Mods......While Brit bike dot com has its uses, I for one would approve perhaps a sub-genre of Preunit singles and Unit twins of the BSA parentage as being useful and seeing as they are ALL the same breed it would make sense to my self absorbed thinking.
I joined here to learn and ask for help on these early bikes but there is a lot on the early singles I need help with as well.
I have much more experience on the Unit twins, but even then dont know everything.
That being said..I have a LOT of unit twins, and downsizing the volume. I am keeping only 2 but happy to offer my help on these. I would STRONGLY STRONGLY and FORCEFULLY encourage this poster to NOT use ANY abrasive media around that Oil bearing frame aka OIF. BAD IDEA sparky! You cannot totally cap it off or seal it. Worst idea ever. Grit has its magical abilities to migrate into where you dont want it. Even one shard of media will ruin your whole day, week and month.
I have a bunch of OIF Triumphs and BSA and while I am only keeping one of them (A custom T140D cafe) they are quite popular now as Street trackers modified to resemble Trackmaster frames. (Also relocate the oil filler cap where originally intended).
In the past, I have always painted frames, Powder coat has its uses (Brackets, center & side stands etc) Its bad form to use on a frame. If you ever scratch or damage it, its easy enough for a competent painter to touch up and repair the finish and also possible to mask off the bike and does not require a full strip down. You CANNOT do so with a powder coat. It is also extremely hard to find a shop who can strip powdercoating. Cant speak for your area, but I had a friend who crashed his Norton after a 2 year build and we had at that time just under 30 shops in the extended area that do powder coat. Only one shop could strip the material. And it was not cheap. Being a stubborn sort and slow learner he DID re-powdercoat his frame again.
(Some people you just cant reach, just like we had here today! -Apologies to slow hand Luke)
While not appealing, you can strip with chem stripper and scrub and clean it yourself. (then paint) But I have used a chemical stripping shop. There is one in a nearby city and they have tanks large enough to drop entire car and pickup bodies into. (Parts must be degreased before arrival) But they happily did multiple frames for me and cost was reasonable. First tank removes all paint, bondo and stickers and leaves it bare metal. Second tank is a treatment for corrosion so your parts dont flash corrode on you.
Congrats on the OIF bike, they are the pinnacle of BSA twin engineering. Not the most stylish at times. (Does yours have the bread box tank or the Triumph variant tank as they interchange?)
But the motors had some very important upgrades and improvements. (Especially that cast Iron pump). I have a basket case version sitting here I am planning on selling, Perhaps your wifes fears will be assuaged if you promise a His & hers? I have a friend from the UK arriving here next month to ship a container load back to Blighty so perhaps I can send it to you?