Etta's Vacation Cruiser

[mistersurly]

Happy 2017 Rat Rodders!

After a long bitter hiatus, I am back to building/riding. Back surgeries (2012-2015) had me way out of the game.

Anyway. My lovely bride gave me a great birthday gift this month .. 1960 Schwinn Speedster (dated 4/20/1960).
I'll post progress on that in another thread. The bike I am entering is actually the $20 CraigsList
bike that happily gave up it's alloy wheels for the Speedster. Yes, it's the LaJolla aluminum POS pictured
below. Since my wife and I have the same birthday (weird, huh?), I'll be building it up for her. I have less
than two weeks to finish it ... just in time for beach vacation and hopefully fat tire cruising.

Her Nickname is "Etta" ... hence the project name.
Wish me luck (?)

The bike as it sat yesterday. Frame is now free of parts

Small parts:
Camping light hack begins

What's this?

Teaser shot of Speedster (BMX build coming). SO VERY HAPPY none of the parts were stuck

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Cool stuff, welcome to the build off!

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I think if I had nothing else to do... AND all the parts in hand, I could probably build a bike in the time we have left. But man that's pushing it and some days my creative mind is somewhere else plotting (or praying) Looking forward to seeing both bikes finished.

Carl.

 

[mistersurly]

I think if I had nothing else to do... AND all the parts in hand, I could probably build a bike in the time we have left. But man that's pushing it and some days my creative mind is somewhere else plotting (or praying) Looking forward to seeing both bikes finished.

Carl.

Hi Carl, it's Carl.

Upside: All parts on hand, and fab-ing/fitting can be done in the house.
Downside: It's too d*&^% cold to paint!

 

[mistersurly]

Sanding (nearly) complete. Second phase of fitting tomorrow, and
a light coat of paint. Paint is going to take awhile with this cold spell.
May have to burn the branch pile Saturday night and make sure all
painted parts are close.

Headlight painted, lens tinted, bracket TBD

 

[squirreldh]

Talk about a late entry!

Sent from my SM-G550T1 using Tapatalk

 

[mistersurly]

First coat of paint applied to frame and small parts. Whew! Joining this build-off is
really pushing me ... but it's the push I needed.

Introduced the chain guard to the step bit today.

 

[OddJob]

Like I always say, "RaT oN"! And in your case RaT FaST !!

 

[mistersurly]

Frame and other parts have (thankfully) dried!!

 

[mistersurly]

Build up begins ... long way to go ... short time to get there

 

[mistersurly]

The parts bin always pays off

Small touches

 

[mistersurly]

Wheels nearly done. In the meantime:

Shortened fender, made spacer (will tighten on final assembly)

Light mount done

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Nice progress!

 

[mistersurly]

Few hours to go. Back from vacation; where I had a little "bike-ccident" ... my right elbow is swollen
and looks like it's going to give birth! Finish pics coming (wipes sweat from brow)