(name change) Middle Aged

[Brian macumber]

This is the main starting point for my build a 69 Columbia.

My plan is to fix the head tube and stretch the front a couple inches using this Schwinn

looks like the batteries caused some corrosion on the head tube the reason I want to do this. That's one of batteries that was in the tank in the basket

After I get the front finished I'm going to stretch the back a few inches. Going to get it tore down today and get it ready for a OA bath.

 

[Funkme]

Looks like a weak spot on that tube. Are you going to replace it?

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I love a stretched vintage frame!

 

[OddJob]

RaT oN~!

 

[Brian macumber]

Looks like a weak spot on that tube. Are you going to replace it?

Yes I'm replacing it when I stretch the front out .

 

[Pondo]

Cool! I'm looking forward to seeing how the stretching process goes!

 

[LeMad Hatter]

 

[Brian macumber]

Yesterday after work I got the frame stripped down had a little fight with a couple parts the seatpost, left pedal, and couple small bolts that ended up twisting and breaking off.

and I got what part of the Schwinn front cut off with some extra till I figure out where exactly I am going to make my cuts on the Columbia.
Hopefully I can get back on it today after work and get that done.

 

[Brian macumber]

Worked on getting the front part of the frame mocked up and ready so I can get it tacked together. The top tube on the Columbia was a little bit bigger than the bottom tube which is the same as both tubes on the Schwinn so I came up with a shim to fit the top tube .

Then with some help from my little friend I manipulated the top and bottom tubes to line them up.

Now to take it back off drill some holes for plug welds, bevel the edges, weld the shim to the inner sleeve then start on the rear of the frame.

 

[Brian macumber]

I've decided to change my build name after explaining to my wife how I was going to leave the frame like it is with the older Columbia in the middle and newer Schwinn parts on the front and rear.
As soon as I explained it to her a light went off in my head Middle Aged!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Love your work so far, and the new name is perfect!

 

[OddJob]

Ingenious '3rd hand tool' for lining it up! I'm already smiling watching this come together.

RaT oN~!

 

[Brian macumber]

Ingenious '3rd hand tool' for lining it up! I'm already smiling watching this come together.

RaT oN~!

Thanks the inner sleeves are lining everything up the ratchet straps are just holding it together till I can get some tac welds on it. But it definitely came in handy.

 

[Brian macumber]

Between yesterday and today I got the rear section of the frame cut off both bikes and fit together.

I had to straighten out the seat stays on the Schwinn section to be able to slide on the Columbia stays. So I used a piece of angle and a long screw to hold it on a 6x6 then used a pipe to bend down to where they slide on.

The chain stays was a little different size so I had a piece of solid steel that fit in the bigger stays but just a little too big for the smaller ones. I used my grinder spinning the steel till I got it to fit the Columbia stays.

Fit it all back together

I took a fork and held it in and measured the axle to axle length and it looks 50-51inches. My other stock Columbia around 43". I wanted to see what the back would look like with a wheel and fender so I mocked it up and threw on a seat and post. I won't be using that seatpost or tires they were just handy.

Now just need to get this part tacked together and everything all welded solid.
A comparison of the back section.

 

[twojs.bike]

I’m digging this!! Nice work!

 

[Brian macumber]

I’m digging this!! Nice work!

Thanks it's working out easier than I thought it would.

 

[Pondo]

The stretch is looking great on that frame, nice work! Looks solid and safe too.

 

[Brian macumber]

The stretch is looking great on that frame, nice work! Looks solid and safe too.

Thanks still have a couple things to figure out might need to figure out if I'm going to need to stiffen the rear any and how.

 

[Son of Kradus]

Looks great brian and I love your use of differnt things to get the job done! if you do have to stiffen the rear maybe you could add a cross member on the seat and chain stays , as in move it closer to the wheel, might be a bit more rigid as in stretched bikes the dreaded frame wobble can rear its ugly head!

 

[Brian macumber]

Today was tacking the rear section together and making a cross brace for the top and one for the bottom with a fender mount in case I decide to use them.

Since everything was tacked together I wanted to see what it looked like on the ground so grabbed a fork , front and rear wheel, and a rear fender so I could make sure it would fit.

I've been trying to figure out how to transition from the patina to where I am going to paint the front and rear sections. So I grabbed a scrap frame and tried three different ways.
I tried just a fade but didn't do to good a job at that. I also did just a straight line didn't like that then I done some darts I like that the best.

Just need to get the butted areas welded together next.