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This bike is past the patina / preservation stage, restore or part out in my opinion. If the frame is junk I'd pick up another frame and make a bobber out of it.
That is one heck of a lot of work ahead of you but it sounds like you know how to do a resto and have the patience - so I am looking forward to seeing your progress over the next few years
Nice long-term project. I'm thinking your bike is mid to late model since your VIN numbers start at "6". My references show a total of 8,014 FL units for 1949.
As John has said, Palmers 3rd edition is a must for a serious restoration. It is a 2-volume set that covers each model year from 1936-1965
Make notes, take pics as you take everytrhing apart. I probably have well over 300 hundred pics of my 49 redo and sometimes I think that I still didn't take enough.
49 fork tubes should look like either of these two pics. From the factory the tubes were painted black'
1948 and 1949 cylinders have neither date codes nor do they have manufacturers marks on them.. The 74 front cyclinder has a pressed in casting number "120-48. The others do not.
In the pic the front cyclinder is on the right.
Your cylinder heads will have casting numbers on them which may assist in figuring out when your bike came to life. "H8" = August 1948. This makes it an early production head for 1949 models
The 49 only front brake backing plate actually has a 48 part number on it.
Another thing that may assist in identifying when your bike came into the world are the casting numbers inside the case halves . "F8" = June 1948. Case half for my 49 EL with a VIN# below the first 500
Lastly have you checked the belly numbers on the bike. I would guess that they are matching but it always helps to verify. Belly number for my 49 EL. Left and right match
Really looking forward to following your progress as you work your way thru this project.
Last edited by panz4ever; Dec 12, 2022 at 11:20 AM.
It would be cool to see that bike as a runner, looking as it does now.
Keep in mind the MC crowd is way more crazy about original parts than the car guys. Anything repo is considered a bad thing, they can get really nuts over the smallest thing. Not like a car where a reproduction shiny part is OK. Or a new fender etc.
The value is in the original parts for sure, good luck
Nice long-term project. I'm thinking your bike is mid to late model since your VIN numbers start at "6". My references show a total of 8,014 FL units for 1949.
1948 and 1949 cylinders have neither date codes nor do they have manufacturers marks on them.. The 74 front cyclinder has a pressed in casting number "120-48. The others do not.
Your cylinder heads will have casting numbers on them which may assist in figuring out when your bike came to life. "H8" = August 1948. This makes it an early production head for 1949 models
The 49 only front brake backing plate actually has a 48 part number on it.
Panz4ever,
Thank you for the solid reply!
Palmers 3rd edition is on the purchase list, but maybe after holiday purchases lol.
Pictures, a sharpie, and ziplock baggies are always my friend! muffin tins for shorter projects.
The fork tubes are compressed to the point where I cant see any casting numbers at the top.
I dont want to tear things down too much until I have other projects complete and space committed for the task.
The inside front cylinder was almost impossible to reach with a brush and to read with the dang jubilee horn in the way, but it is cast with 120-48.
I have yet to read anything on the head casting date code! Great info!
Both heads are cast with 119-48 - date code K8
The spare backing plate is cast with 44139-48. The unit on the bike, I suspect, is original or installed with the finned drum. It appears to be sand cast as well.
I am curious about the belly numbers myself. The skid plate covering the motor is caked with grime and hard to access with a tire flatter than Kansas.
A couple other things I have/want to observed on the bike:
The rear fender is stamped with three grooves forward of the tire. Early fenders are smooth.
I am curious to know the number of spot welds securing the bracketry to the front fender. My understanding is very early fenders had three per bracket with later models having 13+\-
What do you know about special order paint options/fulfillment in 1949?
This bike was repainted once and spray painted by the previous owner to combat corrosion a saving grace I suppose. Under the fenders, tank, and dash I very clearly see Azure blue where paint is chipping away. Pictures will help prove its original color down the road, but Im curious to know how rare this color may have been on a 49.
Would not do you any good to show you a pic of the pre-done front fender. The front bace to forks bracket was twisted all to Hell. Found a correct pair of braces and had my welder remove the old and in with the new. He cursed me for a couple of months after rehab on the front fender. Finished you basically cant tell
It would be cool to see that bike as a runner, looking as it does now.
Keep in mind the MC crowd is way more crazy about original parts than the car guys. Anything repo is considered a bad thing, they can get really nuts over the smallest thing. Not like a car where a reproduction shiny part is OK. Or a new fender etc.
The value is in the original parts for sure, good luck
My thoughts exactly! Seeing this bike as it was new will be quite the sight. My most ambitious project to date.
Originality has always been an end goal for my projects. I once hunted a piece of NOS door trim for 5 years. Everyone said I should just buy a reproduction piece, but the quality just isnt there.
Research is the best part of any restoration. I can tell you just about anything you want to know about a 87-93 foxbody or a 68-69 beetle. Hopefully Ill be at that point with a 49 pan!
Would not do you any good to show you a pic of the pre-done front fender. The front bace to forks bracket was twisted all to Hell. Found a correct pair of braces and had my welder remove the old and in with the new. He cursed me for a couple of months after rehab on the front fender. Finished you basically cant tell
That looks amazing! Thats one of the many things that makes a build. Money and time well spent!
Just went thru your pics again and all I kept thinking is that even after all these years of the bike being exposed to the elements, anyone of those stainless parts will still shine to a mirror finish easily with a little bit of metal polish and some #0000 steel wool.
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