81 Project Update

It has been a long while since I posted, primarily because it is taking a long time to do the next mod. Here are the things being done. BTW this is a complete garage build, I am an amateur so not really concerned if someone can do it better.

1. Adding a Hard Tail to it. The new frame will drop the bike by 3" and add 4" to overall length. This will also require the bike to have a raked front end to level it out.
2. Changing the tank to add to the custom look, more of an oval tank, Also putting in a visual gas gauge.
3. Change out the rims, 19" in the front and a little wider tire in the back, both on whitewall old school tires.
4. Changing out the Oil tank to a full custom built tank.
5. New paint......or maybe no paint, I like the new rusted out look so might go that route. Rusted out with some nice old school pin striping might also be an option.
6. Rearrange the exhaust....I am going to look at some different designs, maybe some super short straight down, or the exact opposite, supper long that shoot way up in the back. If I go that way then I need a large sissy bar in the back.
7. The bike will be totally unrecognizable as an AMF HD 81' 1000 sportster when its done.

Completing the Fender Painting

OK now that I am underway with the repainting of the TINS and the rear fender I have run into another problem. FLORIDA HUMIDITY. This hasn't been such a plague but it recently has been causing my Black Paint to Dry Foggy and Gray. It is not affecting the finish as it is coming out smooth as silk BUT the drying time between coats and the shine is a strange gray color. Hoepfully in the next day or two it will be less humid and I can get the final Base Black down so I can let it set for a day or so them get my Clears on. While I am waiting I went to the Florida Bike Builder Expo and foudn some inspiration in some of the ride in Bobbers that were there. Also searching the internet for Brake lines to replace the Front lines and allow me to work the handle bars. I think turning them upside down is going to be the way to go for the near future.

Clear Coat Tank and Tins

Clear coating is one of the easier yet a very important part of the finishing of your painted tins. I found that Painting a first VERY LIGHT coat is the best. The lighter the coat the easier it is to control the chance of a RUN. Allowing the coat to dry between 15 and 20 minutes between coats allows enough set time and also allows each coat to chemically bond to the coat before. Messing up in this stage means sanding down and repainting. SO patience is a very good thing right here. I ended up getting mine on without a run and it looks FAR better than I thought it would for being Rattle Can.

Tank Base coat on and Putting on Emblems

The tank with a Base Coat.


Finished the Tank and for Rattle Can the finish turned out a lot better than i thought it would be. It took about a week to complete. Putting on a Coat, Wating, Wet Sanding and then putting on another coat. This is a Base coat color and these pictures show the tank without any clear coat applied. Once I measure and put the Emblem on I will clear coat over the tank.


The Tank taped up ready for the emblem.
Marking a piece of String with a Middle Mark then measuring out a mark from center and then taping to the tank will help with a GUIDE for setting your emblem on the side of the tank.

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Once one side is on make sure that the emblem is adhered to the tank in all spots.
Each side should be fairly level and if you measured correctly and where able to lay the emblem on correctly it should look pretty symetrical when done.
Went with a Brass color emblem to match a Brass Velocity Stack on the air cleaner AND switching out a lot of the nuts and bolts if possible to brass will add to the Old School look I'm trying to accomplish.

Removing the rear Fender

This was one step that had to happen so since my solo seat is on its way I figured I might as well get rid of this rear fender. The turn signals presented a minor challenge but taking off the fender helped and I was able to slide the wires out of the fenders.

SOLO Seat Found

I decided to go with a All Black Leather. With a Little cushion, and no design on it. I want the bike to be true Garage and not have a lot of festoonery. This seat from Demon Cycle seemed to be what I was looking for. I was trying to deal on a "Best Offer" from a guy on E-bay he turned down an offer I made and said he would take $105, so I offered that and he turned it down. So F&%^ him.

1981 Ironhead Harley Sportster as Purchased.

This is my 1981 Ironhead Harley Sportster XLH 1000. Here is the bike the day I got it. There is a lot of things that I want to do to it and I am trying to figure out what to do first. I have a million questions that need answered. 1. Do I Bobber it? or leave it stock? Do I need the engine rebuilt? or can it wait? A million ?'s. Anyway I think the first thing I will do is clean it up and see whats underneath some of the oil and dirt. Once I've done that maybe the starting point will show itself.

Here is my list of things to do that I don't need to purchase.
1. Clean the bike.
2. Remove the Front Fender (the tire is too big right now for it anyway)
3. Sand down the tank that is on it. The original is with me but not installed needs some work on it as well.
4. Do something with the back end. if I remove the fender I may find something else to do but that might be a good start.
5. look at all of the connections and see if there is some cleaning I can do to make it look a little neater.
6. Wrap the pipes. (for now wrapped will have to do.

Here is my preliminary list of things to buy to start the project.


1. New Seat (bobber/solo seat) even if I stay stock it still needs to have the seat removed since it isn't stock.
2. New Handlebars. (Drag or Apes?) not sure yet.
3. New Front Tire (21" maybe 40spoke) Might as well go white wall and do both while I'm at it.
4. Exhaust some LAF Y pipes should set it off, but will have to wrap the current pipes as they are.

There will be a lot of things changing and as I do them I will post on here the results. Or the steps that I have taken. SO far I haven't done anything but title and plate her. About $150 bones later and I can drive her if I want.

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Chrome won't get you home.