Prewar + Postwar = My first rat build (fully assembled but build not done)

[whitefiretiger]

New here and doing my first true cruiser rat build.

I picked up a 1941 women's western flyer that has a very tweaked frame (if you look at it dead on you can see it has a bow in the frame & there are several cracks in the frame) but it still rideable (took it around the block). I got it for $10 being sold as "yard art"; all I saw was working skiptooth setup for a rat project. Has new departure model d hub.

I also have a heavy steel cruiser frame (think it was an Ocean Pacific bike once apon a time but for free it seemed like it would be great for something... Maybe my skiptooth rat.

Not sure what way I'm going to go with this because the op frame is mostly stripped to raw metal so maybe fresh paint but rusty wheels, truss rods and luggage rack.

I had time today to check if this build might work... The wf crank fits the op frame but I'm going to need to shorten the chain a little.
The steer shaft on the fork needs shortened (around 1.5" too long for the frame).
Still trying to figure out if I can adapt the wf chain guard to fit too.

Pics...
First the WF.





Edit: this is now "Prewar + Postwar = My first rat build".

I now have a 1947 CWC frame that I got for $30 that I'm going to attempt to use for this build now.

---------------------------------------------
Build cost (will keep updated): Total so far $66.40

* 1941 women's Western Flyer (bent/cracked frame) - $10
* 1947 men's CWC frame (rideable bike but only original part was the frame)- $30
* Fork threads extended 2" - $21.40
* Lay back seat post - $5

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Pretty cool! That frame seems like it would be very strong!

Luke.

 

[whitefiretiger]

I figure so too.
It seems identical to the first rideable cruiser I had (an Ocean Pacific labeled bike I got from Walmart in the late 90s iirc) it was very strong as I rode it like a mountain bike for years before it got a makeover and used like a cruiser; it didn't die till it got ran over by a F350 at the beginning of 2012.

I haven't weighed the OP frame but I'd say it weighs easily 2 times the bare WF frame.
My old OP was around 60lbs fully dressed.

On a side note can I open the ends of the New Departure hub to service the bearings without disturbing the internals like can be done with modern coaster brake hubs?

Oh and here a pic of my old OP.

 

[whitefiretiger]

No physical progress as I've been zapped of energy between the 12 mile round trip riding my bike to work and the extra hours I've been putting in at work.

But I did find a place that is willing to add 2" of threads down the steer tube of the fork for around $20. The only other place in the city willing to do it wants $60.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Good price!

Luke.

 

[whitefiretiger]

Good price!

Luke.

glad to hear you say so. I've never had it done before.
called shops the next city too and only one said they would do it but said $50.

on another note I think I found a paint scheme I might try with this bike.
something like this green/yellow (or is it cream? Can't be sure) in the pic.

I'm trying to find pics of bikes with this paint for reference but not having much luck.

 

[whitefiretiger]

Well I may have located a different frame for my build. Should be going to look at it next week and maybe buy it.
Not sure what brand or year it is but the general style fits better with the time of skiptooth. In fact the pic I was sent of it looks a lot like the one at the top of the ad in the post above ; but no tank.

Still trying to find good reference pics for the green on the bike in the ad.

 

[whitefiretiger]

This is the pic I was sent of the bike I'm going to go look at for the frame for this build.


No clue what it is but it seems a better choice than the op.

 

[whitefiretiger]

Wildcat came up with a bit of a I.D. on the frame.

You're right, just the frame is what is Cleveland Welding Company from the early 50's. Either a Roadmaster or Western Flyer frame.

Jpromo said 47-49

The frame is indeed CWC built; with that frame and dropouts, it's 47-49. Could have been badged Roadmaster, Western Flyer, Hiawatha, Hawthorne, several other things but those are the big ones.

Thanks guys.

 

[whitefiretiger]

Got the frame (bike) earlier
Serial number is: A82509 CW

Looks like Jpromo hit the nail on the head.

I have been reading online for what seems like hours lol.

