Turning my softail into a bobber - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1/2Dozen · 03-17-2011, 09:28 PM

Ill post more pics along the way but I've started to make a few big changes on the motorcycle this year. Right now it has 18" gimps from Nash, The exhaust I made from scratch, fenders are WCC and paint is House of Kolor candy apple red over gold flake with the white pinstipe. Here is what it looked like before the process:

My plans are dish the tank (which I've started) put a bobber fender on it with fender struts to the swingarm and cut those ugly looking strut horns thats holding the fender on there now. I will make a hard pan seat that I will cover in leather and tool something in it. Also make a different set of pipes cause its just fun to do. Finally paint the headlight housing black and eventually two tone my motor black and silver. Here is a pick of the tank so far. Sorry about the pictures I took them with my phone.

NONHOG · 03-17-2011, 10:32 PM

Can't wait to see how that tank comes a long.

1/2Dozen · 03-17-2011, 11:13 PM

Im going to buzz all the paint off tomorrow and should only need a skim coat of mud in the dished sides

1/2Dozen · 03-19-2011, 03:12 PM

stripped the tank down except for seem down the center, ill need to add more mud to that as well as the dished sides.

1/2Dozen · 03-25-2011, 12:58 AM

spread the mud to take care of the rough spots from beating down the sides and into first coat of primer. Also took a 9 inch fender made for a 200 rear tire and removed 2.5 inches so it fits nice on my 150 rear. Once I get the fender welded up I will run it through my buddies planishing hammer to flatten the seem out.

here's a quick shot of the fender sitting on the wheel for now. I think I'm going to cut the fender so it ends up at the 11 or 12 o'clock position then add a fender strut and cut off the strut horns I've been waiting so long to get rid of.

tcb-1 · 03-25-2011, 11:01 PM

gotta watch this thread!!!

1/2Dozen · 04-08-2011, 11:37 PM

Needs to be sanded down and cleared again along with white pinstripe around the red and a design on top of the tank. Here's a few shots so far. My friend paints for a living and does some pretty awesome work. You can see more of his stuff here www.hagenkustoms.com

NONHOG · 04-08-2011, 11:52 PM

Not to often you see a tank design that looks fresh. You got it!

1/2Dozen · 04-09-2011, 05:53 PM

thanks nonhog- the pictures don't show how awesome the flake is in person.

1/2Dozen · 05-22-2011, 10:20 PM

I know its been awhile, been busy with work now that its golf season here. Been working on the bike as much as I can. Here is where I'm currently at with the transformation. Sorry about the crap pics.

took a little over 3 inches out of the center so this fender would fit my 150. Made some struts out of some flat stock and have everything mounted with the swingarm. Also in these pics you will notice the seat. I plan on tooling some leather but unsure what it will have on it. Then it will be riveted with black rivets.

Going to cut down the exhaust I had and make some tips. I'll probably have the tips somewhere around the tape area. Should have that done tomorrow.

Here is the picture of the tank painted by HagenKustoms who is a member of the site here, just hasn't posted much yet. He just bought a 68 chevy so I'm sure it won't be long. Like a said pictures suck but the paint turned out awesome!

1/2Dozen · 05-30-2011, 11:49 PM

Strut horns before hacked off

strut horns filled and smoothed

painted and blended.

cut my original pipes down, took over a foot off and went back to black wrap again.

I forgot to take pics cause i was excited to get it out on the road but the tank is mounted and the seat is sitting on it. just need to figure out what design i want to go with in the leather.

Also, my gf bought a 73 triumph bonneville that I've been building. I'll post pics of that build soon as well. Let me know what you guys think so far.

1/2Dozen · 06-01-2011, 04:07 PM

plan on figuring out seat pattern tonight.
couple pics, pics don't do the paint justice at all.

propanemudtruck · 06-06-2011, 05:59 AM

Nice metal work! We rode about 140 miles yesterday, perfect weather for more! Have a good one

1/2Dozen · 06-07-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by propanemudtruck

Nice metal work! We rode about 140 miles yesterday, perfect weather for more! Have a good one

thanks man, i need to finish my fender and seat so i can be done with it. been riding it more then working on it lately.

