Rockafella - 1953 Ruff Firestone Super Cruiser - Completed Ride Video +MajorAward+RollingStoneCover

Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum

Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Wish you could use this tank , I kno it's being saved for another project but it fit so nicely and just looked killer .

View attachment 55655

I agree it looked awesome on the frame, but I prefer the total package of the Firestone parts and tank.
Maybe I will win the free Ruff Dean and use it on that frame. :)
 
Or I'll win the frame, and buy that tank from you.:thumbsup:




Darn internal server error.


wooooooogif.gif
 
Got some time tonight to work on the tank brackets. Figured a way to make symetrical mounting points on each side of the top tube by cutting up a couple of conduit hangers and clamping them over each other.

20170714_164245.jpg
20170714_174330.jpg
20170714_174418.jpg
20170714_174702.jpg
20170714_174710.jpg



Then I used some of these slip on nuts.

20170714_174944.jpg



And depending on desired placement, I'll use various spacers as needed.

20170714_174957.jpg
20170714_184418.jpg
 
Here is my first pass at mounting the tank sides to the frame. I'll still need to tweak this a bit, but it's close.

20170714_184449.jpg
20170714_184458.jpg
20170714_192011.jpg
20170714_192017.jpg
20170714_192028.jpg
 
Got the tank halves mounted for the first time and I am pleased so far. Like I said there, there is some tweaking to do , but I am confident in this mounting method so far. Here are a few angles of it.

20170714_194855.jpg
20170714_194903.jpg
20170714_194918.jpg
20170714_194953.jpg
20170714_195006.jpg
20170714_195019.jpg
20170714_195032.jpg
20170714_195044.jpg
 
Here is the yard sale roof flashing that I plan to use to bridge the space between the halves. It will be wrapped tight to the top tube at the back and the front following the shape of the tank.

20170714_195152.jpg
20170714_195201.jpg
 
Originally I thought I would mount the panel insert using flat fender rivet screws like the one to the far right. I ran across these Schwinn Sprint downtube shifter tension screws and decided to test them with this simple mockup. Who knows if they will make the cut or not. Opinions welcomed.

20170714_195616.jpg
20170714_195624.jpg
20170714_195629.jpg
20170714_195632.jpg
20170714_195846.jpg
 
Here are a couple of other center tank panel tests. These two would potentially be on top of the flashing.

Hood scoop from table base trim

20170714_195919.jpg
20170714_195802.jpg
20170714_195812.jpg



Or leather alligator insert

20170714_200233.jpg
20170714_200242.jpg
 
Here are the last pics of the night with the tank halves mounted.

20170714_200324.jpg
20170714_200338.jpg
20170714_200355.jpg
20170714_200408.jpg
20170714_200420.jpg
20170714_200435.jpg
 
Alligator is a crock! Scoop is a poop!...Together...a crock of poop.... Flashing painted to match teal, with a "distressed" red and white checkered strip going down the center. You asked for opinions (I never do that).:hi:
 
Alligator is a crock! Scoop is a poop!...Together...a crock of poop.... Flashing painted to match teal, with a "distressed" red and white checkered strip going down the center. You asked for opinions (I never do that).:hi:

Thanks brother! That is part of why I throw my mockups and idea tests out there for everyone to see. I'll have to stare at the scoop and crock more, but I tend to agree.

One idea that I had not thought of at all was the red/white diamond checker. That went off in my head like a fire alarm!! I am definitely gonna play around with that piece of wisdom. THANKS MAN!
 
I like the schwinn tensioners, but not for this build. There's nothing schwinn about it, and I personally think it needs to stay that way.

I agree with KOTA on the gator skin, and partially on the scoop.
I don't like the scoop, but I do like the louvers.

I imagine you've been holding onto the scoop for a reason, so if you don't want to cut it up maybe you can make louvers in the flashing.:soapbox:


That said, I don't suspect I'll ever own this bike. Which means you're not building it for me. But I think I know you well enough to tell you what I think, although if not... You did ask for opinions:grin:
 
JMO! Don't "add" any new colors, work with the ones ya got.
 
Here is one last bit of fun I had testing stuff out tonight. I saw this small light cap sitting on the bench and stuck it on the spring. Not sure how much I like the steely dan rocket ship riding on top of the fender train light. :)

20170712_180118.jpg
 
Alligator is a crock! Scoop is a poop!...Together...a crock of poop.... Flashing painted to match teal, with a "distressed" red and white checkered strip going down the center. You asked for opinions (I never do that).:hi:


Here you go.

diamondtest.jpg
 
I also might use these valve caps that I got from @eparsons as a surprise part last year in a trade.

20170714_163215.jpg
20170714_195659.jpg
20170714_195709.jpg
 
Back
Top