OK, it's been a while since I've updated.. Here's what I've been up to:
First, there are the seemingly endless "small" details to work on, for example, the gas tank name plate badges. If you buy nice ones, they cost an arm and a leg! Since this project is getting pieced together from the ground up, I am forcing myself to economize as much as possible on every part. Otherwise it would be cheaper to just buy a new Triumph, and I don't really want to do that. So, I bought some badges that would fit, but the finish was wrecked- much more reasonable in price:
I'm actually going to change them up a bit- I'll repaint the BSA letters and the little wing on the "B" white, and the letter background will also be repainted black. But, I'll deviate from the stock scheme in that, the starburst background will be painted an orange-red, and the starburst will be polished metal, which in this case in copper-bronze in color. Edges will remain metal color as well.
To get it ready for paint, I first enlist the help of a machine I first learned about/got for pinball machine restoration (another hobby of mine). When fixing up those old pinball machines, you run across many rusted nuts/bolts/small metal parts. It is prohibitively expensive to replace these old rusty metal parts (that is, if you can even find replacements). A better and more economic solution is to use a vibration parts polisher- gun guys use them to polish their brass shell casings for reloading, and the pinball guys learned this trick from the gun guys. I use corn cob media in this machine, add a few squirts of brasso and also some chrome polish, and throw the dirty/rusty parts in, letting the machine run for a few days. Here's the machine:
Here's one of the badges after vibration polishing, during cleanup (to remove the corn-cob grit and wax build-up):
Hope to get some paint on these this week. I'll try using Testors model paint, thinned out about 50/50? I'll post here when I'm done, and show you how it goes.
Also, I finished the frame paint job by letting it cure, and then waxed many coats (polished out a few small imperfections too. Looks good!) I've started bolting parts on the frame: Foot pegs (with special british-thread, reverse threaded splined stud shaft and locking plate (to keep the footpeg from rotating on the frame when you are trying to kick-start this beast!).
Finally, ignition switch, side-panel brackets, ignition coils, wiring harness, etc. :
Next up, install new swingarm bushings, re-finish the swingarm, and install along with new Girling shocks just received, then on to the fork rebuild and triple tree installation. Then wheel rebuilds, and new tubes/tires. Then I can put this machine on it's wheels, and then it will be a lot easier to move it around- this might allow me to clean out my garage/get all the sanding grit outta here before I rebuild my motor!! :-)
Jason
