Subject: New addition to the family - long
Author: Ian Adkins
Date: Dec 20, 2002, 5:28 PM
Post ID: 1711605430
Hey All,
Just picked up a 73 Eldo (VP56933). It is all pretty much there (except the
tool boxes. Problem is that the idiot tore the engine apart and let
everything oxidize in plastic boxes. Had he just left the engine together
the crank and cam shaft wouldn't be ruined. One saving grace is that the
heads are complete and in good shape. Tranny feels smooth too.
It was given to him by his father. The bike (60k miles on the odo) sat
outside for 6 months and I am starting to feel like $500 was too much to
have paid him to remove the unsightly hunk of metal from his yard (he wants
a HD - go figure).
The good news is that the frame and engine match. The instrument nacelle and
speedo are in great shape. The tank, fenders, stays, battery covers are in
great shape. The wheels are in good shape (although in need of a serious
polishing) and the rubber is new.
First thing will be to get an inventory of all the parts. When I say this
thing is stripped I mean it has been torn down into pieces...and those
pieces were tossed into the bin. It looks like the engine will be the big
challenge.
Start looking in your spare parts bins boys and girls. I will also plan on
giving Mark a call when I get a list of items needed together.
Right now it looks like the essentials will be crank,rods,piston set,
camshaft, etc... My heart says make the engine like it was new but I am
wondering what used bits I could get away with. Any comments?
I suppose that, like my 70 Ambo (which sat as a parts bike in my garage for
three years before I finally got to rebuilding it) this bike too will be
rebuilt. I just can't turn a Loop parts. Big thing will be time and, of
course, money.
Looks like over the next few months I will be my turn to ask the questions
:-)
Happy holidays all....Ian