1956 Panhead build for The Greasy Dozen

[ralphiejantz]

Just getting around to starting this build in between waiting on parts for some of my customers projects to come in so I just finished building the wheels and pulled the frame down off the shelf and threw on a 39mm front end that I had kicking around

Basic plans for the bike are
-single loop frame from Mullins Chain Drive (stock panhead specs)

-Original Akront aluminum rims with buchanans stainless spokes laced to a Wargasser hex hub in the front and an OEM star hub in the rear

-1956 Panhead FLH motor

-4spd ratchet trans kick only

-open 1.5" belt primary

-custom handlebars made by me

-custom exhaust and custom mid controls and a bunch of other well umm custom stuff made right here in the USA in my shop

the deadline for this contest is June 30 so it will be a little tough on me trying to get this done in between finishing up my customers builds and projects etc.

for more info on The Greasy Dozen sponsored by Old Bike Barn check out their website for it at http://thegreasydozen.com/

This is what the donor bike for this project looked like ( I bought it for just the motor and trans and the rims )






Here is the frame that Brandon from Mullins Chain Drive Made for me frame #015 these are very similar to the old Motorshop frames from before my time. Brandon does an awesome job with these





Some pics of the rebuilding and refinishing of the original Akront wheels





After a little time in the blasting cabinet I sanded them with some WD40 and 400 grit paper then again with some WD40 and scotchbrite to keep the brushed finish


Wargasser Narrow Hex Hub (very similar to the Old AEE Hex Hub)
Like all my wheels that I build these are built with Buchanans Stainless Spokes and Nipples


On the truing stand
The great thing about these wheels is that they were so well made they keep a very tight runout tolerance even after being used for god knows how many years

[ralphiejantz]

The rear rim got the same treatment as the front and is laced to an OEM star hub that also got some fresh internals





Just some quick mockup pics from tonight
Im not sure if Im going to run the 39mm front end or not my original idea was to take an early knucklehead springer that I have and narrow it by about 3" but Im also liking the 39mm front end so Im still very up in the air about it
if I keep the 39mm legs they will go in either a set of Mullins Chain Drive Super Narrow Trees or a set of Wargasser narrow trees

[Zeeman]

Looks great, will be following with interest. I'm also building up a single loop frame Panhead at the moment.

[Ridge Runner]

Ralphie, Been watchin' your last build or two...
This one is gonna be SWEET, love the Mullins "Witch Finder" frames...
Those old Motor Shop frames are nice, lookin' forward to see'in more.
Wheels look Great...
Keep up the good work!

[HD48FL]

Looking good there Carmine!

[M.O.Ther]

Originally Posted by Zeeman

Looks great, will be following with interest. I'm also building up a single loop frame Panhead at the moment.

I'll be following this as well. I too am a member of the "Building a single loop Panhead" guild. Mine's a '63 in an original Motor Shop frame.

[abeblinkin]

me too... 61'

[Just Passin' Thru...]

cant wait to see this one! i have a 50 pan in a motorshop frame thats up and running, its great the frame has that side trans mount!

[ralphiejantz]

thanks guys
Ive had the image of this bike in my head for a long time Im just happy to finally start to see it come together

got the donor bike on the lift to pull the motor and trans



Motor is out and will be getting a thorough cleaning then off for a good once over and freshen so it will be 100% good to go


Put the rear tire on


and set the front end at -2 under
I think I will probably leave the ride height at this level

[binky666]

keep the pics coming!! I dig those frames

[whittiger650]

Wow.......... that looks really good

[MIKE47]

What not painted yet?

HAHA. Slow down cowboy, look time till the rodeo.

[ralphiejantz]

Originally Posted by MIKE47

What not painted yet?

HAHA. Slow down cowboy, look time till the rodeo.

Haha take it easy over there buddy I dont want to get too ahead of myself

[ralphiejantz]

cleaned the trans down and dropped it into place
hopefully gonna get the motor in place tomorrow amd start to line up the drivetrain and set the rear wheel
this is just for mockup the trans will be getting pulled apart and the case and cover dechromed and the internals all gone through and anything fixed as needed etc
hoping to have the driveline all lined up so I can set the rear wheel spacing and start building





Cleaned down the motor as well so I can get it into the frame for mock up and fab work etc
the motor will be getting torn down and fully gone through and freshened up after mock up is all done

[ralphiejantz]

pulled the gas tank shell that I made up a few months ago off the wall today and started to work on the bottom panel for it
then just some really early mockup pics with the stock panhead horseshoe tank and early stages of the gas tank I still have to fit the back section on the gas tank then cut the perimeter and weld it all up

[HD48FL]

You are not wasting anytime, that tank looks great!

[ralphiejantz]

after playing with the lines on the tank a bit I decided I wanted it to sit a little lower on the backbone
so I finished up the back of the tank setction
now I just have to go back and finish the bottom seam
and I will probably do the mounts from underneath into the bottom of the tank(the last pics shows a frisco tab under it Im still undecided how I want to do the mounts)

[Loffer]

Spot on on the tank. Looking sweet.

[HD48FL]

Originally Posted by Loffer

Spot on on the tank. Looking sweet.

Yeah the tank looks great.

What kind of seat and rear fender are you going to use?

[ralphiejantz]

Originally Posted by HD48FL

Yeah the tank looks great.

What kind of seat and rear fender are you going to use?

im going with a british fender that ill radius to fit the tire for the seat im going to do a custom seat pan and cover it and a reverse sissybar to mate up to the seat