| 05-29-2012 |
I've got the parts and metal I need to start getting some more things done on the '37. The bottom gas tank straps, according to the shipping information I read online, should be here tomorrow. The rack I ordered for my motorcycle wound up taking a bit more work to put on than it should have.
This rack is universal and the arms are adjustable. They have a set screw that screws in to hold the arms in place. The set screws were frozen solid in place by rust so I tried to soak them in PB Blaster, the greatest liquid on earth, but they were frozen so solid that the liquid couldn't even get down to the threads. I borrowed some allen head sockets from my dad and got one of them out. The other one was such a pain I decided to drill it out. I'm not sure what the set screws were made of but they must have been hardened steel. I got half way down into it and it would not drill any further. I tried everything. Finally I took it to the Chrysler dealership to get some advice and my friend there tried three different bits. He finally found a hardened bit and sharpened it and he managed, with a huge amount of effort, to drill through it. After that I got a set screw at Lowe's and tapped it. This thing turned out to be a huge pain, but considering these racks can go for over $100, and I got this one for $26 dollars on ebay after a bit of waiting and searching, I can't complain too much.
The rack was wider than the bike on the rear mounts. I went to the scrapyard to get some other metal today and checked to see if I could find some pipe that would work. I found the support bracket from an old wheelchair so I got it. It turned out to be perfect because it was already chrome so it matched exactly.
When I put it back together I used a lot of this stuff. When April's car goes together for final assembly every nut and bolt will have this stuff on it.
Here is the rear mounting bolt:
And here is the wheelchair bracket:
And this is it after I installed it. There was another hole on each side for a bolt so I added an extra bolt there just for extra security. I had to have at least one pipe to keep the sides of the bar from pulling in toward the bike, which would have prevented a sturdy mount.
And here she is completely installed:
At the scrapyard I got this piece of angle iron which I will cut up into pieces and make some upper gas tank straps.
The total cost of everything I bought at the scrapyard: $4.00. Did I mention I love the scrapyard?
Here's the tank supported on a jack. It's going to be a very tight fit.
