Author Topic: Project Streetfighter ('72 CB750) UPDATED PICS! (Read 25873 times)

captaincrash80 · « **on:** June 19, 2009, 12:50:04 PM »

Ok, so anyone that was following my chopper thread knows what a mess that turned into. Frame is dead in the water (lack of tools/skill/time) so I have taken a different route with my build. First off, here is my inspiration:

I saw this bike on CL last year and instantly fell in love. Even called the seller to see what kind of modifications had been made to the bike, if any. Turns out that pretty much everything he had done to it was bolt-on. That's when I decided that I had to build one for myself. So, without further ado, I'd like to welcome you all to the beginning of Crash's streetfighter build thread! *cue applause*

First order of business was to get a stock, unmolested frame. Check. Stripped the frame and repainted it using Duplicolor Engine Enamel. 2 coats primer, 2 coats paint, will finish with a coat of clear. I picked this paint for a couple reasons. #1, it's engine enamel, so it should hold up fairly well. #2, I will be riding this bike as much as the KS weather permits. I like the thought of being able to do quick touch-ups to the frame. Up to this point since I got the frame it's been nothing but cleaning, stripping, cleaning, taping, and more cleaning. I will be using Rustoleum to do the tank, rotors, hubs, etc. I have a few customizations in mind, but am most concerned with getting it put back together and making it rideable. I have decided to rebuild the wheels (front and back) complete with new spokes and bearings. Tapered steering bearings will also be added. New tires, most likely will replace the chain, front and back sprocket and misc parts as needed. I already have my running 836 engine to drop in it, all that's left to do on that is a tune-up. It will either get my 4-4 drag exhaust or my 2-4 shorty pipes. And now, some progress pics

Parts prepped for paint so far:

The tank will be gloss black, I'm doing the tank bottom in rubberized undercoating

I even taped of the chrome heads

Hub will get the same black as the tank.

Swingarm primed and ready for paint

MONEY SHOT!!!!

Damn I love that 30+ year old chrome

That's all I have for now, will be doing painting this weekend, possibly go pick my engine up as well. If anyone has thoughts, suggestions, etc SPEAK UP!!!! I'm not a mind reader ya know

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2009, 06:59:57 PM »

I realize it would be HUGELY expensive but I had always wanted to powdercoat as much as possible of these old bikes.

Either that or anodize.

Progress looks good so far!!

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2009, 07:03:39 PM »

Yeah, this is pretty much as budget of a build as you can get. I'm slowly gathering parts, thankfully most of what I need I already have on hand. I can't even touch the price that powdercoating would cost

cb750fbomb · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2009, 09:02:24 PM »

Good luck with the build. The inspiration is a sexy beast. I'll be paying attention. I really like the gas tank in your inspiration.

MikesChevelle · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:44:54 PM »

thats a sick looking bike, cant wait to see the end result

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:22:23 PM »

Yeah, that's actually the stock tank off the bike. It's an early 80s CB750 DOHC.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:10:45 PM »

Quote from: captaincrash80 on June 19, 2009, 11:22:23 PM

Yeah, that's actually the stock tank off the bike. It's an early 80s CB750 DOHC.

Are you building a DOHC or the 72 listed in your title? Either way it's progress, and that feels good doesn't it?

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2009, 03:01:02 PM »

Building the '72, using the DOHC as inspiration. I've already got a running engine with a 836 kit in it that'll be going in the bike

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2009, 04:45:11 PM »

Ok, quick update. Got some work done on the bike last night

.

Tank got some minor plastic surgery

Swingarm painted to match frame

This is the first coat on all these parts using the Rustoleum method discussed in another thread. It was all painted by brush. The second coat is is going on tonight, will update with pics each day that I paint

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2009, 08:29:29 PM »

Well, here are the pieces right after the second coat

Only 5 more coats to go, and lots of......

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2009, 10:12:21 AM »

Are you going to wetsand?

Looks VERY glossy!!!

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2009, 10:22:57 AM »

Yep, gonna start wetsanding now that I've got the second coat on. When I'm done I'm gonna use 2 part clear on it.

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2009, 02:47:24 PM »

Quick update from last night's work.

Wetsanded second coat w/ 600 grit. Put on the third coat and went back inside. Came out a couple hours later to check on it, and this is what I found

It's hard to see in the pics, but after I had left the garage there were about 20-25 gnats that landed on the wet paint and got stuck there.

So tonight I have to try and sand them out and put another coat on. I'm probably going to start painting in the basement to try and avoid this happening again. Oh well, live and learn.......

Ecosse · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2009, 04:31:18 PM »

like where you're going with this.

and for what it's worth i happen to believe projects need some sort of boundaries or set challenges to foster creativity.

limited funds is a good one. it makes you work with what you have and not just what you can buy.

