Diamond frame board track - Varsity gettin some love (DONE!)

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I snagged this little Varsity for $29 at Goodwill specifically so I could use the chrome parts to restore my Dad's Varsity (still has it and bought it at 14 years old). I'm waiting for that to get a profiessional paint job before I start rebuilding.

The before (well not really, I didn't take a picture, but it looked like this):
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Well I decided to strip and paint my now extra varsity frame and then thew it in a closet for the last two years or so. I've nearly started this build many times, but kept talking myself out of it. Well with chunk of birthday money I took the plunge and ordered a bunch of parts to build it. Not being able to leave well enough alone I decided to sell of my 6 month old Huffy to fund doing it up right. I'll probably miss it, but it was cheap and easily replaceable...

The Huffy:
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This bike however will not be as easily replaceable...built not bought that is :) Here it is after a good coat of Oldsmobile Engine gold that I applied before storage, it'll be the same color after completion:
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So I sent the frame home with a good buddy for some custom work:
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A little exta flare after widening the rear stays
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That's it for now. I'm waiting for my stash of parts to arrive next week and I'll mock the bike up to double check clearance before smothing, painting, and final assembly :(
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

My goodies arrived :)

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Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Mock-up update!

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Now that I know how everything fits I have a few more things to finish before paint.
-permanent layback seat post
-stem spacer for springer
-grinding, smoothing, and finishing frame mods

The main fork legs will be painted gold to match the frame. Still need to get a rear sprocket and headlight and I'll probably go back to black grips, but we'll see.....

I'm really stoked with how this is coming out
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Thanks! I'll probably have a buddy do a bit of black and white hot rod striping work on it once done
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Thanks guys. Really dig that bike, would have liked to do a truss style brace but the bender isn't set up for tubing this small and I thought the straight bar did good justice to the look
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

That does look really good, I recently converted a girls step through all pro to this, that straight bar looks sweet, got me thinking,...


 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Awesome! really like the way the secondary tube looks on that frame! I may just borrow this idea sir :)
any further progress updates?
What crank gear and arms did you find to work?
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Wow thanks for the love guys! I don't have any updates yet, but we did sandblast the frame last week. The final fab clean up should be done this weekend so I can paint next week :) my hope is to be on the road by next weekend...fingers crossed.

I'm using the stock cranks, but a BlackOps 44t chainwheel. I still need to snag a coaster kit with an 18t sprocket for the rear too. I can friggin wait to have it on the road!
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Thats sweet, I just passed on a similar frame that was abandoned behind my wifes work. If only I had the vision you do. Totally changed the feel of the frame, sick.
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

ive been inspired by this thread, so i hope you dont mind me posting a pic of my current diamond build, not done yet just in mock up...

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Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Small update!! :)

All fab work is done now so it's time to prime, sand and paint this beast!!!! I'm loving the lines of the new seat post, but most of it will end up hidden by the seat. I'm so bloody excited to finally get this thing assembled!!!

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Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Flipped the seat clamp for cleaner lines and test fitted the saddle...love it...

Just some minor clean up left and I'll have it in primer and paint this week :)

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Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

I am really diggin the second top tube, may have to look into doing that with my Bridgestone Hoodride fixie
 
Re: Diamond frame racer...Varsity getting some love

Smoothed, primed, painted, and cleared :) now I just have to be patient enough to not start building it until it cures ;)

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