1958 XLH with 27000 miles... my intent is to get it reliable enough for a weekly ride. Runs and starts okay, but can be improved.

Currently apart;
- repainting it myself to Stone White ( a current Chrysler color) similar to Birch White which was an original color from H-D. Still undecided whehter to lay on a second color to match the pattern of 1958
- forks are off to change fluid ( watery oil!), plus changing the boots, pegs and bar rubbers.
- replacing the electrical harness
- next will be the kick gears; starting to slip

Sweet! a true classic!

I'd be keeping that bitch as original as possible..

Damn nice ride dude.....

my local indy has a 57 on display in his shop .... white and red all original ...
very cool project post some pics

post some pics

post some pics

What he said!!!! :banana

That stone white is a nice choice if it's the color i'am thinking about. Is it that off white you see on some of the 300 series cars?

Thank Guys!
Yes, the stone white is the color on the 300 series, PT Cruisers and a few other Chryslers.
I will keep original as far as possible, but not too worried about acquiring NOS stuff....

Thank Guys!
Yes, the stone white is the color on the 300 series, PT Cruisers and a few other Chryslers.
I will keep original as far as possible, but not too worried about acquiring NOS stuff....

NOS? They came with NOS back then? Wow, who'da thunk it. :roflblack

Seriously, great project - can't wait for some pics. :tour

Hey, if you don't have enough space there, you can store it at my place. OK? After it is running, of course.

Actually, it is running... the kick gears are getting troublesome, but apart from that it worked fine prior to being taken apart again.

PICS! Must have PICS!

PICS..............Please

pics? where are they? We need a fix here soon...

I'll try and load some soon, may even need to post a link to a web site....

http://xlforum.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8659&cat=500

I put a few more photos on the gallery section. Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated!

I looked at your gallery. Bigger pics please. Just curreous any special reason for a 58? I know some people like to get their birth year. (yeh 58 is my birth year:shhhh )

Everybody always wants a '57 for obvioius reasons... '58's need love too! :D

Actually, the reason for the 58 is that I bought it from a friend whose birthyear was '58. I was bitching to him that i needed a hobby, didn;t have room to work on a vintage car, and wanted to get back into bikes after a 20 year absence. He said " I have an old bike...." I offered to buy it weithout knowing model or condition and got i delivered a week later. He has mid -50's vettes and t-birds and had lost interest in bikes... my luck!

That's an awsome bike. I love the old classic bikes and cars. There is something really special about them.

Very nice...:smoke

Just an update. I have the forks off to change the boots, the wire harness is ready to remove. I have labelled everything in case the new harness doesn't fit... there were some ' modifcations' done at some point over the years. It seem' s the ignition switch has been changed - used to have 2 - three lead switches, now has just one 4 way switch.
Also will finish the paint job next weekend. Then comes re-assembly.

Nice to see another Iron resurected.

Update:
painted the tank and fenders about 10 days ago - went back to the original scheme of 2 tone- used GO MANGO( deep orange used on the 2005 Charger HEMI) and Stone White - another chrysler color.
I did the fenders 2 tone as well, even though in 58 they only did 2 colors on the FL, not the Xl. Pics eventually.

Acquired new emblems for the paint - the originals will be framed and hung on the wall, alongs side soem of the orginal advertising pieces.

This was added by my brother, who of course, actaully knows what he's doing ...

We used Nason Ful-Cryl base coat clear coat system. It is an affordable line offered by Dupont, urchased at NAPA C-MAXX body shop supply store. We have used an HVLP gun for primers and sealer, a touchup gravity feed gun for paint, an airbrush for post wet-sanding touch-ups and then back to the touch-up gun to apply the clear coats.

We put 6 or 7 welds into the fenders and chain guard to get them back into shape. We added a washer or two to the fenders that had been metal fatigued. Some fine grinding, coarse sanding with an orbital, a little two-part bondo and a couple coats of high-build primer helped level the playing field, but don't go too thick as Harley's tend to vibrate.

For the un-initiated the reason bikes are so costly to paint is the energy that goes into them. They are entirely curved surfaces so powered sanders only help in the coarse sanding. The rest is pure labour intensive.

Masking tape and paper tend to want to follow straight lines, gas tanks and fenders have none. Symetrical two-tones and pinstriping become doubly difficult as measuring points are arbitrary.

Hanging the tins by hooks or bungees can prove useful however the hole they are hung from will not get paint or clearcoat coverage. Get creative and make a rack. We got away with a workmate and an old mountain bike rim that we cut the spokes out with using bolt cutters (to allow the paint to fly unobstructed to the backside of our fenders struts).

"Masking tape and paper tend to want to follow straight lines, gas tanks and fenders have none. Symetrical two-tones and pinstriping become doubly difficult as measuring points are arbitrary." AMEN

This is why I left the tank to the Pros, so my tank panels would look similar to each other. Definitely takes experience & an eye for it.

