1st concern is make sure it comes WITH a title and the numbers are good

Then as the others have stated I'd be buying something complete and preferably running - the closer to OEM original the better and well worth a few extra $ initially

Slabside shovels are now bringing big $ so are the 1st few year shovels - for a 1st project perhaps a post 80s bike? More chances of getting a better one and you can always make it look older if you want

Good luck with it - great to see someone else wanting to get involved with them

 

Aren't slabside shovels the first few years '66-'69?

 

Yes they are and with the OPs budget at 4-6 he won't come even close to buying one.

 

Maybe I took it wrong but the previous post sounded as though slab side and first few year shovels were two different things.
You're right Panz about the prices of the slab sides. I just picked up a '68 in the mid $8k range thinking that was well priced. It hasn't arrived yet so I don't know if I'm kidding myself or not.

 

I might be able to make the stretch to 8K . . . but it would have to be a great deal . . . I'd love to get a panhead or early shovel . . . does anyone have pictures comparing the cone and slab shovel heads? What about structure and build? One easier/quicker/better than the other? I'm not finding anything useful in my admittedly quick search . . . and thanks for the advice folks . . . I'm learning a lot just by reading your responses here! This wikipedia article is what I found on the subject . . . is this an accurate description?


Mark!

 

Others more knowledgeable may chime in but the main difference was in the bottom end not the heads. '66-'69 maintained the generator and had a flat cam cover on the right side. '70 went to the alternator and the cone shaped cover.
I believe 1970 was also the year AMF took over HD which opens up another discussion about quality etc. However you feel about the AMF years, they did save Harley Davidson.

 

Thanks! My understanding is that AMF's negative influences were not really obvious until the mid seventies? I'm not sure. Oh - I do understand that if there was no AMF, there'd be no H-D. If I find a really great deal on '75 that looks like a winner - I'd take it. I'm more attracted to the mid-sixties machines, and I'd like to keep the appearances as original as possible. I certainly don't mind upgrading to modern technologies as long as they are hidden from plain sight.


Mark!