Hi, thought I would now start the build I mentioned before. Been compiling a few pics etc and hope I can keep it interesting for you all.
Firstly a little project background.
I bought a nice "looking" BSA Super Rocket that had been visually very nicely converted to a Spitfire Scrambler, and it had been built with all the right bits etc and photo documented. Should have been one to just take home and enjoy! Guy was short of money so got it cheap enough without ripping him off. (I should be so lucky)
Here it is,
First thing to do was to fit some proper tyres fitting for such a machine.
And so I had a play with it in my yard, (which is quite big)
The performance was VERY disappointing and I kicked myself for only hearing it and not test riding it but as I collected it at 10pm it was not the easiest thing to test with no lights etc.
So I fiddled with it and eventually found the float level on the TT carb massively low. This was adjusted and performance improved tenfold!
However!!!!!!
After about 5 runs up the yard and back there was a loud nock under load, just like big end bearings! Subsiding when retarded.
So, put it away and decided to do a full rebuild on the complete bike. I didn't love it any more
Problem with me is that when I pull something apart I start to imagine and fantasize and get quite imaginative! That's my job after all.
But sometimes I get a little carried away. That's what happened here!
I had a set of old Marzocchi 38mm forks from an old 60s scrambler in my collection of bits in the "parts room" and thought I maybe should fit them, on offering them up they were 70mm longer than standard and would lift the front just nicely I thought. So one evening I fitted them in a mockup.
I also had some nice period looking "Redwing" racing rear shocks which happened to be about 1" over stock, so fitted these too. Bike looked really good but the tank was steel and oil tank heavy etc etc.
I then managed to find a twin carb head on ebay while no one else was looking and got it pretty cheap in really excellent condition. Tested it as standard on my flow bench against my big valve single carb head and got some pretty impressive results for an un touched head that everyone says "won't flow"
Mocked that up and mounted a pair of new 32mm Amal Concentrics from a Commando with a quick pair of manifolds I made.
Then it was off to my friend "Frank the Tank" http://streugmetalshop.be/ for some finer modifications.
Here she is with Frank,
The new tank is ally and about 1 1/2" longer than std at the front end, and narrower at the sadle end. Subtle but very pleasing.
When it came back, I made some extensions to raise the rear an inch and a half more in order to get the look I wanted and then made the front and rear mudguards myself. The rear mudguard is completely sealing off the rear "inner frame area" so as not to get mud in my air filters etc.
Initially I was going to run with no front guard but in some classes you have to have one so I made this one to look period and I think it works quite well.
I also made a pair of long bent trumpets to go from the carbs to the air filter area under the saddle, this is bent ally tube with a nice big bell mouth formed on the end. Foam air filters will then fit offer the trumpets. You can also just see the new oil tank I made to fit under the seat.
Also cut and modified the front "roundel" to fit and mount directly round the new headlight and made the stainless headlight holder and mesh cover for the lens
And then finished the inlet manifolds properly,
So this is how it ended up looking with me quite happy with the general look.
Stripdown time!
And time to do some mods to the frame.
Basically these consist of the following.
Rear mudguard loop.
Reinforcing swingarm mounting,
Front down tube bracing,
Modified head stock, extended and modified to fit the Marzocchi fork yolks and taper rollers.
Side stand and side stand bracket made to tuck the long stand up and out of the way when not in use.
Head stock bracing,
Steering stop tubes.
Numerous small tacking and bracing jobs.
Then off for frame painting.
I was going to do the frame and some of the tank etc Black, but could not sell it to myself in the end so chose a nice dark grey metallic.
Hope you like it when finished.
On return it was time for assembly to start.
Re-bushed the swingarm with newly made bronze bushes, and modified to take grease nipples, new spindle bought and fitted but drilled with a 3mm hole in the centre so the grease can get to the brake spindle also. Notice the much thicker frame support for the swing arm spindle.
Next job was to tidy and polish the yolks,
These were just tidied with the die grinder and a little weld here and there to plug unsightly holes etc. and then finished off with the rasp file and then a needle file where needed.
Followed by polishing on the mop and fitting up to the frame.
More to follow as and when!
