Well, I thought it would be cool to see a complete mess of a HD turn into something amazing, sooo..... I decided to make this progress thread while I still have it fresh (messed up), since I'm thinking of being a Harley Owner for life now, and one day I would like to go back and take a look a this thread and see where I started, kind of an online diary but for my bike progress :P
But anyways, I hope some of you guys are interested and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me some tips, since I dont know much about HDs yet. Thanks.....
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April 15 | took delivery of this 1997 HD Sportster XLH 883 (had no idea of what it was| put the VIN in google and BAM!!!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5630514050/__________________________________________________ ______________

April 17 | Started Taking it Apart!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5629930691/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5629930893/
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April 19 | It STARTS!!!

Got a temporary air cleaner, new battery and spark plug wires to see if the beast worked before I started spending money on it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5639075099/
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April 20 | Got new forks, battery cover and an oil filter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5639012631/__________________________________________________ ______________________

April 21 | Stripping the bike down even more, and just got my rear strut bars in. Woot Woot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5642420324/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5642420538/__________________________________________________ ______________________

April 22 | Cutting the original Rear Fender and making it custom... put that dremel to work

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5644417028/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5643856499/Couldn't go to bed before I did a little bit more work on this puppy!! I used the Truck Liner Spray from "Rustolium" or something like that

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5644548591/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5645115568/__________________________________________________ ______________________

April 23 | Finished cleaning and painting the engine.

Before -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5646865151/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5647428384/After -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5646868871/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5646867025/__________________________________________________ ______________________

April 24 | You really didn't think I was taking easter sunday off, did you?? :P

I did very lil work today, just cleaned out the tires and painted them.. check them out
Before - Apologize for it being so dark, my battery on my phone was low and flash wouldn't turn on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5651458579/

 

April 24 Cont.....

AFTER
After
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5651456319/http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5652026852/__________________________________________________ __________________
May 2 | Turned on this puppy on for the first time!! and it was loud, really loud (click for video)

 

Interesting to see where you're going with this. Looks like quite the project. Are you planning on restoring it to oem stock or how extensive a bob are you thinking of?

 

Well, I was inspired by this bike and I'm going for something like that.
I'm not trying be a copy-cat or anything, I will give it my own taste and colors but something like that. (I know the forks I just got are not the ones on this one but I just need something for now)

 

That's Slackster's bike. It doesn't look like that anymore, new front end, tank & fender so don't worry about having something similar.

You have an excellent place to start. Gonna be alot of fun!

 

Following this for sure

 

Love the look of slacksters old bike....... Definitely going to have to go springer front end one day once I pickup another bike.

 

I'd love to see how this turns out! I love when bikes are brought back from the dead.

 

got my lil man hard at work wire brushing some rust!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsnap/5642420740/

 

keep the pics coming and good luck on your build