Author Topic: Rebuild of Dad's Pink Panther (Read 6553 times)

spdjnky · « **on:** June 21, 2012, 07:02:23 AM »

I'm new here and thought I would share my project bike and story.
When I was 5 yrs old my dad took me for a ride on one of his custom bikes. I remember to this day the feeling I had on that bike. It was loud, fast, and obnoxious. He dropped the hammer on Hoyne Avenue in Chicago and I was hooked on anything hot rod, drag bike, and custom related from that day forward! He had Norton's, BSA's, Triumph's, etc but the CB750 ruined me.

Dad sold it in 1976 to a friends son.
Well I tracked the bike down about 12 years ago and called the owner about once a year to sell it to me. They drove the bike like crazy and then after a brake issue it sat in his garage buried under stuff for years. Never moved, never cared for. I finally cracked him and picked it up a few weeks ago. It is in rough shape now but I plan to restore it back to the way it was when my dad owned it one bolt at a time. My buddy Mikes dad is the guy who painted it in 1975. He is still custom painting here and there at 70 years old and I'm trying to get him to repaint the 750 again.
In 1975 dad had it custom painted, and an 850 kit installed with cams and RC pipe. Seat is custom. Rear wheel was replaced with a wider Harley hoop. Tank and head light is from a 450. All motor bolt on pieces were chromed.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
Heres a pic of me and my parents in '76:

Here is the bike today:

knowsnothing · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:40:19 AM »

Welcome. Thats a great story, best of luck with it. Also, that paint job is classic. I say leave it as is un refreshed. It has even more character with the chips, nicks, and scrapes.

ps - Sweet chicken costume!

andy750 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:46:58 AM »

+1 great story and good luck in getting it back to running condition. I agree that the paint job looks good as is.

Good luck
Andy

spdjnky · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:33:26 AM »

I would love to keep to original paint but the back end of the tank is soft as butter. The inside of it looks like hell too. I picked up another tank off eBay and it got delivered yesterday. I need to buy new side covers to get painted too.
Here is a picture of one of the old busted up ones:

70CB750 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:43:33 AM »

Love the seat.

Really? · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:53:46 AM »

Repro side covers can be found at fb-stuff.com He is a member here and you will not find a better cover or a better price.

Welcome to the forum!

brandEn · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:45:06 PM »

In for the restore! Nice clean bike with a great story.

lucky · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:12:05 PM »

What year is the motorcycle???

BTW...Is your mom or dad still with us???

MoMo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:28:05 PM »

That is a wonderful story, welcome to the forum and good luck with the project...Larry

Stev-o · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:08:06 PM »

Great story! My Dad also got me interested in motorcycles. You can easily find any parts you need for the rebuild. Good Luck.

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:20:29 PM »

Same way I started my thread! Pic of me with my Dad on the bike circa early '80's. I'll be watching close!

Greggo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:23:26 PM »

What a great bike, and story! Welcome to the fourum.

SoyBoySigh · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:58:12 PM »

I LOVE the paint job. But dontcha think, seeing as when you sit down you've got a unique ... one might say, "POV" view of the Panther, that it ought to be called the "DINK Panther"?

-S.

spdjnky · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2012, 05:59:34 AM »

Thanks guys for the kind words. The bike is a 1975. Dad and mom are still alive. In fact I forgot to have a current picture of us taken with the bike this weekend when they were at my house for Fathers Day. I pm'd Frankenfrankenstuff here on the board for site covers. The seat was done by a guy in the Chicagoland area by the nick name "shaggy". That's all I know of him.
The gas tank is heavily modified so it will take me some time to get that ready for paint. The petcock was moved forward to clear the carbs. The cross overs were moved to the front of the tank because the carbs were in the way. There were tin "pockets" recessed up into the tank to clear the tops of the carbs too. So I have my work cut out for me with a ton of small modifications to the new tank to make it work. Remember it is a 450 tank going on a 750 chassis. Dad said he wanted the sleacker look of the 450 tank. WTF

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2012, 01:25:23 PM »

Great pictures and story. Looking forward to this one.

Soulsk8r · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2012, 03:00:43 PM »

Definitely reproduce the custom artwork on the new tank.

And give some thought to investing in a chicken costume for riding as well.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2012, 03:06:57 PM »

Very groovy! You definitely need a current picture of you and your dad with the bike before you make any changes.

spdjnky · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2012, 07:49:40 PM »

So here is what I am up against with the tank. The blue one on the left is the new one I got. The one on the right is dads. Notice how much they moved around. I didn't realize until today that they spread the rear bottom of the tank too to fit the 450 tank over the 750 frame by the seat. They went thru all these mods just to get a hot rod look of a smaller 450 tank on a 750 bike.

I'll make it all happen.

dhall57 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2012, 01:16:24 PM »

Welcome from North Carolina to the sohc4 forum

Congrads on finding and being able to buy back your Dads CB750. Im sure this brings back a lot of good childhood memories What does your Dad think about seeing his old CB again. I bet he's grinning from ear to ear. Wish I had some idea where the 5 Honda's I had growing up were. More than likely they've all been in the Honda grave yard for years

Good luck with restoration and keep us up to date with info and pictures

spdjnky · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2012, 10:35:10 PM »

Dad was pumped to here it was coming back to the family. He was disappointed to see the condition of it though.
I put the carbs and intake boots back on today. Installed a new battery and tried firing it up. I am not getting gas to the carbs. It's pooring out of the on/off/reserve handle of the petcock. After disassembling the petcock i found the orings are dry rotted and the rubber disc is crappy too. Time to find new pieces for the petcock. She turns over fine though and I do have spark at least.

spdjnky · « **Reply #20 on:** June 28, 2012, 05:53:59 PM »

It's ALIVE. Got it fired up tonight after years and years of being laid up. I'm stoked!
I think its safe for me to start dis-assembly now. Woo hoo!

MoMo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 28, 2012, 06:07:38 PM »

Quote from: spdjnky on June 28, 2012, 05:53:59 PM

It's ALIVE. Got it fired up tonight after years and years of being laid up. I'm stoked!
I think its safe for me to start dis-assembly now. Woo hoo!

good news and congrats...Larry

Greggo · « **Reply #22 on:** June 29, 2012, 01:47:50 PM »

Congrats! It's a great feeling, huh!!

spdjnky · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2012, 07:54:03 PM »

Quote from: Greggo on June 29, 2012, 01:47:50 PM

Congrats! It's a great feeling, huh!!

Yeah it's great. I'm really happy this project has materialized.

spdjnky · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2012, 02:06:13 PM »

Ok, I need some help. I started to look for a rear wheel hoop replacement. The one on there now is pitted and bent to hell. I was told by the guy who helped build the bike in 1975 that it is not just any Harley rim. It was one that would accept the angle of the spokes from a CB750 hub. Sounds like the spokes go in at a certain angle?

Anyone know for sure about this who has actually done a Harley rim to Honda hub before? I know it's a 40 spoke 16" rim on it now at least. I am trying to avoid buying multiple rims off the internet and finding out they are the wrong ones.

Thanks for the help!

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Author Topic: Rebuild of Dad's Pink Panther (Read 6553 times)