Rat Rod

Rat Rod

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Custom 1991 Harley Sportster 1200


This was an older project, really really fun build, great bike to ride too.
I did absolutely everything myself including the frame mods and fabrication, to the paint job, to hand stitching the leather seat myself as well.


The bike appeared in this issue of BikeWorks magazine


Also appeared in American Iron magazine




Heres what I started with, really ratty basket case '91 sporty


Frame stripped


Modifications included putting the turn signals in the frame tube ends, and converting the rear fender to a "strutless" type


Mods done, and frame primed


Ready for paint


Painted with Dodge Viper Blue Metallic, still the coolest shade of blue there is IMO.


Motor was reworked, and heavily polished


More polishing


Final assembly begins


Mocking up the tank and rear fender


Rear wheel mock up


Another shot


Mock up of the License frame


Another shot


motor Mock up


Rear wheel done


My custom side cover, all the excess metal was removed so the oil lines, and pump are visible. Gives the engine more of a "sepperate" appearance


All done, ready to roll!







Friday, May 20, 2016

Custom Cafe Racer based on a 1977 kawasaki KZ400 platform. This bike is currently undergoing a major transformation, but will remain a Cafe/Streetfighter type style.

1966 Chevy short wide restoration

This is the next project, I have decided that since this doesn't quite qualify as a true "survivior" because it has been painted at least once, I will do some slight custom modifications to it, but leave it largely untouched because it is very heavily original, and I want to keep that look..

It is a 1966 short wide chevy. Big back window, deluxe trim package, factory air, 283 with a powerglide transmission.

9/8/16 Update:

I have finally begun the teardown for restoration, amazing what you find when you start to tear down a truck this old, lots of little issues, rustier than I first thought..

Here we go..hood is off...



Rusty fender support...ouch

Evidence of a fairly minor fender bender at some point, this will have to be worked out or replaced.

Front end totally off

Radiator out

Engine out

Engine on the lift

Engine on the stand

Rear view of the engine on the stand

Engine torn down (mostly) I am currently doing a leak down compression test to determine if I should rebuild it, or just put fresh gaskets, paint, etc. It was running quite well when I started this process.