1969 Dodge Super Bee Coupe Restoration

[moparsaver]

Thanks to @moparsaver for directing me to this wonderful find !! Used, blasted and primed and they look brand new. Couldn't have been on a car for long that's for sure. Thanks to the Ebay seller using the Global shipping system they ended up costing double, but it is what is is, another 150 bucks in the car. WSL05 and WSR05, headlight shields, for the part number collectors.

View attachment 702167 View attachment 702169

Happy to help out my friend. They are exactly as described. Water shield left and right. Look at that perfect fit!! Thank you for taking the time to document this thread....it’s really incredible.

 

[dadsbee]

Yes. Doesn't make any sense to me too. ;-)

Thanks Rob for the confirm, as that is exactly what I thought the center should look like, brushed finish aluminum between polish and black... as both that I have are that way and then the interior faces are argent with a polished face edge. My OE eyebrows blend black to bare (but I may have done that in '79 or '88) and the other set I picked up are fully black to where they join the center.

 

[threewood]

Absolutely fantastic thread, thanks so much for sharing your progress! Your Bee is gorgeous, nice work

Reading through I couldn't help but think how big of a letdown the aftermarket parts are. For the price they charge they should get it correct, but they don't. That repop back glass is absurd. Glad you found some nice original equipment glass.

And for the headlights, no one local to me carries them. I ordered several sets from rockauto to have as spares, as well as turn signal bulbs and interior lights.

 

[dadsbee]

Thanks Threewood... did you spend 2 days and read the first 35 pages too.. LOL

 

[threewood]

Thanks Threewood... did you spend 2 days and read the first 35 pages too.. LOL

Haha! No, I had read a majority of your thread as it was posted then I never got any notifications. Just finished the last six!

 

[dadsbee]

Haha! No, I had read a majority of your thread as it was posted then I never got any notifications. Just finished the last six!

I'm talking the first 35 pages that are at DC . com

 

[dadsbee]

This tail panel trim plate is in very good shape. Thought I could just give it a buff and I'd be satisfied with it ready to repaint the black areas.

Too many scratches that are through the anodizing, so I guess I'm stripping it clean and polishing it out to remove them.

Thought I'd practice on something less valuable. The grill out of my '78 Ramcharger.

It's not just for ovens! And you'll see why you don't get it on anything else!!!

Quick spray on a corner of the grills anodized aluminum.

30 minutes later and a water rinse. The bright anodize is gone.

Sanded with 150/320/400 as shown here to get the pits and divets out and then 800/1000/2000 wet sanded. Probably should get some 3000 or 4000 as well before I do the Bee panel.

Cut and buff with "stainless" green and then rouge.

Hand polish with MAAS.

Came out not too bad, it's sure brighter and more reflective than the old pited bright anodized area.

 

[themechanic]

Good luck on taping those curves for the black paint. I'd like to see your handi-work when you're finished.

 

[dadsbee]

I'll have no problems taping it up.... finding a paint that really works will be the chore apparently. Anyone wanna buy a bunch of overpriced SEM Trim that was HIGHLY recommended for grill and tail panel work?
............

Not brave enough to try the trim panel I'm using first, so I tried stripping the anodize from my original OE off of the car to see how it went. I left it almost an hour with multiple reapplications and covered with plastic to cut evaporation. Not happy with the spotty results. Looks like I have to find some lye locally to make a solution to soak it.. and of course I have a 25 lb bag for the outhouse but it's 4 hours away at the lake!

While the Easy Off was eating away I thought I'd try the highly recommended SEM trim paint on the back of the panel I am using. I bought multiple cans of this overpriced paint in anticipation of doing the grill and tail panel.

The SEM just runs off the peaks of the corrugations. It took NINE mist coats x 5 minutes apart to get reasonable coverage.

The Rust-Oleum that I used on my instrument cluster.

It took a SINGLE spray to cover better than NINE of the SEM. Either I'm doing something really wrong or Rustoleum makes damn good paint!