Seems the CW suffix indicated postwar starting in 46?.
And the dropouts places it from 46-49.
The A at the beginning places this as a 46 or a very early 47 built frame as B serial was still early 47.

I'm very excited about this frame as it is straight and sturdy. There are a couple dings in the frame (one of them seems to be from a crank arm hitting the frame).

Its sad it has been repainted metallic silver color (as can be seen in the pics in the last post)
I'm going to try to see if there is any original paint under there but in the few chipped places it isn't looking like there is.

Also hoping to find time to start the process of braking this down tomorrow. & maybe toss some of the WF parts on to get a look if this is going to work.
The guy I got it from said he couldn't budge the seat post but not sure he tried very hard (no vice grip or hammer marks on the post lol)

Edit: upon further reading this may be a 46 frame.

 

[whitefiretiger]

Well looks like well call the CWC frame a 1947; so this will be 1941+1947 for this build

Got a little bit of playing done today. Stuck the back wheel crank and chain on, after an hour was able to get the seat post out, also sat the chain guard on to have a look.

This CWC frame was destined to be a rat bike.

Also I've been finding bits of green paint on the frame. Best place to see it is in the bb after I pulled the bearing cups out.
Note the camera/flash makes it more vivid than it is; its more of a drab green that kind of makes me think of the 70s.
Any chance this is an original color?

 

[heartlandcruisers]

looks like the beginning of a sweet build.

those truss rod forks are one of my favorite accessories on a bicycle i just like how they look.
i tried to do some digging on the green but no luck yet on if it is an original color but i will keep looking.
that rat fink decal is awesome too i agree it seems this frame was destined to be a ratrod lol.
if you do not plan to remove the rat fink decal maybe an ed Roth tribute would be a good theme for this one.
i agree with the frame being 40's it has the look and the straight bar frames were from that era.
i might need to get that guys number that added the threads to you're forks. i have a pair for a rebuild bike i am doing that needs about 4 more inches of thread added to them. 20 bucks is not expensive at all the one guy i spoke to told me 65 bucks and it would take 3 days so needless to say i did not do them yet.
id suggest not painting the build as it looks cool as it is. that's the only added idea i can think of since you already got it looking sweet.
good luck with the build and if you need my help let me know.
Sean

 

[whitefiretiger]

Thanks.

Havnt done the steertube threads yet but will let you know when I do.
I like the truss rods too. Kind of wish I had a crazy old springer but oh well.

I'm figuring the frame needs to be repainted because that metallic in the silver is really killing the rat rod look and makes me think more hot rod.
I'm not sure exactly where this bike will go yet ; going to get it put together then decide lol.

 

[whitefiretiger]

So I was able to get a little time today to work with my bike.

Got almost all the parts stripped from the WF frame now (the rear fender was giving me trouble; stupid rusty bolts)
Here's a good pic that shows how out of wack the frame is.

Also a bit more mockup of parts on the CWC

Hoping to take the WF fork in tomorrow to have the threads added so I can get it on the CWC.

Have a curiosity if the CWC frame could be further I.D.ed by the spacing of the head badge holes. I can't see every company having the spacing the same.
If anybody has any idea on this let me know; the holes are 2-7/8" from center to center.

 

[whitefiretiger]

The more I work on this and look at the WF parts I'm starting to think I may try to paint the CWC frame blue & white to match because the patina and character of the other parts are so great; there's still a bit of the arrow (V) on the fork legs that I would hate to lose.
But at the same time that green in that bb of the CWC frame makes me want to go green as green is my favorite color.

 

[Black Top Roller]

Like that CWC,the chainguard and trussrods are very cool!!

 

[whitefiretiger]

Thanks.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the trussrods yet as they are going to be a bit long after I get the other fork on .

 

[whitefiretiger]

Just dropped off the fork to get the threads extended 2".
That's going to be about the end of the money I can spend on this build for a while.

Anybody have have a roadmaster head badge they could donate to my rat?

 

[whitefiretiger]

Just picked up my fork with the new threads cut. Going to try to get this on for a test fit in the next day or so.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Looks like they did a good job!

Luke.