Don Garlits Swamp Rat Bike

[Kevin B]

My grandson is coming down for Christmas and I am going to teach him to assemble a bike. From driving in the bearing cups, lubing and etc.

Our project will be this Kent Shogun. It is the worst frame I ever started with. It had weeds growing through it when found. The top tube had large holes I had to fill with 2 part epoxy putty. The good news is everything would be transferable to another frame if it fails.

I posted earlier about this extended fork I built.

Here is a mock up of the wheel set we will use.

This is the paint, I had to repare that ahead of his arrival. A friend with a band saw helped me cut out the tank.

Other items on stand by are all the hardware, Some cool Big Daddy Don Garlits graphics and a faux parachute pack. I hope we can have a banana seat one day. We'll see how it works first. I think we will probably start with a layed back post and a cruiser seat.

 

[Kevin B]

Couldn't get a slick so found a flame tread rear tire for the bike.

 

[Son of Kradus]

looks good kev! ya done a great job on the tank!

 

[Kevin B]

Thanks we put it all together from a bare frame and tested it. Pictures to follow.

 

[Kevin B]

 

[68z27]

View attachment 255208

good job passing along the "hands on" experience and not just saying how we used to do it..........oh, and also starting next years obligatory "Feet" thread for Matti

 

[Kevin B]

 

[SwissGuy]

View attachment 255222

I like that ship stool!

 

[Kevin B]

I like that ship stool!

Thanks, it turned out real good.

 

[SwissGuy]

Thanks, it turned out real good.

I had a very similar one (built during BO14) but its parts ended up in the BuggyTrike

 

[Kevin B]

I haven't put the graphics on because I'm not sure I like the finished product. My grandson liked building and riding it. I think it needs a banana seat.

 

[Kevin B]

My grandson went home after Christmas and this bike has been unattended. I have been gathering more parts. The chute and tank are mock ups. Not fastened very good. I don't think this will be the final location for the chute. Tank is a canister, 2 dryer vent clamps and a Mr. Gaskit or Cal Custom air cleaner nut.

 

[Da Gas Man]

Drag wheelie bars perhaps?

 

[Kevin B]

Drag wheelie bars perhaps?

They are out by my vice where I cut them out of a step through frame. I'll go get a picture. I have to find a little skateboard wheel or something.

 

[Kevin B]

You can see the brace that attached to the seat tube. I'll probably be cutting it off at the brace just behind the head tube.

 

[Da Gas Man]

Like minds and all.

 

[Kevin B]

Just loosely testing "look" using dropouts. Actually mounts will be fender brace bosses.

 

[Wayne]

The "Don Garlits" what a great name for a muscle bike! For those readers that don't know, Don Garlits (Big Daddy) was the first drag racer to pass 200 MPH in the 1/4 mile. Then again 200 MPH in an 1/8 mile.

The wheelie bar is a perfect accessory for your grandson's bike. The original Whamo wheelie bar had a skateboard truck wheel set. This helped to steer the bike while riding the wheelie. You talked about a banana seat, the sissy bar makes a good place to add the triangle brace for the wheelie bar. Unlike a drag car, the bike wheelie bar should be higher off the ground if you plan to ride that wheelie up in the air! This will allow weight transfer.

 

[Kevin B]

Wheelie bars coming along. The twin bar stepthrough made a good source for the bars. I cleaned up the drop outs removing a lot of excess stock.

Carefully measured and installed a 2" x 3/4" tire. I'll be shimming it with 2 washers.

Here's how it is coming. I lined up a fender mount hole using that and the axle nut for mounting.

Updated the parachute bracket too. Aluminum from an old DOT sign and a reflector bracket.

 

[Kevin B]

Wheelie bars finished. Repurposed some of the ss tubing truss rods I made, which I now used for bracing. Cut off the beveled ends I had ground which were dangerous. Made an axle, threaded on both ends for acorn nuts. Painted it silver instead of black because I don't know how many times I've nearly fell over these!