Project: '59 Corvette

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 04/15/2019 at 07:50 • Filed to: Bikelopnik, schwinn

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This post is much over due, since the first post about this project is from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but through a interest of bicycles from my oldest child, I decided it was about time I fixed up the 1959 Schwinn Corvette I had out back.

Firstly, lets talk about what changes I made. I disconnected the brakes and the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed shifter and flipped the handbars to the original 1959 position. The previous owner seemed to have set the bike up for the road (hence, why the handlebars were upside in that road bike setup, and the seat was way too high for me). Naturally I also lowered the seat (which is original from what I can tell, and is in surprisingly really good condition).

I also disconnected the bottle dynamo for the time being. I had to look it up, but the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! rubs against the tire sidewall, generating electricity for the front and rear lights. As of writing this, the dynamo hinders and slows down the rear wheel; so I’ll be taking it apart and cleaning at a later date. My first priority is getting this bike usable first, and the ‘fun stuff’ can come later.

I cleaned up the chainring only to discover the layer of dirt and filth on it acted like a protective layer! Unintended bonus! I also tightened all the spokes, which took as long as you’d expect.

In the end, I spent a good length of time last Saturday doing everything that involved tools and elbow grease. What’s next is getting a few extra parts to make this bike really shine. I want some handlebar grips, but I’d prefer something close to stock; but that’s a matter of shopping around for the best prices. The part I’d really like is the Sturmey-Archer cable guide pulley, which guides the shifter cable so it doesn’t rub up against anything. I can find it online, but not for a cheap price (<$15) from a source I recognize. The brake cables need to be replaced, as they are probably the original ones. They are usable and functional for the moment; the brake pads on the other hand are no good.

Now to save some money to buy the parts I need....

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 08:01

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PT Cruiser still running or still borked?

zeontestpilot > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/15/2019 at 08:07

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Surprisingly still running. I was going to make a post about it, but got side tracked. I’ve had that pt since 2010, so over 8 years now. 118k miles too, so a lot of life left in it.

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 08:13

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there was a module crapped itself wasn’t it?

still got the Pontiac?

WilliamsSW > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 08:14

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Very nice!

I remember those bottle dynamos from when I was a kid. They always seemed to add a lot of resistance when they were tight enough to provide electricity. Enjoy!

zeontestpilot > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/15/2019 at 08:27

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Indeed. The pt was out of commission for 2 years, but it’s now the car with the least amount of problems. For the grand prix it has 180k miles on it , and things are finally starting to slowly break down on it, lol.

pip bip - choose Corrour > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 08:31

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time to update again

:P

zeontestpilot > WilliamsSW 04/15/2019 at 08:33

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Thanks! And I have no idea on how it is suppose to feel, lol. It might not even work at all. But hey, I’m outside working with my hands; what’s not to enjoy?

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 08:33

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I love it. What are your long-term plans for it? Complete rebuild and repaint or keep it original and unrestored , as Leno would say?

zeontestpilot > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/15/2019 at 08:39

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I’ve never driven a car to it’s grave, and I’m genuinely curious to. The other day I saw a 1st gen Chevy Lumina on the road.... and I couldn’t help but want to achieve those “you can’t kill this car” goals as that owner did.

zeontestpilot > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' 04/15/2019 at 08:54

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My aim is to keep it as is, as much as possible. Like an old and used muscle car, the patina really makes it shine and gives it a lot of character . That said, I want it functional so I may replace things as I go. I know the brake cable housing blends in with the current look of the bike, but it does need to be replaced eventually. And I may not be able to obtain the weird pink brake pads and may just get whatever I can at a reasonable price. So it may become a hodge podge of a old bike with new parts here and there. Then again, that will probably look awesome, lol.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 09:49

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So it may become a hodgepodge of a old bike with new parts here and there.

I like that. Carry on and post about it

WilliamsSW > zeontestpilot 04/15/2019 at 11:12

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IIRC there’s a very fine line between having it too loose to grab on and rotate, and being so tight it provides too much resistance.