My 70 Super Bee…finally getting close

Hey guys, as you know I am pretty new here. Well, lurked for awhile, but you all seemed pretty cool so I joined. I bought this car for $300. Yes, only two zeros there. Original Super Bee (yes, real) Plum Crazy, 383, pistol grip 4 speed, Ramcharger hood, 3 speed wipers, bench seat, black interior, black vinyl top, white "C" stripe, hood pins, am radio.

It is a numbers matching car as far as engine/trans/vin/data plate/core support/trunk seal lip. Only non-original parts I have found is a switch under dash(more later), and a DANA 60 w/3.54 sure grip. It is also an original Colorado car (where I live). It is actually a western slope car, which if you are not familiar, is yes, the western slope of the Rockies. High desert, minimal snow, no rust. Well, not much.

Trunk seal was gone of course, so trunk floor and bottom of rear quarters were rusted thru where the water stood. But that was it. One window was down halfway, it was up to frame in a field/pasture on a guys small farm, and cats had started a condominium in it.

I pulled it out of field, aired up tires, sprayed WD-40 in cylinders, pored some gas in carb..this is where my friends were all laughing at me, no way would it start, right? 2 tries…it was running. I was so freaked out I shut it off and went and bought spark plugs, oil, air filter, oil filter, fuel filter…blah blah…Drained gas tank, and what came out has probably ruined that farmers field forever. But fresh gas, fresh oil, started right up and sat there idling by itself. 97,000 original miles. Last license plate was 1993 (This was about 2000)

Took it for a drive down the country road out front, it drove fine. Brakes worked, 4 speed shifted well, but drivers seat back was broken. So every time I jumped on the throttle I did a back flip into the back seat. So we rigged seat with duct tape and safety wire(which, as you know, will fix anything), and I drove it 15 miles home. And I smelled like cat piss for about 3 days. But it was home.

It started out as many do, just pull interior, replace it, tinker with the car…right? Next thing I knew engine, trans, interior, everything was out and scattered in garage. I worked on it like a maniac for a few years. Then got it painted, and got screwed (as with another former Plum Crazy Bee owner on here did). Paid a good chunk for that work. Didn't want to put it together like it was, couldn't see spending $10,000 to fix body and paint either. So I shoved it in a corner and ignored it for about a decade.

But life has a way of bringing things you once loved back around. I grew up street racing Mopars, I took my girlfriend on our first date in a tunnel rammed 340, 4 speed duster 32 years ago. That girlfriend is now my wife, and has been for 30 years. She loved my cars. She had never been around the hobby, but she fell right into it. I'm the guy that got a new tach for Christmas, things like that.

She has been bugging me for the last few years to get the Bee going. I tried, but looked at the paint and got frustrated. So I left it in the corner. Then not too long ago we find out she has colon cancer. What a kick in the teeth. Prognosis is pretty good, and I pray every day that she comes out ok. We are staying positive, and counting on the Lord to help us through. But the friends and family that have circled the wagons around us has been amazing. I have tears in my eyes typing this it has been so overwhelming.

So now to the moral of the story. Sorry it was so long. I gave the Super Bee to her for our 30th anniversary, with the promise I would finish it. And I have been busting my *** on it. And I am getting a little old to be busting too much ***. So I thought I would share a couple pics of where it stands as of today.

My hopes and prayers are out there for all of my Mopar family, that they do not have to deal with detours in life like cancer. But it is sure getting pretty common, isn't it?

I need a steering coulomb shaft for a 66 satellite to switch from manual steering to power.
Thanks Don O

Well, one thing I know Don O, is I cannot help you with a steering column shaft for 66 Satellite. Might have posted that in the wrong place

Thanks for the pictures and back story, Plumcrazybee. Looks like you're getting there.

You can add my prayers for your wife, I hope things improve. Glad to hear that there's so much family and friend support.

Keep us updates as things progress!

-=Photon440=-

I sealed up the numbers matching 383 and put it in storage, bought a 1968 HP 440 builder that was complete. Block decked, honed, line bored, cylinders are 0.030" over, used Eagle H beam rods on Keith Black hypereutectic pistons, file fit rings, stock forged crank turned 0.010 under and micro polished, ARP main studs, 1/2" Hemi oil pickup, Mancini billet rear main seal retainer(I highly recommend this), Hughes Stage 2 ported, cc'd, all that good stuff 452 heads milled a BUNCH to get compression up (actual is 11.7 to 1), Hughes hydraulic flat tappet 238/244 @ .050, Hughes 1.6 rockers w/ hardened shafts, Hughes custom length pushrods, Pro Gear timing chain/sprockets, Edlebrock Performer RPM, Quick Fuel black 850 double pumper, Mopar aluminum water pump and housing, MSD mini starter, MSD 6AL box, MSD distributor, MSD plug wires, Mcleod billet flywheel, clutch, Lakewood bellhousing…..So far. Engine goes in tomorrow with Schumacher polyloc mounts and a torque strap. Once I get that done, 4 speed and pistol grip go in, then it is time to pay down credit card. Cause them I am tearing into the Dana 60 to make sure all good. And then a Mark Williams driveshaft and yokes. It is pretty cool that I can just drive down to their shop and get that.

And yes, compression is very high. But remember, our drag strip is at 5600 ft, and on a hot day density altitude is up around 9,000 ft sometimes. We need compression here.

