2 Bikes I need help to I.D.

[4blairs]

I bought these 2 bikes and would like to find a year and a little more info about them.
One is a Western Flyer and I found these # (J58481)
The other is a Firestone Pilot with skip tooth sprockets. (8H083951 and 178-8-9A7) found on the bottom. (Click on the photo and more will follow)

 

[Wildcat]

The Western Flyer is an AMF Roadmaster made in Arkansas bike, late 50s to early 60's.

The Pilot is Huffy made, by the 8H in the serial, the 8 is 1958, or maybe 1948.

 

[Flying Zombie]

The Western Flyer is an AMF Roadmaster made in Arkansas bike, late 50s to early 60's.

The Pilot is Huffy made, by the 8H in the serial, the 8 is 1958, or maybe 1948.

Would the color combination of the original paint give any leads to which year it is? I understand some makes only have certain paint jobs for certain years. Do you think knowing the number of teeth on the Sprocket would help any?

 

[Bicycle808]

If the Pilot still has the original crank/sprocket, I'd put it at '48, due to the style of the sprocket and the inch-pitch. By the late 50s, a lot of Huffy bikes had forward-facing drop outs, but some models (eg, the Eldorado) had rearward-facing fork-ends in the late 50s, so that's just a clue....

 

[Wildcat]

I looked for 48 and 58 Huffys and Pilots, and didn't find a match for yours.
Is the top tube bent or is that just the way the pic looks?
As for paint matching years, I'd have to have access to a catalog to make a guess on that.
Then I remembered Huffy was the nickname for Huffman bikes way back when and looked up 48 Huffman and found this pic. So, I'd guess yours is a 48 Firestone Pilot, made by Huffman.

 

[4blairs]

Thank you for looking, my top tube is bent down in one spot but I will fix it.
I just started pulling it apart and it looks like the paint is original paint, I also counted the front sprocket and it has 26 teeth and the back has 10 teeth. I plan on leaving everything just like it is and even the tires. I noticed that the rims have a pinstripe around them now if I can find the correct pedals or if anyone has some for sale I would be set.

 

[Ratrodmike46]

So with all that said, how can you find out what the bikes are worth?
I'm still new to the bike scene and I'm learning what too look for.