catch (circled) and the inside of the shaft is threaded and telescopes and it spring loaded (circled). Any help you all can provide would be much appreciated! I really feel like an idiot!! Frank

Looks good John! I like the attitude/philosophy. They were built to be driven. Frank

Dang it Frank...now I spend more time on the computer following yet another forum.....Thanks alot...

Any way to use hydraulic pressure through the spark plug holes to pop the head off? I don't know if the rings will handle the pressure, but I think the valves might.

Good to have you back Frank. You were truly missed. Frank

So sorry to hear that. Please tell his son we are thinking of him and praying for his return to good health.

Fantastic. Thanks for letting us know. I was just getting ready to do that.

Frank, it sounds like you need to get to an emergency room. Can you do that? I am worried about you.

Hi Frank! Thank you for the offer...I will take you up on that when I get the bug back together and get the wiring straightened out. Or maybe sooner, you know how these things go...lol My first car was a 65 bug which my dad bought for me for $50. Got it home and he said if you want a car, fix it. So, i checked out the Muir Idiots book from the library and fixed it. Traded up to a low mileage 1970 bug and just kept buying and selling. This one was supposed to be for my daughter, but she is now working on her career with a nice little Mazda 3 to drive.....I doubt she will want to trade back for 1970's technology! hahahaha I am following your LaSalle thread.....you go get some sleep. Bad things happen when you rush and don't pay attention. Best, Frank

Hey John, double check that flywheel. Something had to come loose to do that much damage and have the engine vibrate that much. Glad it didn't come backwards at you with that battery sitting there!!!

Well, I got tired of messing with the engine and trying to get it to run. I had it jury rigged while attached to the transaxle and could get it to crank and fire on starting fluid, but I couldn't get the injectors to inject. Given the complexity of the Bosch fuel injection and all the different relays and inputs, I decided to pull the engine and put the body back on the pan. I got that accomplished, now all I have to do is get the body lift off the body!!!! That sucker is too heavy for this old man, so I will wait for my son to get home to help. At least one thing is accomplished and there is more room in the garage! Now to start bolting it back together and on to the bodywork.

Looks good! You are really doing a great job!

Roger, have you thought about flocking it? I don't know how thick the adhesive and the flocking fibers are, but I don't think it is that thick. A quick search found me this site: https://www.craftflocking.com/Buy_Flocking.php

Hey John, maybe disconnect the fuel line from the front of the filter and pump it out that way using the, I am assuming, in tank fuel pump. But 36 gallons is alot of gas. Hope you have a lot of gas cans!!! Frank

Thanks! I keep reading all the posts of everyone else and it provides inspiration.

Well, it has been awhile. As usual, life got in the way and the bug got put on the back burner. So after completing a kitchen remodel and retiring, I am back at work on it. Got the case and heads back from the machine shop, looking good. Started putting it all together. Found out that there are alot of differences between the carburetor models and fuel injection models, but it is slowly coming together. The differences are in the cooling tins surrounding the cylinders and heads as well as the heater boxes and the muffler and hangers. Also, the external oil filter/pump I thought I could use at the beginning of the build, occupied the emissions filter real estate behind the muffler, so it had to go.. So, now I have to finish plumbing the fuel lines and it is ready to bolt up to the transaxle and see if it works!

Hey John, while you are at HF also pick up the new super duper 1/2" impact wrench to go with the big air compressor! That'll get those caliper bolts off.

Assuming you don't want to open it, clear silicon works fine. If you do want to open it, I would check out an RV dealer to see if they have any weather stripping you could glue down in place of the old after you scrape it off.

Citroen type C? But all the pictures I found had steel disc wheels, and this has wire wheels.

Hey John, looking at those plugs, it looks like they are 2 different heat ranges based on how far the electrode sticks out. Given the difficulty in getting to them, you may want to double check that. Frank

So, now the original was fuel injected, so I started looking around and scored a fuel injection set up off Craigslist with most everything I need except for the computer. Which I found on The Samba website. A real nice guy out of GA sold me a good unit for a good price. The craigslist setup came with 2 extra mass air flow units...also an extra manifold for a carb! Not sure what I am going to do with that, but it also came with the doghouse in great shape with all the flappers which my car didn't have. So, today is quality time in the homemade sandblast cabinet to clean it up and then figure out the paint. Still have more of the engine tin to do.

Got the motor up on the bench and tore it down. What a mess. Apparently water got into the crankcase and the crank and rods were rusty. Once I got it pulled all apart, I dropped it off to the machine shop to have it checked out and cleaned up.

It has been awhile due to life...work, kids in college, honey-do list....you all know how it goes. Well I did decide to focus and see what I could accomplish. Got the new bushings installed and cleaned up the transaxle, the starter motor and got them installed.