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Thanks Photon….The prayers from around the country and the world actually have just made me feel so humble. I have met some of the best, most honest, caring people in the 6 weeks since we found out about her diagnosis. And I am speaking of people that have no idea who we are. There is just something very, very powerful happening here. I readily admit I am a newbie to believing. Only a near death experience for me 6 years ago started opening my eyes. No coincidences….I just don't believe there is any more. But again, thank you for praying for my wife….Toni is her name. As you can see in pics, she is pretty pumped about getting this car on the road. It feels good to be doing this for her. Which I have a feeling wasn't my idea alone. Maybe someone more powerful thought I needed something to keep my mind busy. And at the same time give her something that means more than just the metal, glass, rubber and plastic in a car. And it has been keeping her spirits up too. I know I am not smart enough to come up with a plan like that. But I am running with it.

Plum Crazy is one of my all time favorite colors on a mopar. Your wife will look good sitting behind the wheel. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your wife. I know how you are feeling as our family just found out recently that my brother has cancer of the colon. The doctors are making great progress with him and I hope your doctor is doing the same for your wife also.

Thank you roadrunner. It means so much more to me than I can say to know so many are praying for her. She is very special. She did home healthcare, and specialized in home hospice. So basically, before the cancer, she was spending days and nights with dying people in their homes. And trying to make sure they were comfortable, went out with dignity, and that they knew somebody cared about them. 7 out of 10 times these people have family, but nobody shows up to be with them. That should be pretty embarrassing to anyone that ignores family.

I could never do that kind of thing. She says that most of the time she just sits and listens to their stories about their 90 or 100 or however many years of life. She says apparently nobody listens to them at all in some facilities. I think we better wise up and start listening.

Best wishes to you and your brother. You guys are now in our prayers.

Dean

My thoughts and prayers are going out to your great wife. She sure looks happy next to that purple Bee. The smile on her face the first time she drives it will be priceless. Welcome to the site with that awesome looking car.

Hey Dean, your Superbee is looking great, I love that color too.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife, if the prognosis is good everything is going to be fine. You can get though this and to the other side, I know several people that beat cancer, staying positive is the biggest step. Hang in there and keep up the good work.

John

Great looking car, glad you are getting it done, my prayers for your wife and family I hope she enjoys that car for a very long time.

nice. I like it a lot.

Best wishes to your wife and your mission to complete her Bee. Tough gig. Bee's looking sharp!

Sweet car and your wife is a "DOLL"
Congrads on the progress on what I consider to be a very unique and rare 1970 Superbee.

god bless you and your wife ,yup cancer is like a common thing today seems like every family has a member with it or some form ,my wife has been battling it for a long time ,she is a fighter , I support her all the way , good luck and yes she is a cutie and good luck , oh the car is great looking also :headbang:

great looking Bee. My Wife and youngest daughter are both still with me by the grace of God. Prayers for you and your beautiful wife.

Thank you to all of my new Mopar friends on here. We really can make a difference in peoples lives if we take the time to try. We just have to stop believing the crap shoveled on us by the media, forget about political parties (they all suck), and take care of each other.

I saw a couple guys trying to load a small block chevy(not capitalized on purpose, lol) into a pickup by hand on Saturday. Our neighborhood is not the best, and this was a few blocks from our house. It was a couple younger looking black guys, kinda thugged out with tattoos and sagging pants. You know, just had that "don't mess with me look" to them. I drove by thinking there is no way they are going to pick up an engine and put it in a truck, and went home. Sat in the truck for a few minutes, and thought, hell, I have a cherry picker, and at this point in my life, who really cares what the response might be. Now, I am Irish, and so white I glow in the dark. But who the hell cares?

I loaded cherry picker, drove back, offered to help….and got completely confused, suspicious looks back at me. One guys says, "You are saying you want to help us?" I said yep, if you want it. So out comes cherry picker, in goes engine. And now I have some very new, very good friends. But it took my wife getting cancer to kick me in the *** and look at this whole world differently. These guys wanted to shoot the bull, talk cars, and wow…I could have just stayed home and not gone back. But now I have friends that want to help me get the 440 in the Bee, and they want to learn about cars. And I will teach them any thing and everything they want to learn…at least to the limits of my knowledge, which isn't that fantastic.

Isn't that what God intended this place to be like?

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Oh, and thank you for the compliments on my beautiful wife. Not sure how I snagged her. Not good looking, was always broke because I was buying parts for my Mopars, had grease stained hands(even after I washed them), and smelled like gear lube. But I got her….so yeah, she is beautiful, but she is mine..So back off! LOL!!

Purple ****

Just some more purple ****. I sure do love this color on older Mopars. Just can't get to that point on the new Challengers. Not sure why.But I wouldn't kick one out of my garage!

440 going in tomorrow depending on weather. Kind of hit and miss in Colorado this time of year. Have to push it outside to install engine. Garage ceiling too low.

Cannot wait to hear it run!

Man that car looks great. Wish mine was that purty. Good luck with your bride. The car is the easy part.

Thanks big block! And yes, the car is the easy part. Thanks for the best wishes. We will get through this. It ain't nothin but a thing.

And mine was VERY ugly when I pulled it out of a field. But I could see the beauty underneath.

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PlumCrazybee, the story about your car is priceless. Good luck with your project and we will start praying for you and your wife. That color is so freaking awesome.

Love the mopar fender cover.