Buying a '49 Pan

2021 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by kickstarts, Aug 10, 2012

eric_81

Discussion Starter · Aug 9, 2012

Like the title says I am buying a 49 Panhead tomorrow. After owning 4 different Shovels, 2 sporties and 1 Evo I finally found a Pan I can afford. It is a 74" stock motor with new jugs, belt driven primary and a suicide shift. The frame is a uncut original but has had alot of the extra tabs cut off. Has a 12" over sporty frontend which will have to go.

Never owned a pan so is there anything to look for or pay special attention to? For the price, short of having a rod sticking out of the case, I am buying it. Hope to have some pictures up by the weekend.

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lilbill

· #2 · Aug 9, 2012

unless it's a low milage barn find or has had a recent rebuild by someone who knew what they were doing for someone with the funds to do it right you might be buying a bag of snakes. early panheads have a lot of moving parts that wear with use and age and can run into the thousands of dollars to make right. same goes for the trans, forks,brakes etc.
i wish you good luck but be prepared for the worst

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Zeeman

· #3 · Aug 9, 2012

1: Clear title matching numbers on VIN pad as a 1949 Harley Davidson

2: Unfucked with numbers, do a search to educate yourself on the peculiarities of Harley numbers, 6's & 9's especially & the appearance of the VIN pad (raised with no grind marks/porosity/double stamped numbers)

3: Matching belly numbers that match the year of the VIN (matching cases are less important if you're building a chopper)

Aside from that just general wear and tear, a lot of choppers are poorly maintained/thrashed pretty soundly. Also, if it's got a 12 over front end with no rake, must sit pretty high..

Good luck, and post photos!

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HD48FL

· #4 · Aug 9, 2012

Zeeman said:
1: Clear title matching numbers on VIN pad as a 1949 Harley Davidson

2: Unfucked with numbers, do a search to educate yourself on the peculiarities of Harley numbers, 6's & 9's especially & the appearance of the VIN pad (raised with no grind marks/porosity/double stamped numbers)

3: Matching belly numbers that match the year of the VIN (matching cases are less important if you're building a chopper)

Aside from that just general wear and tear, a lot of choppers are poorly maintained/thrashed pretty soundly. Also, if it's got a 12 over front end with no rake, must sit pretty high..

Good luck, and post photos!

Yeah what he said, plus don't forget you mentioned that the frame was uncut but had extra tabs cut off. If the tabs were cut off then it's not uncut and those tabs are not extras. As Zeeman said, post some pics as a picture is worth a thousand words.

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AndrewC

· #5 · Aug 9, 2012 (Edited)

Bottom line numbers numbers numbers, If they look like they've been screwed with in any way they probably have. Vin boss should be clean and title should match exactly what is on motor, goto the DMV and run the numbers also check https://www.nicb.org/home You said new jugs, made by who? HD , VTWIN? worth looking. Tabs that have been cut off is no big deal and to be expected, unless your doing a ground up restoration who cares. Either way they can be replaced easily it all depends on you and your plan.

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Okie Pete

· #6 · Aug 9, 2012

Good Luck with your new ride. Gather up all manuals and learn all you can about it. Old Iron is a blast.

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kickstarts

· #7 · Aug 9, 2012

If you've owned 4 Shovels and 2 Sportsters, I think you know what you're doing.

Enjoy you're next project.

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LRChops

· #8 · Aug 10, 2012

Be careful on the matching belly numbers! It was not uncommon for someone to mismatch cases, grind off the numbers on one side and re-stamp in matching numbers. Also assure you check the stamps near the rear motor mounts that are normally covered up by the regulator mounting bracket. I have learned the hard way!

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kickstarts

· #9 · Aug 10, 2012

Tattoo said:
LOL you would hope so? But I guess if you haven't had a Pan you might not be sure?

I've had a Pan, it wasn't like some of the Sportsters I've had though...

I guess it's all in your luck of the draw.

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