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2009, 05:03:23 PM »

Ecosse,

Thanks for the good words. I've never had alot of $$ to work with, so over the years I've had to find lots of different ways to make things work. I even had a boombox made out an old car stereo, a pair of 6x9s and a power convertor all placed in a homemade wooden box

Plus I know that when it's all done I'll know every inch of the bike and can proudly tell people that I did all the work on it.

greenjeans · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2009, 04:49:59 AM »

My first CB project (I'm just finishing up with my second) was nick named the "elbow grease special" and was done on a shoestring budget.

It's amazing what these bikes can turn into with very little money and elbow grease. Most parts look pretty good with 30 yrs of grime and dirt removed.
The best purchase I ever made for these bikes is my trusty buffer....buffing makes everything look new again.

These CB's really look great in black - all that chrome & aluminum just works well with black.

Keep it going - looks great & I HATE gnats....

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2009, 08:27:30 AM »

I hate gnats as well, but they have been defeated!!!!! And that means more pics

Here's everything with the next coat of paint

(First coat on this, wanted to see how the others were turning out)

Thinking about sanding down the edges after all the paint is on, think it would look neat with the shiny stripes

(First coat on this side)

All in all I'm very pleased with the way these pieces have been turning out. I've been painting everything by brush, which has been fairly easy yet has also created it's own challenges. The biggest on of those being the amount of paint used. It's very easy to gets runs if you use too much, hard to get good coverage if you use to little. I'm hoping that by next painting project I'll finally get my hands on a spray gun to use. So now it's 4 coats down, 3 more to go then clear cost to finish it off.

Ecosse · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2009, 08:30:14 AM »

sorry if i missed it but do you have any plans for graphics?

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2009, 09:02:51 AM »

I've been kicking some ideas around with my wife for graphics. I'm wanting to got with an Irish-esqe theme, but subtle, nothing over-the-top. I'll see if I still have any PS skills and try and get a mockup posted.

Ecosse · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:26:13 PM »

Quote from: captaincrash80 on June 23, 2009, 09:02:51 AM

I've been kicking some ideas around with my wife for graphics. I'm wanting to got with an Irish-esqe theme, but subtle, nothing over-the-top. I'll see if I still have any PS skills and try and get a mockup posted.

play station?

i wonder if you could come up with a twist on a honda emblem, but irish it up a bit. maybe recreate the honda script format (single row, equal size, all caps) but use celtic "font" in white or gold color.

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:53:14 PM »

That's a neat idea, gonna have to play with that one.......

MacM2010 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2009, 01:31:16 PM »

Nice work. Thanks for posting pics of the paint - I'm considering it for my bike at some point and I'll be very curious to see how it turns out.

Good to know about the gnats, too.

-Mac

MrHellpop · « **Reply #22 on:** June 27, 2009, 12:09:47 AM »

Quote from: captaincrash80 on June 22, 2009, 02:47:24 PM

Quick update from last night's work.

It's hard to see in the pics, but after I had left the garage there were about 20-25 gnats that landed on the wet paint and got stuck there. So tonight I have to try and sand them out and put another coat on. I'm probably going to start painting in the basement to try and avoid this happening again. Oh well, live and learn.......

This is looking great! I am seriously considering doing the same thing on my '77 750k as the tank paint was totally screwed up when I got it. I stripped it and painted it flat black, but a bit of gas leaked out the top when I had it upside down for a second (yes I am that stupid, and yes I drained the tank... not well enough I guess) and of course ruined my cheapo flat black paint job. Anyway, I had some rustoleum glossy rattle can paint laying around so I tried painting just the locking flap that on top of the tank, but it came out... interesting. It's not smooth at all, but has kind of a mottled texture. I think using a paintbrush like you did (and the dude on the other thread) is the way to go. Keep posting pics! Looking really good so far! Are you going to clear coat it as well?
-Good luck
Mrhellpop

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2009, 09:04:57 AM »

Well, got a little bit of work done this weekend between all the things going on:

Final paint for the front hub. Sanded the edges back down to silver, wanted it to be a bit different.

Laid out the hub and rim in front of my spare front tire.

WEAPONS OF MASS CONSTRUCTION!!

Read alot about the different bends of the spoke heads, figured I'd take a pic if anyone was interested.

Pics of how the bends sit in the hub.

First round of inners.

Second round of inners on the opposite side.

Teaser of the final product.

Hope to get the rest of the spokes put on tonight, then start to true the wheel. I've never laced a wheel before so it should be interesting to see how well it turns out.

Ecosse · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2009, 09:54:30 AM »

looks good. like that touch to your hub too.

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Author Topic: Project Streetfighter ('72 CB750) UPDATED PICS! (Read 25873 times)

MrHellpop