You are lucky to have such a talented brother, even if you didn't think so growing up.

How about some newer and bigger pictures?

pics will be coming shortly. easier to work a bike than a camera...

The paint is done, with a bit of a twist on the original style. Did the 2 tone Stone White and 2006 Hemi Charger Orange. Made a slight variation in the line between the 2 colors - you'd have to know the pattern to notice a difference. 4 layers of clear. My brother Bob was resposnible for the success of the paint ( i pretty much just sanded and paid for it)

I also have new emblems, will frame the originals for my collection.

In the midst of completing changing the wire harness, before hanging the tins again... acquired a set of cloth looms to do it up as close to original as possible.

Nearly finished the harness repllacement. Worked on the wires for the bars and headlamp today. I went very slowly rebuilding the switches and the oil and generator indicators within the head light. Hope to "fish" them through the bars and re-hang the headlamp tomorow. I am hesitating with replacing the wire that illuminates the speedo...I may leave that alone, instead of maybe making an expensive mistake! Then to re-install the fork assembly.

I have a primary case leak to deal with,and a slipping kick mechanism...always somethigto tinke with. then re-assembly of the tins and tanks.

Installed the fenders and chain guard about 2 weeks ago. ( does the chain guard look too white? I am thinking about either pinning with a black stripe or just painting over with black.)
Today I sealed the tank with POR-15. Of course, I overlooked the need to re-seal, and so the tank was painted and cleared before I clued in!
So I took quite a while,reading and in between steps re-reading the instructions about 10 times! I was worried about the finish! Anyway, looks okay and clean! I used saran wrap over the complete tank, and changed it with each step to ensure a proper job...
next step is to attach the new emblems while the sealer is curing. Then to bolt on the tank- almost ready to fire up again - looking forward to it!

We're still with you on this.

Friday saw the tank properly mounted, and emblems rivetted on... a few tense moments as I feared cracking the acrylic. Had considered using tiny bolts / machine screws, however, I felt that rivets looked best, and so I took the risk.
Picked up some hydraulic fork oil to refill the forks from Heay Duty Cycle in Toronto - this will be the next task

Up next:
1)check the integrity of the new wire harness
2) change primary gasket and re-fill
3) address ratcheting of the kicker
4) Take it for a spin after adding a few drops of lock-tite here and there....

haven't done a thing since my last post...anyone want a partially completed bike?

why did you stop???????????

too many other time demands. My wife works rotaing shifts as a nurse and i am a travelling sales rep, plus we have a small child. Sort of like two single parents, doesn't leave much time for a hobby.

I can not take it. Will the name of this going to be imagination. A neighbor your brother somebody has to have a camera I have to see this .
Please post at least one

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/2/thumbs/iron_58_left_side.jpg

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/thumbs/iron_right_side_orange_581.jpg

http://xlforum.net/photopost/watermark.php?file=17647

Good looking colors.

Thanks. Did the paint myself, (well, mainly by my brother); pretty proud of the outcome

Changed the wire harness in the fall; I knew that I had a short but don't really havea workspace so Ieft it till this spring. Found the short- the horn was making contact with engine! Started with One Kick - a thing of beauty

Taking the bike to a Mechanic this week... still have a short somewhere. With only a little summer left, I have decided to just spend the money and pay someone to loacte the short and "certify" it for insurance. Getting desperate to take it out.

I'm not to far from you, I'd love to see your 58, if you ever decide to take a cruise to the west of TO let me know.

My office is in Oakville. If i get it going that way, I'd love to show it off

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/iron_right_side_orange_581.jpg

Taking the bike to a Mechanic this week... still have a short somewhere. With only a little summer left, I have decided to just spend the money and pay someone to loacte the short and "certify" it for insurance. Getting desperate to take it out. If you do not mind how much did you pay for that bike? I am looking for a '57 to restore. Then I'll have a '57 and an '07.:)

My office is in Oakville. If i get it going that way, I'd love to show it off

We have a local bike night on Tuesdays just down the street from me.
Your bike would show a lot of interest

Not to jinks you, but I also have a trailer "just in case"

PM me when you get it going if your interested.

hey para - where on tuesdays?

Gosh, i'll try and message privately with your answer...

hey para - where on tuesdays?

I'll PM you with the details

Finally got it registered,saftey-ed, insured and plated. Took it out for 3 miles last weekend, about 4 this weekend.Started puking oil...oh well. Need to loctite a few things too, before I go too far. Still not too confident that she'll restart if I stop for coffee- as the plugs spoil relatively quick due to the spark advance being located on the left grip. May be embarassing if i need to change plugs in a parking lot.... Also, need to confirm the generator ischarging adequately.
Pleased to get it out for a legal run after 4 years tinkering.

Keep us posted, still would like to see it.

Beautiful bike!

I've had it out a few times - just 5 / 10 minutes... still need to loctite a few things but otherwise okay