'62 JC Higgins Flightliner - Project Finished :)

[teisco]

Picked up a new project,,JC Higgins chrome Flightliner...I will go through the build in this thread if you want to follow along.

As found: Click on pics for larger image.






Not sure if I want to repaint or leave patina,,,,or customize. So I will start with disassembly and clean all the chrome and hope most of the rust can be removed.

Here are my starting tools...a good chrome polish,,0000 steel wool,,penetrating oil,,and aluminum foil.

 

[teisco]

Chrome,,,love chrome but not rust..so here are a few parts I started with.
Really nice to have the early metal light shroud rather than the later faded plastic one.

 

[teisco]

Pedals came out great with fairly good chrome and rubber.


Looking at the paint that was underneath some chrome it seems the original paint was candy red,,,translucent red over silver.


Also got the rear tail light working.

 

[teisco]

Break time.

 

[teisco]

Today was messy day,,,strip the clear coat off the frame

Using this stuff.

Supposed to wait several hours so now waiting.............waiting,,,,,,,,,,,and some more waiting. I will let you guys know how well this stuff works,,,or doesn't.
Oh, red stuff on chair is from painting the house shutters and not from the bike,,,,,,,,,,or me!

1

 

[teisco]

Ok,,hot but must get back to work..
Starting this time is the finished polished frame,,,clip on any pic for larger image.

My report on the Citristrip,,,,only took off 1/3 of the clear after 5 hours waiting,,, so then it was steel wool time.....

 

[teisco]

Picked up another chrome frame bike,,,Huffy brand..was going to use for parts but now think will restore and find tank and stuff.

 

[teisco]

More work done,,,cooled off here now so back at it..
Here is the paint I am using...Dupli-Color lacquer primer and Dupli-Color Red Metal Specks (best spray paint from a can that I have used so far).


Primer'd tank sides.


Painted tank sides (metal specks in red show up in sun). Yet to do,,clean up the decals and several coats of clear.


Rear rack sanded,,cleaned and ready for primer.

 

[RustyGold]

Quite the improvement so far...looking really good

 

[teisco]

Thanks very much for the encouragement Here is an update; got the painting mostly done and after I get these lights sorted I should be able to reassemble.

Painted tank and rear rack.


Going to use a four cell battery box for the headlight if I can figure out this wiring.

 

[teisco]

Got the chain guard polished, painted and lettered today...

 

[teisco]

Finished,,,(all but red dice valve caps,,still looking)
Click on pics for larger image

 

[RustyGold]

Excellent!

 

[Chad T]

Beautiful job. Bike looks amazing.

 

[Imaginos]

Wow!

 

[teisco]

Thanks!

 

[teisco]

This might be for sale,,,new project just came by, PM me if interested.