 

[khryslerkid]

I used Duplicolor Semi Gloss and I think it's as close to factory and covers well. Etching primer is an option on bare aluminium also. See how this matches up to what you're looking for.

 

[dadsbee]

Thanks.. I just can't believe that 50 years later SEM's paint (that says with prep primer is not required) just runs off, compared to Ma Mopars paint of the day that one light coat got'r done without primer!

 

[khryslerkid]

Paint has changed over the years with all the EPA bs. Even automotive paints aren't the same in the way they cover. I've tried all of the rattle cans lately and the Duplicolor has it all over the rest. It still acts like it should and even has the Sherwin Williams blue tip which makes a nice patteren.

 

[dadsbee]

I still have etch and alodine in my stash for doing airplane paint jobs.. but a tad hard to use and keep the polished areas shinny! lol

 

[dadsbee]

WOOO HOOOO ! Paint booth reservation for Jan 21st... to get a few required things touched up and my final cut and polish done that week!!

 

[dadsbee]

AMD's response to National Moparts on my back glass!

The B-body back glass we sell has always been shaped that way. They aren't 100% like the original in the curvature, but we rarely get complaints.

Un F'n real... knowingly selling something that is wrong and no care to make it right. "Not 100%".. how about they're 10% correct at best, as it fits the hole! At least Nigel is refunding my $611.27! Doesn't cover all the other BS to get a back glass into my car, but at least I recoup some money.

 

[moparnation74]

AMD's response to National Moparts on my back glass!

Un F'n real... knowingly selling something that is wrong and no care to make it right. "Not 100%".. how about they're 10% correct at best, as it fits the hole! At least Nigel is refunding my $611.27! Doesn't cover all the other BS to get a back glass into my car, but at least I recoup some money.

You seriously have to be kidding me that was their response! Knowingly, putting a junk product in the consumers hands and hope the majority dont complain? Maybe the complaints got past the warranty period and the consumer is stuck or they are not being honest about the complaints...

 

[dadsbee]

That was their email to Nigel ! Unbelievable doesn't even start describing it!

 

[moparnation74]

That was their email to Nigel ! Unbelievable doesn't even start describing it!

Just imagine every part they offer.....Total BS......

They err on the side that the majority buying these parts dont install them the next week they receive them but many months or years down the road.......So they can say, "Sorry, but you're out of the warranty period." Look at their BS policy below.....

""""Return Policy
You may return any unused, undamaged, and resalable part in its original packaging for exchange, credit or refund up to 6 months after purchase. All orders, cancellations and returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee. All returns must have prior authorization before returning them to us. Shipping fees that are incurred from returning any part to us is your responsibility. Finally, if the return shipment is damaged in transit, you are responsible for filing the claim with the carrier."""""

 

[dadsbee]

Yep, I got my back glass the day before Leah and I headed for camp for the Summer, back in May. I'm long past the return period, but have the emails assuring me that it was the correct shape BEFORE I would order the glass. Other's had warned it wasn't correct.. but I was assured that had been corrected! Even Nigel claimed "we've sold and installed lots of them without issue". Hell did anyone stand and stare at them when done? I just told him I was returning it for full refund and he can deal with AMD and he is.. and I am. It's all over but the 3 friggin hour drive to do so.

 

[moparjohnny]

Yep, I got my back glass the day before Leah and I headed for camp for the Summer, back in May. I'm long past the return period, but have the emails assuring me that it was the correct shape BEFORE I would order the glass. Other's had warned it wasn't correct.. but I was assured that had been corrected! Even Nigel claimed "we've sold and installed lots of them without issue". Hell did anyone stand and stare at them when done? I just told him I was returning it for full refund and he can deal with AMD and he is.. and I am. It's all over but the 3 friggin hour drive to do so.

wayne, have you had any dealings with them on their front windshields or anyone that has had a issue with front or door glass?