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FL panhead project

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by slickrick, Jul 2, 2006.

  1. slickrick

    slickrick New Member

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    I am looking into getting an old pan and restoring it. Wanted to check with you guys that actually rode pans and ask if certian years are better than others (50's or 60's). I have looked at a few that have been sitting in the barn up here in Montana and have bought a service manual to see what I might be getting into. I have also talked to a non HD bike shop in town that has a great knowldge of older bikes. Also if I find one that is in good running order, what mods to the bike should be on the list to keep my time sitting on the side of the road to a min.
    slickrick, Jul 2, 2006
    #1
  3. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    wow, what a question!!!:) first thing, there were nearly as many configs of pans from the factory as there are 88's today. what type of ride do you want?? ridgid, springer,hydra, swingarm. are you after stock?? i just did my 65flh from the frame to the paint, back to nearly stock config. the later pan motors were a bit more dependable than the early ones, due to moco's updating. i think any pan that you get can be a good one with all the products on the market to update with.have fun and keep us posted on the progress.....oh ya, my 65 is for sale......
    chuck
    chucktx, Jul 2, 2006
    #2
  4. aaron

    aaron New Member

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    Ah, the 65 was easily the best Pan IMHO. I mean how cool is it to have the first year of any option. Dont get me wrong their all cool and I dont mind a kick start but heck, I'd rather kick that button than that nasty little pedal any day of the week. :D :cool:
    aaron, Jul 3, 2006
    #3
  5. slickrick

    slickrick New Member

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    Reply ti CHUCKTX

    Chuck

    I am going to make a rigid (weld on). I am heading to sturgis in AUG and wanted to have my frame/motor/tranny by then to take advantage of the swap meet for the bits of stuff to fix up what I got and get what I need. I figure this to be about a year project (over the winter and maybe rideable next summer) I dont want to restore it, I would like to bob it out, get a spinger front end on it (been reading on setting up rake and trail on that) but I do want to use as many OEM major componets as possible. I checked on a basket case 64FL the other day but it has been disassembeled for 6 years and everything is rust and the guy wants $6K for it. I figure if I keep my eyes open the right oppertunity will come around. I know that everything is worth what someone will pay, but what do you thiink a running needs work bike and a basket case should cost ballpark. I think your restored one would be out of my price range.:D
    slickrick, Jul 3, 2006
    #4
  6. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I'd say you'd come out cheaper on a better running model as you could do a resto-mod vs' a full resto..

    If you get a bike ina box deal take someone that knows cyl, heads, cases, etc, you might be getting a 64 65 71 45 62 60 Harley. Hear of that happening a lot, get the motor parts over to a shop and find out you have 5 years of motor parts. Then the price goes way up as you have $6K in the build.

    JMO unless you really know old iron study, get books, take a book with pictures and facts on vins, where to look, etc. Or take an old biker guy from a shop. Heck pay him for the hours up front or in jobs if you buy it.

    A running bike with all the parts on it, at least you have a good indication of what goes where when you remove it.
    hotroadking, Jul 3, 2006
    #5
  7. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    hrk makes a lot of sense.....i think i have a fair knowledge of old iron, been building since mid 60's, and when browsing the swapmeets of today, the buyer NEEDS to beware!!! jmho.......do a ton of research and get all the knowledge you can before buying. and you will never know if something is affordable or not, if ya dont ask :D :D
    chuck
    chucktx, Jul 3, 2006
    #6
  8. 1960PANHEAD

    1960PANHEAD New Member

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    I'm restoring a 1960 Panhead and although I can't tell you how reliable it is as I have yet to get it on the road, however like you my strategy was to have a good reliable bike, so some of the mods I have made are - installing hydralic lifters, maloy electronic dristributer, primary belt drive, and after a lot of investigation I will be putting a Linkert Carb. I have also converted it to 12volt.
    So after spending nearly $30,000NZ I bloody hope it is reliable.
    Cheers for New Zealand PANHEAD
    1960PANHEAD, Jul 4, 2006
    #7
  9. beau44

    beau44 New Member

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    I have a shovel but am really curious as to how many are sitiin around up there and what they are goin for, wouldnt mind havin another project waitin when I an done with this
    beau44, Jul 6, 2006
    #8
  10. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Chuck reminds me of the story where a buddy and I bought a couple of Cop RK's it had all the cop parts so we took those off. we were looking for the rear bag guards for a stock RK without the chrome bag guards to clean it up, found a guy at the swap at daytona, he had the bag guards we needed and the side guards for the style like on Ultras where the chrome mounts around the bag.

    No amount of discussion would convince him he had two parts that wouldn't go together, I even said I'd bring the bike over and show him, he proceeded to show me how the parts went together and I'm looking at this idiot trying to put two metal rods into one hole.

    He lost a sale but worse some numbskull might buy this guys setup, I offered to buy the two pieces for a fair price and give him the correct pieces so he could sell the set. He wouldn't do it...

    As a famous comedian says


    "You can't fix stupid":D
    hotroadking, Jul 7, 2006
    #9

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