I recently acquired a 71 IH, XLCH. The p/o installed an electric start on it, larger battery and the wrap around oil tank in front of it (horseshoe?). I would really like to make it into a hardtail because I love that look of the bobbers. I can't afford to buy a new frame so I am thinking of going with a weld on. Bolt ons just dont complete the look. I can do the wrenching but not the machining/ welding. Can anybody give me a breif overview of what Im going to run into, need to do, when making the conversion? What else am I going to need to fabricate/ purchase when I make the conversion? I would like to keep expenses down as much as possible of course. Im curious what Im getting myself into. I want to apologize in advance to some of the classic guys from permanently changing another IH frame. Thanks for the guidance.
Mike

 

to begin with i never personally done that before.i like some of those choppered out hardtails too.....but i can honestly say that i would never do that to a complete bike that was worthy of restoration.its hard for me to put things together exactly like they are suppose to be but i appreciate the guys that can...very much so.
i will tell you that i can weld but i dont think i would do any welding on my own frame/any frame.i also would not just take it to anybody with a welder either.remember it will be you who will be riding this thing when it comes apart on you.....get the best welder/guy you can afford.
there is a place in austin called buds.its on caesar chavez somewhere i think..it looks more like a run down bar.they may be able to help you out.-----ive no interest in the place....only been there once and always heard good things.i dont think they make frames there but i beleive they fix them.hope my rambling helped.mayeb you could post some before and after pics.

oh and i am not from austin just go there from time to time.

if you go to buds and if you really are arrogant i would leave any attitude outside.cool place...but wrong for that.--just a heads up.

 

Somebody has to like me. Who better than me. The name comes from an email address I had in HS and its never taken when I sign up for something new. Long since outgrown the attitude though. I appreciate the advice on the local shop, I will look into it. I will also get some pictures up here. I do have a nice bike in more or less its original state. Im a little apprehensive about taking it too far away from that. Hence the reason I apologized in the original post. Im wondering if I may not be better off restoring to original and swapping for something else. Just not sure what the level of interest would be in my bike because I got an awesome deal and Im afraid I may not be so lucky twice.

 

ya gonna hav a wide rear tire or standard? Top of my head you are going to have to do fender, seat, rear wheel depending on the wheel size maybe need offset sprocket, rear brake line or link mod, painting involved, tail lite and plate mount!

 

I'm gonna hazard a guess here that you're one of very few Ironhead owners who had an email address in highschool. It's good to see some young bucks grasping the elegance of this splendid machine.

When I was in high school, we didn't have no steenkin' email, and so far as e-anything goes, I think Ben Franklin was still flying his kite in bad weather.

 

It is easy to do

 

So what KR said seems reasonable "have to do fender, seat, rear wheel depending on the wheel size maybe need offset sprocket, rear brake line or link mod, painting involved, tail lite and plate mount!" Thats about what I expected and I think I can manage most of that. I have the original spoke rim with standard size tire on it. Is it necessary to change the size? Hearing form 98Glide gives me some hope to. Thanks guys.

 

I would agree that you should carefully considering chopping a stock bike. But it has been messed with some already and it is your bike.

Look for the Ironhead specialist near where you live. You will want to build a relationship because most of us can't do it all on our own. You'll need to get a Service and Parts manual (HD) first thing. If you don't know the motor you should do a leak down and compression test. If the motor is going to need work you should know that up front.

As for the hardtail you will what it done right. Pay the price and get a straight and safe frame. The local specialist is the person to see about this.

When you cut the bike for the hardtail every attached and behind the seat post will have to be removed and installed in a new way or location. If your making a real "bobber / chopper" you leave half the stuff off and take alot of the front of the bike as well. Horn, starter, signals, all the gages. You'll need / want a new seat, tail light / licence plate holder, oil bag and battery pan if it don't come with the hardtail. By the time you get this far you might as well rewire the whole thing.

The project will suck you in to doing more and more. Mostly because the shortcuts will cost you more in the long run and will not give you a very good looking result.

When your done you will have a bike you can say you built and you will know it top to bottom. Most of the new parts can be had used or you can make them your self. Such as a license plate/ tail light bracket. So when it breaks down on the road you will know how to deal with it and get yourself home.

Is it easy? Yea it is in that no one part of it is very difficult but it is a good piece of work. Thats why you see cheap Ironhead basket cases for sale. And remember that not everyone with a bobber/chopper built it, many brought it and want you to think they know what they are talking about but they are only repeating what they think they heard someone else say.

Good luck.

Pat

 

understand aboutthe name...i use to think i had bad luck so i started one day embracing my "bad luckness" making 13 my number.i know it means other things too.i only added it here out because i was so used to it i did it out of habit.i am really not that unlucky it just use to seem like it.if i could i would remove it.

you may want to consider getting an evo 1200.i have seen some very reasonable.ive seen them wit apes...maybe lowered as well that looks pretty freakin cool.---stuff adds up...stuff breaks that you didnt plan on breaking etc...just a thought

i would seriously go talk to buds.it looks like a rat hole from the outside but dont hold that against them.they got alot of stuff. i was/am planning on buying a frame from them when i build a more modern bike for myself....one day..

 

My bike is fun to ride something different and reliable just a cruiser not a fast one