03-17-2011, 09:28 PM	#1
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Turning my softail into a bobber Ill post more pics along the way but I've started to make a few big changes on the motorcycle this year. Right now it has 18" gimps from Nash, The exhaust I made from scratch, fenders are WCC and paint is House of Kolor candy apple red over gold flake with the white pinstipe. Here is what it looked like before the process: My plans are dish the tank (which I've started) put a bobber fender on it with fender struts to the swingarm and cut those ugly looking strut horns thats holding the fender on there now. I will make a hard pan seat that I will cover in leather and tool something in it. Also make a different set of pipes cause its just fun to do. Finally paint the headlight housing black and eventually two tone my motor black and silver. Here is a pick of the tank so far. Sorry about the pictures I took them with my phone. __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign Last edited by 1/2Dozen; 04-08-2011 at 11:26 PM.

03-17-2011, 10:32 PM	#2
NONHOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marana, Arizona Posts: 3,458	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Can't wait to see how that tank comes a long. __________________ "I feel the need for speed!"... as soon as I am done with my nap.

03-17-2011, 11:13 PM	#3
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Im going to buzz all the paint off tomorrow and should only need a skim coat of mud in the dished sides __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

03-19-2011, 03:12 PM	#4
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber stripped the tank down except for seem down the center, ill need to add more mud to that as well as the dished sides. Last edited by 1/2Dozen; 03-19-2011 at 03:12 PM.

03-25-2011, 12:58 AM	#5
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber spread the mud to take care of the rough spots from beating down the sides and into first coat of primer. Also took a 9 inch fender made for a 200 rear tire and removed 2.5 inches so it fits nice on my 150 rear. Once I get the fender welded up I will run it through my buddies planishing hammer to flatten the seem out. here's a quick shot of the fender sitting on the wheel for now. I think I'm going to cut the fender so it ends up at the 11 or 12 o'clock position then add a fender strut and cut off the strut horns I've been waiting so long to get rid of. __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign Last edited by 1/2Dozen; 03-25-2011 at 09:29 AM.

03-25-2011, 11:01 PM	#6
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber gotta watch this thread!!! __________________ Doug THANK YOU to our American Soldiers & Veterans - POW MIA "You will NEVER be forgotten". The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

04-08-2011, 11:37 PM	#7
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Needs to be sanded down and cleared again along with white pinstripe around the red and a design on top of the tank. Here's a few shots so far. My friend paints for a living and does some pretty awesome work. You can see more of his stuff here www.hagenkustoms.com __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

04-08-2011, 11:52 PM	#8
NONHOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marana, Arizona Posts: 3,458	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Not to often you see a tank design that looks fresh. You got it! __________________ "I feel the need for speed!"... as soon as I am done with my nap.

04-09-2011, 05:53 PM	#9
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber thanks nonhog- the pictures don't show how awesome the flake is in person. __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

05-22-2011, 10:20 PM	#10
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber I know its been awhile, been busy with work now that its golf season here. Been working on the bike as much as I can. Here is where I'm currently at with the transformation. Sorry about the crap pics. took a little over 3 inches out of the center so this fender would fit my 150. Made some struts out of some flat stock and have everything mounted with the swingarm. Also in these pics you will notice the seat. I plan on tooling some leather but unsure what it will have on it. Then it will be riveted with black rivets. Going to cut down the exhaust I had and make some tips. I'll probably have the tips somewhere around the tape area. Should have that done tomorrow. Here is the picture of the tank painted by HagenKustoms who is a member of the site here, just hasn't posted much yet. He just bought a 68 chevy so I'm sure it won't be long. Like a said pictures suck but the paint turned out awesome! __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

05-30-2011, 11:49 PM	#11
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Strut horns before hacked off strut horns filled and smoothed painted and blended. cut my original pipes down, took over a foot off and went back to black wrap again. I forgot to take pics cause i was excited to get it out on the road but the tank is mounted and the seat is sitting on it. just need to figure out what design i want to go with in the leather. Also, my gf bought a 73 triumph bonneville that I've been building. I'll post pics of that build soon as well. Let me know what you guys think so far. __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

06-01-2011, 04:07 PM	#12
1/2Dozen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 237	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber plan on figuring out seat pattern tonight. couple pics, pics don't do the paint justice at all. __________________ 66 suburban 51 Merc 2 door coupe 38 Chevy Business Coupe (gf's) 76 Airstream Sovereign

06-06-2011, 05:59 AM	#13
propanemudtruck Local Redneck Authority Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 584	Re: Turning my softail into a bobber Nice metal work! We rode about 140 miles yesterday, perfect weather for more! Have a good one __________________ -Kevin four on the floor feel the beat in your soul movin to the rhythym pumpin til ya cant take no more dance if you want to do what you came to you cant ignore the feeling of that four on the floor



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