One step at a time

I always wonder what it would be like to build a bike with all the parts laid out in front of you. I myself have never been able to afford that luxury.  Travis's panhead was the closest I've ever been to that dream.  So like most of us, I usually just start with one part.  I have always dug Brandon's stuff at Mullins Chain Drive.  So that is where I started, with a set of his 39mm super narrow trees.  Simple and well made.

The next step was to fabricate bars.  I decided to use integral risers with 1" stainless tubing for the bars.  I proceeded to turn down a couple of 1" SS bolts to for the risers.

The trees are designed for 1/2" Allen cap screws.  I don't like the way they look on some parts of the bike.  So I decided to turn the hex heads down and tapped the heads for a 5/16" bolt.  This allows the 1/2 bolt to work with a 5/16" head in the counter bored hole on the trees. now I can use a traditional looking bolt without altering the trees.

More on the bars later.

Credit due where credit is due.

Credit (kred'it)- Recognition or approval for an act, ability or quality

I have always thought that credit would be given where credit is due.  As the definition goes,  I don't need someones approval.  I have never felt comfortable with others praise or accolades of my work. 

I have always been content with just watching people dig my creations.  Whether it was my drawings, my paintings or my fabrication projects.  I just have a need to create something.  But as I complete each project, I am always left with a desire to do something bigger and better than the last.  When you don't really make money off of these creations, finding the money to start the next one is very difficult.  

But that desire to create doesn't fade away.

  My wife can easily attest to the trials and tribulations of dealing with someone that becomes unbearable to live with, when he can't create the things that obsess his mind.  Thankfully, she has done everything possible to finance my projects.  To ease that burden on her and our marriage, I have tried to fulfill my need to create by helping others to do the same. This has not always worked out in my favor.  I know now that this unwillingness to accept credit and partnering with others to get my "fix", has led to me not getting the credit I deserve.    

Before you say,"Wow, this guy is full of himself!", let me explain. I will never expect to make a living off of this hobby.  I will always have a "real" job.  By not taking credit, I have not given myself the opportunity to keep doing something that I love. 

I don't know what recognition I will receive from the next project.  But I can guarantee there will be no confusion on who built it.

Been gone too long!

Life is full of ups and downs,  I would like to tell you that everything has been on the up lately.  But that wouldn't be true.  I won't get into the details, but suffice to say that my focus has been on my family more so than my hobbies.  I "finished" the truck or at least got it back on the road.  I will post pics when I get a chance.  Other than that the wife and I attended the last Hunnert Car Pile-Up.  As always, a great show and a real good time. With all that said I am looking to start a new project and get back to the shop.  Here are a few pics from the show.

Sometimes things don't go as planned

I suck at deadlines. Not matter my best intentions, I usually fail miserably. This time is no different. I had hoped to button up the fab work and start prepping for paint by now. The only excuse I have is that the gas tank that I had envisioned fabbing for the F100, quite literally kicked my ass. It took 5 pieces of 18 ga sheet metal to get the tank shape I wanted. It sucks not having the tools you need to make those visions in my head a reality. None the less, finally came up with somethings I can live with. Still have to install the fuel sender and make the mounts. But another few days and I should be getting ready for paint. Of course there is the issue with the hood. That's a whole another story. Later.

Door skin is done!

I have to admit the door was kicking my ass. But I finally got it. I am stoked on how it turned out.

Stutz Blackhawk Special

My daughter was recently invited to show her artwork at the Stutz Business Center in Indianapolis. The Stutz Business Center was formerly the home of the Stutz Motor Company. Although the building now houses mostly artist studios, it still has some examples of Stutz automobiles.

One being a favorite of mine, that I had only read about and seen in pictures, the Stutz Blackhawk Special. The Blackhawk Special was a LSR car designed and built by Frank Lockhart and the Stutz Motor Company.

In 1928, the Blackhawk Special, driven by Frank Lockhart, made its trial run at Daytona Beach. The car obtained a speed of 225 miles per hour. During the run, the car careened into the ocean after the tire hit an irregularity in the sand. If not for spectators pulling him from the crash, Frank may have drowned.

After the car was rebuilt, Frank returned for another run at the record. In his first run, Frank and his Black Hawk Special obtained a speed of 198 miles per hour. On his return run, a tire blew and catapulted the car end over end, throwing Frank from the car. Frank Lockhart was killed in the crash. Devastated by the accident, the Stutz Motor Company ended all their race endeavors.

Frank was uneducated mechanical whiz, with an ability to fine tune a car for better handling and greater speed. This car was well ahead of its time. While other heavier LSR cars were utilizing aircraft engines with high displacement, Frank designed the Blackhawk Special to be light and utilized a 16 cylinder engine( two banks of 8 cylinders, set an included angle of 30 degrees) with a total displacement of 181 inches.

The car design is inspiring and truly unbelievable for its time. Thanks Frank.

More truck repairs.

Been busy at work. Not much time in the shop. Finished the floor boards and I have now started to repair the side swipe damage on the passenger side. Front fender and the door. Fender is done, starting on the door. More on that later.

I love KZ 400's!

I just dig it when someone takes a bike like the KZ 400 and makes it something like this. Awesome! Found this on ChopCult.

New floor pan, cont.

New floor pan done and mocked in. Much improved.

New floor pan, cont.

New mount fabricated and replaced the sheet metal it mounts to.

New floor pan

Decided it was time to tackle the floor boards. One of the previous owners had tried to cover up the rust with fiberglass and body filler. Not pretty to say the least. Cut the passenger floor pan out and found that the cab mount was almost gone. Time to fabricate a new one.

More truck mods

Both bed corners needed some help, but the passenger side was almost gone. Made a new piece and got it in this weekend. Looks a lot better now. On to the passenger door and floor boards next. Later.

My truck gets a little TLC.

I pulled the truck in for the winter, hoping to address some of the issues it had last year. First and foremost, the gas tank was leaking. I pulled the bench seat and the tank. I plan to relocate the tank in the bed. So with that mind I filled in the old filler neck hole in the cab. Next on to the new gas tank.

Bird catcher done!

Travis and I had always like the looks of the old bird catchers. He had tried contacting a few guys about the repro's they were doing, without much luck. I thought I would give it a try. I started with 1/2" aluminum flat stock. This one is for a Super E. Rough polish, just to see what it would look like. This one is going to Travis. I am going to make a few more. Anyone interested?