1969 Dodge Super Bee
ITEDU 304 Transportation
Shaun Eiler
Our problem was to explore transportation technology in depth through creation, or through the use of a technology artifact. We could choose to do just about anything, just as long as it had something to do with transportation. Documentation will be a vital part of assignment.
I proposed to build a model of a 1969 Dodge Super Bee for my transportation project. The model would require intricate detail with the use of paint and glue. Each individual part would have to be painted and assembled. This required a lot of time in order to get each part perfect. Doing this project would help me understand how cars are assembled. It would also help me understand the delicate process that goes into producing automobile parts. Understanding how automobiles are produced is an important part of transportation. Everyone drives a car so doing this project helped me appreciate the production of automobiles even more. I have been interested in doing a model for a long, but time is always an issue. I have not had time to build a model in the last 12 years. This transportation project gave me the chance to build a model. I chose to do a Super Bee because of my love for muscle cars. I felt that if i was going to build a model, I might as well build one that would hold my interest and make it enjoyable for me.
Dodge watched in 1967 as Plymouth introduced the Road Runner. They needed to build a muscle car that would keep up in sales with Plymouth. So, in 1968 Dodge introduced the Super Bee. Both the Road Runner and the Super Bee came stock with a 383 V8. This engine produce roughly 335 hp. In 1969, the Super Bee introduced the 440 six pack. This happened by replacing the original four barrel carburetor with three Holley two barrel carburetors. Normally, only one carburetor was used, but when the pedal was to the floor, all six carburetors would be opened. The hood also came with an air scoop to allow better air flow to the engine. The following is a list of some of the 69' Bee's numbers. The following information was found at (Dodge Super Bee History, 2003).
Production: 383: 25,727. 440 Six Pack: 1,907. 426 Hemi: 166
Engines: 383 V8 335bhp@5200rpm, 425lb-ft@3400rpm. 426 Hemi V8 425bhp@5000rpm,
490lb-ft@4000rpm. 440 Six Pack V8 390bhp@4700rpm, 490lb-ft@3200rpm.
Performance: 440/390bhp: 0-60 in 6.3 sec, 1/4 mile in 13.8 sec @ 104.2 mph.
Process of Fabrication
My first task was to go to Hobby Lobby to pick out my model of choice. I originally wanted to build a Oldsmobile 442 since I own one, but I looked around everywhere and could not find one. I decided to build a 1969 Super Bee. The Super Bee model that I picked out had two models in one. You had your choice to either to a stock Super Bee, or a custom built one as shown on the box below.
My next step was to pick out my necessary materials. I bought paint in the following colors: silver, aluminum, black, red, green, and gold. I bought spray paint in red and flat black colors for the body. I also purchased model glue and paint brushes. Other materials that I used included a utility knife, paint thinner, sand paper, toothpicks, and an old rag. These materials would be vital in the fabrication of my model.
After I had gathered all my materials, I opened the box and began to pull the pieces out. The pieces came in a couple different forms. There were chrome pieces that for the most part were not to be painted. Then there were white pieces that made up the majority of the parts. These pieces were the main ones that were to be painted. The last type were the clear pieces. These pieces were not to be painted and they made up such parts as the windows and the headlights. The picture below shows a very small portion of the pieces that went into this model just to illustrate the three different types of pieces.
The body was painted first, since this would take about four coats until it was perfect. The body and the front piece were painted gloss red. The interior, hood, scoop, and chassis were painted flat black. These pieces were painted their given colors because these were common colors for the stock 1969 Super Bee. The car was to be made as original as possible.
Next, the small intricate parts were painted. Each part took its own amount to paint. Some parts had to be very detailed, while others just have to be painted one simple color. Some of the parts are very tiny, and they were difficult to paint. These parts had to be held with tweezers, while a fine tipped brush was used to get the detail just right. Below is just a small sample of the pieces that were painted and used in the model.
The first piece to be assembled was the engine. The following picture is of the basic engine block. More pieces will be added.
The body was painted flat black along with the interior and seats. The piece positioned in between the seats is the shifter.
The next step was to add the headers and the valve covers to the existing engine block. The headers were difficult to assemble due to a piece that stuck out on the left side.
