4D LaSalle

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Made big moves over the weekend! Had to wait for a headset from the bay. Nothing I had would do the bike justice. In fact, I bought a whole other fork so I could get this headset and the struts I was missing. cCleaned them up and got them pressed in. Most people refer to my press as a rubber mallet. View attachment 195909I figured as much, but the locking fork I had was off a ladies bike I’m guessing. Little long but I chopped it with a cutoff wheel and cleaned it up. View attachment 195910Now the rest of the headset bolted up perfectly View attachment 195911The stem I’m using is a repro or rechromed, or both. May have come off the same bike as the crank I’m using but I really can’t remember anymore. I like the beefiness but I don’t know when this type was used. View attachment 195912Finally, I cleaned up and bolted up the struts. They’re not as nice as I’d like but they’ll be okay. View attachment 195913So I’m getting close to making this look like a bike. Bars, wheels, rear hub, tires next.
I think it may be a Wald stem. I’ve seen them mainly on Roadmasters. My 53 has one.
 
So if you have followed any of my past builds, you know that I love to run the drop center Electra rims. In my opinion, they’re the only modern rims that have a proper vintage look. I found this set on a 90s Schwinn in my town for $30 bucks. Got the reissue typhoon tires and script grips off the bike, too, then cleaned it up and gave it a strandie look (knobbies and BMX grips, seat and bars up) and sold it for $200 to pay for some other parts for the LaSalle! These rims are the perfect slightly dark red for this build. I plan to just run the Electra front hub. After all, it’s an exact ripoff of the heavy duty Bendix that came on Whizzers and Cycle Trucks and such, just in aluminum.
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For the rear, I had to step it up, and this JC Higgins finned unit was the first thing I found in decent condition and a decent price. I rebuilt it and laced it in as soon as I got it.
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For tires, I really wanted to try the big n little look since I’ve never done it on a Build Off bike before. A subtle version, at least. For the front, I’ve been saving this brickyard style tire. It’s a reissue that says Schwinn Classic on it, and it says 2.125 on it, but it is conspicuously undersized.
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Out back, I splurged for a Jerald. I’ve never run one before so I figured now is the time!
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Finally, I had these left over from my “Coors Banquet“ bike. It’s a ‘53 Schwinn cantilever in Coors yellow/tan with all the parts powder coated black.
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Got everything together and I’m pretty happy with the results. I tried to show the tires together to see the size comparison. It’s pretty noticeable considering they’re the same size.
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At this point, all the “easy” stuff is done. Once I get these bolted on, It will be time to modify and fit the seat, chainguard and fender.
 
So if you have followed any of my past builds, you know that I love to run the drop center Electra rims. In my opinion, they’re the only modern rims that have a proper vintage look. I found this set on a 90s Schwinn in my town for $30 bucks. Got the reissue typhoon tires and script grips off the bike, too, then cleaned it up and gave it a strandie look (knobbies and BMX grips, seat and bars up) and sold it for $200 to pay for some other parts for the LaSalle! These rims are the perfect slightly dark red for this build. I plan to just run the Electra front hub. After all, it’s an exact ripoff of the heavy duty Bendix that came on Whizzers and Cycle Trucks and such, just in aluminum.View attachment 196765For the rear, I had to step it up, and this JC Higgins finned unit was the first thing I found in decent condition and a decent price. I rebuilt it and laced it in as soon as I got it. View attachment 196764View attachment 196766For tires, I really wanted to try the big n little look since I’ve never done it on a Build Off bike before. A subtle version, at least. For the front, I’ve been saving this brickyard style tire. It’s a reissue that says Schwinn Classic on it, and it says 2.125 on it, but it is conspicuously undersized. View attachment 196769View attachment 196770Out back, I splurged for a Jerald. I’ve never run one before so I figured now is the time! View attachment 196768View attachment 196777Finally, I had these left over from my “Coors Banquet“ bike. It’s a ‘53 Schwinn cantilever in Coors yellow/tan with all the parts powder coated black. View attachment 196771Got everything together and I’m pretty happy with the results. I tried to show the tires together to see the size comparison. It’s pretty noticeable considering they’re the same size. View attachment 196772At this point, all the “easy” stuff is done. Once I get these bolted on, It will be time to modify and fit the seat, chainguard and fender.
I like those rims too and have a few sets. I'm using a set from an Electra Karma on my Twrekmaster build.
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Banquet WIN
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Here’s the banquet bike. 53 Schwinn cantilever. Mostly original with some repro parts. We usually pair it up with my wife’s Maybelline bike, 1958 ladies, built similarly but to look like the mascara bottle. We have 3 “matched sets”. Also have the Duralium bikes and a pair of 1951 Hornets.
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Found some hardware and mounted the wheels. More of that muted metal look. I go to great lengths to not have any exposed threads, Phillips’s head screws, etc.
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Been soaking the skip tooth chain in rustoleum rust remover, wire brushing, repeat. Starting to look like the rest of the bare metal.
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Found a set of NOS adjusters online. Bolted everything up. Of course the wheels will come off 10 more times.
 
