Post 2

So, most sandblasting is done and most parts except the frame are primed and have had first coat of paint. Unfortunately, whether it was the sprayer or the humidity, the paint laid down a little mottled. A good sanding and it is all ready for another coat.

Upon more soul searching, I've decided to do a satin black with a matte finish on the frame, fenders, wheels and many other parts, and a dull silver on the rest, retaining a few chrome items.

With the help of Nolan, my assistant working odd jobs, we assembled the seat. It looks real good. Remember I bought the cushion and leather off eBay from Taiwan and it is meant to install on the existing seat pan/frame. Nolan removed all existing leather, cushions, springs, retainers and bolts. We retained the chrome bumper trim. I got pan head bolts that will act as the brads/rivets that hold the leather in place (along with the metal tabs). Nolan carefully bent all of the tabs out and then I set to stretching the leather over the frame and tabs and then hand bending the tabs down to hold the leather. Once 360 degrees around it was looking good. I started to use an awl to locate and punch the hole where the brads were and then inserted the screws. I bought stainless steel fasteners and nuts. This is fine to install with steel, but NOT on aluminum, as the dissimilar metal will react and discolor. I wish the guy who I bought my DeLorean from years ago had known that!! For that installation get polished aluminum fasteners or chromed brass fasteners. I then set to installing the chrome detail that wraps the bottom rear of the seat leather and frame, essentially a bumper for the seat.

Tonight I picked up the engine from the engine shop. They were supposed to have blasted it, cleaned up and trued all gasket surfaces and oversized and honed the cylinders. As it turns out they only oversized the cylinders, honed and solvent washed. The cleaned up at the second oversize of 0.5mm. I had to order pistons and rings for them to have to put on the finishing hones.

The solvent washing made the engine look worse in my opinion and I am deciding what I am going to do now. Their estimate to blast it is $300 and I think that is ridiculous. I am considering dry assembling the engine and having my son carefully blast it. I don't think I can leave it looking so poorly, especially since the rest of the bike will look new. A second thought is to get very heavy mastic and cover the gasket surfaces and openings with several layers and blast them individually. I may see what material I can find to make that more of a sure plan and then decide.

A little further research indicates cleaning with aluminum wheel cleaner and brass brush may be the best way, so I will probably try that.

Sand blasting other than the engine should finish tomorrow. Priming should be done by the weekend. Painting maybe by Monday. I will look to assemble the engine this weekend.