Shelby Path Racer: Ready for the Finish Line

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Re: Shelby Path Racer: Super Secret build revealed (+ progress)

I look forward o seeing GNJ's face when he rides that baby!
Nice crank for SPR too!
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Super Secret build revealed (+ progress)

The polished metal looks great. I like that fork on there!

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Re: Shelby Path Racer: Some Component Paint and Fork done

Thanks Kingfish! The crank is "Schwinn Approved" and pretty lightweight
Been grooving on your BOBike and all your innovative ideas 8)
J WAS pretty happy with it and has been riding and posting a bunch
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Thanks Renaissance Man! I still have polishing left but had to get the "unknown tasks" started first
I really like your BOBike seat post mount, I'll have to steal it some time :lol:


Trying to get stuff done now at the finish line now that J's bike is done
With some help from my friend at work, we got the American-sized bearing race on the Italian fork
There was and 0.1mm interference between the race and fork
So he suggested to do something I heard before (that he has done but I hadn't)
We froze the fork with liquid nitrogen to shrink it but that alone was enough :shock:
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Guess the bear on the fork is now a polar bear :lol:
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So we had to let it get colder while we heated the race up with MAPP gas
But still not enough so we had to find a tube to hammer (like crazy!)it down and just barely got it on
That race is NEVER coming off :lol:
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Got the headset dry fit but still have to trim the threaded part
and knurl the head tube to get the bearing caps in tight
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Man, Do I hate painting, especially intricate component parts, Arghhhh!
But it had to happen for the "look", so I cleaned and assembled them first
Wasn't sure if I should prime them but did just in case, 2 coats primer, 3 coasts black
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I tried a new trick, used 3M strip caulk (from my mech days) to keep the paint off the pedal seal
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It seemed to work pretty good ( had no idea how to mask it)
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Touched up the area with a paint marker afterwards,
not the greatest job but "Good enough for who its for" :lol:
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Thinks it's going to look kinda good against the bare metal frame
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Got lots more to do: seat post, fork bits, and more polishing
As Jake says, I better "Get To Building" :lol:

Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Some Component Paint and Fork done

That gloss black looks awesome!! 8) Now lets see a pic of the whole bike :mrgreen:
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Seatpost and fork work

Thanks a lot Schwinnray and Skipton! :D
Decided this year not to give endless small mock up changes (like last year :lol: )
Takes to long for me to get done but enjoy (and appreciate) others doing it
Plus its back apart for more polishing :roll:

Found a reasonably easy way to get a more solid seat post
Had a aluminum Uno seat post to go on my Hercules
Realized my 13/16" solid aluminum round stock fit into it with some resistance
Trimmed the hollow tube and got a force fit with some HD JB weld
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Really like the head set because of the way the lock washer locks into the top bearing race
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Didn't really want to make the fork shorter or cut the threads off
So used some threadless fork spacers and found a shim
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Trimmed the shim and it worked great, now have to take the black paint off and be done (yeah!)
Not beautiful but good and solid enough for me plus I still can get more height from the stem
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Because the frame tubes on the Shelby had never been smooth (plus years of abuse),
No matter how much I wire brushed them, they didn't polish well
So started wet sanding them with 800 grit and PB plaster
They seemed to polish up better after the fine wire wheel
That's the next big task to get done yet then a little more detail stuff then assembly :D

Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Watching clear dry, Arghhh!

Thanks TVC!

So I finally finished up the polishing, Whew!
Tried the wet sand but the surface was too uneven
Found a different way to get it shiny, Had been using 0000 steel wool
and tried to use it like polishing a shoe but it would pull apart
So used a piece of leather with the steel wool on the inside
Got some good torque and used the white buffing compound
Ended up with a terry cloth towel and it pretty good...
Still has scratches but somehow came out shiny :D
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Needed to get going so just cleaned the head badge a bit more
The "supreme bear" :lol:
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Had to mod the fork a bit to fit the larger cruiser axle but still plenty of meat
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Big and Little slicks (a fair weather bike :lol: )
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Nothing worse than watching paint dry (clear coat is slightly better)
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Plan on assembly tomorrow and Thursday is supposed to be super nice out
So plan on getting some nice sunshine shots in
(the whole bike this time, I hope not to disappoint...)

Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Watching clear coat dry...

Oooooooooo, SHINY!!!! 8)
Nice polishing job!
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Watching clear coat dry...

I can only imagine how many hours you spent to get the frame and forks to this level. Well done.
Mines next. :mrgreen:
Kenny
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: It's a Rider!

Thanks Kingfish! I've got another shiny bike :lol:
Hey Ken, I really like your bike a lot! :D Many hours... :lol:
Thanks Luke, the slicks roll smooth... :D
Thanks Skipton, can't wait to see you path racer done
Thanks MAV! It's not a "lightweight" but it's light :D


SO got a few small details to do but it rides!!
Not much light left to the day but more sun tomorrow :D
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Wasn't sure about the bars but now kinda like them
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Its pretty light at 25.6 lbs, easy to accelerate :D :D
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The Columbus fork makes the bike track nice and straight
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Can't wait to see it in the sunshine...
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Thanks for being patient, it took a long time :roll:
But now I can go play :D
Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: It's a Rider!

Beauty ride there!
Love the Fat and Skinny slicks. Bars are cool too.
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: First River Road Ride pics

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the nice comments :D
MAV: not sure what the bars are, got them at a swap meet for $5
They are aluminum, not cut shorter, and a bit beat up so perfect for bar tape
Skipton: I haven't got it geared like the Spaceliner yet, still in knee reconstruction mode


So got to shake it out a bit more in the sunshine
Took my first 8 mile ride on the Mississippi River Path
It's an interesting bike, 2 lbs lighter than the Spaceliner,
Steering responds much faster but not twitchy and tracks straight

Had to stop at the Longfellow community garden
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Man do I love the views on the bridges, this is Franklin Ave
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I'm not up to full speed yet to path race the road bikes
but did pretty good against the mere mortals :lol:
Tried to find a few new photo spots
Like how the wheels kinda disappear in the shadows
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The frame is shiny enough to reflect available light, even in the shadows
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Where the frame was dipped in braze, it kanda looks like frame darts :lol: Lake Street Bridge:
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Like how the beginning of sunset shines on the frame as I head home
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Think this is my favorite shot so far
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More riding, pics, and still the small details then I start my finished thread
Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: Shelby Path Racer: Bike Date!

Great weather for a Bike Date, so My Wife and me took off to Minnehaha Falls
Live Free Jazz Combo playing for us
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Nice to have a bike partner :D
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Prerequisite Minnehaha Falls pic
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Lots of people riding to Sea Salt restaurant
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Tough getting a good blue sky shot so I'll call this artsy :lol:
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Setting sun on shiny frame
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Now for ice cream! Went back to Fireroast for Sebastian Joe's IC
My Wife trying to figure what kind, "Yes I would like a sample"
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I got a double scoop of Salted Carmel, Mmmmm
She got Candied Ginger, Honey, Cardamon, Honey, and Strussel, Wow!
She also got a spoon so she could eat some of mine
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Great bikes for a great date!!
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Thanks for Looking
Steve
 
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