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Great looking LaSalle. I bet you were the only one walking away from that one thinking "I think I’ll start by drilling some holes in some metal!" :D :D
 
ANY UPDATES!!!???
 
Back to work on the LaSalle. To fill the whole on the tank, I used to use stainless plugs.
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But recently, I came across these handy dandy dummy horn buttons that fit the holes for all the Delta horns.
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I bolted it in as soon as it was delivered. Will need to find some slotted screws before it’s done.
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Looks the part! Even has the little triangle!
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Back to work on the LaSalle. To fill the whole on the tank, I used to use stainless plugs. View attachment 202084But recently, I came across these handy dandy dummy horn buttons that fit the holes for all the Delta horns. View attachment 202085I bolted it in as soon as it was delivered. Will need to find some slotted screws before it’s done. View attachment 202086Looks the part! Even has the little triangle! View attachment 202087


Those faux buttons are super nifty
 
How’s it going, RRBBO’rs? After taking a year off from the Build Off (incidentally, I was in Italy for a month, just like Mr Kingfish is this year), I’m back with another bare bones build. This will be my fifth build off in ten years where I have finished with a 3rd, 5th, 20th, and DNF (uploaded at the last minute not knowing the site ran on central time 🤷🏻‍♂️)

I’m starting with a frame, fork and tank, all 1940 Schwinn DX at far as I can tell. It was rusted pretty badly at some point, then was stripped and primered, so there’s no archaeological digging to be done. There was a trace of dark red under the bearing cups but that’s about it.
View attachment 193129Since that is the case, I decided it needed to be a LaSalle, complete with a proper head badge.View attachment 193130This build is going to be a quintessential rat rod by most of our standards, but I am searching out some original parts for it as well. I like having them look like I ruined a perfectly good bike rather than cobbling one together!
That's a awesome bike !! I would like to have it.
 
So somehow I messed around and am once again trying to get everything up at the last minute. The bike is done but have a lot left to post! Earlier I mentioned doing some drilling. Well, with a little help from my buddy Dave and his drill press we added some speed holes to the seat frame.
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We also removed the front spring and and welded the frame directly to the tan on the pan.
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So then I got busy matching the bare metal to the rest of the bike. Used some more stainless cap nuts on the bolt. The black Naugahyde look is perfect for the 60s rat rod look I’m going for. Got it all together and moved on to the next thing.
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Next on the list is the rear fender. I found one that I had already used half of on another bike. I also cut down steel spacers to get the fender sitting on the tire perfectly. Finally I finished everything off with some more stainless. I had to cut a section out for the chain to clear. The chain guard will keep it hidden. Lots more stripping and sanding.
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Chainguard time! Got it all drilled with speed holes and in matching bare metal. I also bought a universal mounting kit off eBay. I had to soak the galvanized parts in toilet bowl cleaner to get them in bare metal and then hit them with scotch brite. It took some trial and error and some bending to get these new parts to cooperate but it worked out. Finished everything up with some more stainless hardware.
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