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JPG1911 · 05-31-2015, 10:15 PM

Backing up a few posts, I promised more pics and a better description of the mods and current status.

My friend wanted a FLH or Road King type big twin cruiser, but his dad had this little stock sporty at his shop, so they tore it down and began to mod it into a more laid back cruiser than a mid-control racer.

They started with the engine. The jugs were bored 0.040" over and honed. Then, new forged Weisco 10:1 pistons and new wrist pins and rings were fitted to the factory rods. The bottom end was deemed good, so the cases were not split. The heads were sent to specialist with a flow bench and given a full port & polish, as well as decked 0.010" and lapped. New stainless steel valves were fitted into the stock bronze valve guides and new springs were installed with the factory rockers and rocker boxes. 1980 was the first year of electronic ignition on the sportster and it was still quite buggy, so they yanked it in favor of a more traditional breaker point system. They installed a high output accell ignition coil and installed Andrews PB+ grind cams, and capped it off with a S&S Super-e shorty carburetor and drag specialties 1.75" diameter drag pipes with baffles that are more for the inspector to see than to actually serve a functional purpose. The transmission was left stock - more on that in a minute

Next they installed the forward controls and dual Fat-Bob tanks. The fenders and tanks were hand painted with a wonderfully nostalgic crinkle finish blue paint job by my friend's uncle. I have since learned that the pearl effect in this type of paint application is often referred to as a "saran wrap job" and is accomplished by laying plastic cling wrap over the wet paint and ripping it off swiftly. Pretty neat

This photo shows the effect pretty well if you zoom in on the tank

They then fitted a very nice Corbin 2-up saddle and sissy bar, custom mirrors, grips, gas caps, and an 1960's reproduction Caty-Eye dash with single digit speedo. The suspension mods consisted of Progressive rear shocks and a front end from a newer sporty with dual front disc brakes.

The bike was dumped on it's right side twice, but sustained little damage. When I got it, the rear master cylinder was leaking. I wonder why...

<sigh> back to work I go... I will add more later

05-31-2015, 10:15 PM	#11
JPG1911 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 117	Backing up a few posts, I promised more pics and a better description of the mods and current status. My friend wanted a FLH or Road King type big twin cruiser, but his dad had this little stock sporty at his shop, so they tore it down and began to mod it into a more laid back cruiser than a mid-control racer. They started with the engine. The jugs were bored 0.040" over and honed. Then, new forged Weisco 10:1 pistons and new wrist pins and rings were fitted to the factory rods. The bottom end was deemed good, so the cases were not split. The heads were sent to specialist with a flow bench and given a full port & polish, as well as decked 0.010" and lapped. New stainless steel valves were fitted into the stock bronze valve guides and new springs were installed with the factory rockers and rocker boxes. 1980 was the first year of electronic ignition on the sportster and it was still quite buggy, so they yanked it in favor of a more traditional breaker point system. They installed a high output accell ignition coil and installed Andrews PB+ grind cams, and capped it off with a S&S Super-e shorty carburetor and drag specialties 1.75" diameter drag pipes with baffles that are more for the inspector to see than to actually serve a functional purpose. The transmission was left stock - more on that in a minute Next they installed the forward controls and dual Fat-Bob tanks. The fenders and tanks were hand painted with a wonderfully nostalgic crinkle finish blue paint job by my friend's uncle. I have since learned that the pearl effect in this type of paint application is often referred to as a "saran wrap job" and is accomplished by laying plastic cling wrap over the wet paint and ripping it off swiftly. Pretty neat This photo shows the effect pretty well if you zoom in on the tank They then fitted a very nice Corbin 2-up saddle and sissy bar, custom mirrors, grips, gas caps, and an 1960's reproduction Caty-Eye dash with single digit speedo. The suspension mods consisted of Progressive rear shocks and a front end from a newer sporty with dual front disc brakes. The bike was dumped on it's right side twice, but sustained little damage. When I got it, the rear master cylinder was leaking. I wonder why... <sigh> back to work I go... I will add more later __________________ 2004 United Motors DS200 "Denise" Be Dragonized!
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