The exhaust system, rear suspension, and rear tires are added after many hours of detailed painting. Each line had to be painted straight in order to pass inspection by me.
The front suspension was much easier to take care of due to the fact that it was only required to be painted flat black. The front tires were later added once the suspension had dried.
The front grill required no painting. The headlights were tricky to put in because they were to small to handle. They had to be inserted using tweezers.
The following piece is the dash board. It was painted flat black, while the gauges were painted steel.
This is a picture of the chassis after the exhaust system, engine, and front and rear suspensions had been added.
The red pieces behind the tires are the rear shocks. These also had to be installed using tweezers.
The red piece is the engine, the silver piece is the drive shaft.
This picture shows the engine after it has been mounted. Radiator fan, belts, and alternator have now been added to the block.
This is a front view of the belt, fan, and alternator.
This is a side view of the chassis with the engine mounted on it.
The radiator has been added, and will be installed into the car in future steps.
This is a close up picture of the engine once the distributor has been added. The distributor is the silver piece that is long and round. It is the closest piece in view.
The 1969 Super Bee has a hood scoop that allowed for maximum air flow throughout the engine.
This picture is of the body after it has been assembled. It is only glued in two places to it is a very fragile piece until it is added to the chassis. The body was added after the windows and rearview mirror were installed.
The body was then assembled to the chassis without the use of any glue. It snaps into place providing a tight fit. The car is basically now finished aside from the addition of decals.
This front view shows the grill and bumper assembled to the car.
This is the rear of the car without the license plate and rear stripe.
This picture shows the interior of the car. The steering wheel is detailed with silver paint. You can also see the gauges through the window.
This is the underneath of the car after it has been finished. Each piece can be seen clearly.
This is a close up picture of the scoop once the "six pack" decal has been added.
This picture is of the finished car. All the decals have been added and the car is looking good.
This is a side view of the car once it has been finished.
This front view shows the license plate of the car.
The rear of the car now has its license plate and the black stripe. The car is officially finished.
This log Sheet documents the time that was spent on this project. It also documents the major task that was to be completed at that particular time.
|
Date |
Hours Spent Working |
Major Task |
| 3/17/04 |
5 |
Painting |
| 3/18/04 |
4 |
Painting |
| 3/19/04 | 2 | Painting |
| 3/29/04 | 1.5 | Detailing parts |
| 3/31/04 | 1 | Detailing parts |
| 4/05/04 | 1.5 | Detailing parts |
| 4/07/04 | 2 | Assembling pieces |
| 4/12/04 | 1.5 | Touching up pieces |
| 4/14/04 | .5 | Touching up pieces |
| 4/15/04 | 2 | Assembling basic pieces |
| 4/19/04 | 1.5 | Touching up pieces |
| 4/21/04 | 1.5 | Assembling basic pieces |
| 4/26/04 | 1.5 | Assembling the rest of the engine |
| 4/27/04 | 2 | Assembling the chassis and body |
| 4/28/04 |
2 |
Finishing the car |
| Total # of Hours |
29.5 |
This project gave me a chance to do something that I have always wanted to do. I had fun doing this product, while also learning a lot from it. I learned the processes that goes into producing a car. It takes a lot of time to design and produce a car. I definitely learned patience in doing this product. When gluing the pieces together, the paint rubs off onto the other pieces so they then have to be touched up. It became frustrating at times to get a piece how I wanted it, only to have to touch it up at a later time. I also had to be patient when putting the decals on. They are very fragile and can rip at any time. They wanted to stick together and they were hard to get untangled if they ended up that way. I have a tendency to rush things sometimes. I could not rush things while working on this project. I had to wait until each part had dried completely. I also learned some new problem solving skills from this project. The pieces fit together perfectly in the instructions, but they don't also end up that way in real life. I had to do a lot of adjusting in order to get some of the pieces to fit where I wanted them to go. I also learned some new painting techniques. I had never done any spray painting where I had to be precise. So it took some practice to get the body painted evenly. As a future teacher, I think it would be good to give students models as assignments. They would learn a lot from actually constructing a car, as compared to just sitting in class and watching a video on how cars are manufactured. This would give students a hands-on view.