Whats up everyone? Well with my Iver Johnson track bike on the road and riding, I decided to get my next project down from its hanging centerpiece display spot above my window in my garage. I bought this project about 3 years ago when I was a senior in high school not having a clue what I was getting into. I found it on good ol ebay with 2 really blurry pictures of a pile of rusty parts and a description that only said "Schwinn Orange Stingray, rusty. Sold as is." I spotted a orange frame, chainguard, rusty fenders, handlebars, rims, and the mag sprocket and that was all. I knew it was a krate, and bought it for a great deal. I was nervious, especially when I recieved the package. The box was a destroyed vacume box with rusty bicycle spokes poking out all of the corners and sides. I opened it up, layed out all the parts and BAM, everything was there, it was really a real original 1972 Orange Krate!! What was even better is at the bottom of the pile laid the disk and the caliper fully in contact, score!!!! Someone left this bike sit outside (it came from the midwest I don't know where) and it must have been only ridden by a kid because of the low position of the seat post so it had no damage, only scratches and surface rust.
The odd thing about this bike is that it was fully dissassembled. I mean everything from the ball bearings being taken out of the cage to the nipples on the spokes being removed, every screw, every washer. It was all gathered up and taped and sealed up in a box, nothing missing. Crazy! I laid everything out back a long time ago and took pics with my cell phone, but it broke so they were all lost. I wanted to get this done last fall, but never got around to it, so here it is..also it is an October of '72, and thats my birthday month too! I'm also going down to Bakersfield for the "Cacklefest" my birthday weekend, so it will be my birthday present to myself, plus what better than having a drag inspired bike at such a historical track?!?! Here is the progress so far, just have to do a couple more things like hook up the cables, chain, and ride!!!! This thing has all real patina, paint, and what is left of the chrome, and its staying that way!! Enjoy
I found this light for 5 bucks that was all rusted, but I need to rust that mount a little more...its a little too shiny!!
And what I have so far...close!!!!
The odd thing about this bike is that it was fully dissassembled. I mean everything from the ball bearings being taken out of the cage to the nipples on the spokes being removed, every screw, every washer. It was all gathered up and taped and sealed up in a box, nothing missing. Crazy! I laid everything out back a long time ago and took pics with my cell phone, but it broke so they were all lost. I wanted to get this done last fall, but never got around to it, so here it is..also it is an October of '72, and thats my birthday month too! I'm also going down to Bakersfield for the "Cacklefest" my birthday weekend, so it will be my birthday present to myself, plus what better than having a drag inspired bike at such a historical track?!?! Here is the progress so far, just have to do a couple more things like hook up the cables, chain, and ride!!!! This thing has all real patina, paint, and what is left of the chrome, and its staying that way!! Enjoy
I found this light for 5 bucks that was all rusted, but I need to rust that mount a little more...its a little too shiny!!
And what I have so far...close!!!!
