1934 Shelby>Rusted to Death

[Pressed Steel 1915]

When I first went to buy this bike it literally fell apart in my hands.
Frame is bent bad, Metal is very pitted & rusted out.

I think most people would just part-out any usable items and hang the rest on the wall.
But I would like to have her back on the road by mid-Summer.
With most of the original parts....I was told it sat under wood in a open-air barn for over 50 years.

Thanks for looking>

 

[outskirtscustoms]

It is rusty but I love it. What do you plan on doing with it? Weld in new tubes or is the frame that bad yet?

 

[Pressed Steel 1915]

The frame is thin from rust, the bend is pushing the rear-end over.
Will try and bend frame back, Add metal weld and sand-down & hope for the best.

If only I could of found this bike 30 years ago!

 

[sloar]

my opinion if its metal, its fixable. i have a background in restoring cars, welding and bodywork. i have a bad habit of not seeing rust and holes when i like something. i love that thing, if i had it i would have a go at restoring it. good luck and have fun.

 

[ratina]

Cool bike! Glad to see youre going to fix it up!

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Now I know what they mean by "Rusty Gold" :lol:

 

[chepe13]

Cool man, I cant wait to see your progress.

 

[chagovatoloco]

There are some rust treatments out there that convert rust in to magnetite, that might help stiffen the frame and make it solid. Permatex offers one.

 

[Rustinkerer]

I bought a near identical one last year off ebay. It was already rebuilt as a rat. -Adam

 

[gcrank1]

Just MHO, but that looks like 'outside storage' rust, not 'in a barn' (only mention it so others can be forewarned by your excellent pics).
I sure hope you can save it, and goodonya for tryin'! I hate to see anything that poorly treated, so it has a good home now. Even if it turns out to be too weak to ride, you will have made a nice display bike.

 

[Anonymous]

Shovel it up and ship it to ME.

I'll hang it on the wall.

Thats 80 years of HISTORY right there!