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Taken my time restoring an LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:31 am
by rcmatt007
I recall that the LTD did come with some factory chrome out of the box, the radiator fins and tools come to mind. And, I am aware many of us chromed parts on our wings back when they were new. For one thing, it looked nicer then the corrosion aluminum inevtiably gets, was easier to keep shiney.... and lets face it, chrome accents look nice.

unfortnately time has no friends and even quality chrome does get affected...

I think most of these parts MUST have been after-market chrome (which usually back then was very high quality done in the USA)

manifolds.... still good shape

oil fill cap.... still good

headers.... peeling

belt covers... peeling

forks.... pitted

and then there are these.....

if it were clean, you could see the peeling chrome
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check out the bottom part of the fuel pump

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can you see the peeling here?

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no buyers remorse though.... I am VERY VERY pleased

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Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:48 am
by Brant
You got a solid platform to go from.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:27 am
by starket
So when are you going to quit taking pictures and start your restoration thread. Geesh you have been home for a week now.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:28 am
by STREETWING78
Somebody spent big $$$ on that stuff back when..
Still like it, ought to be a fun project..

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:09 am
by rcmatt007
starket wrote:So when are you going to quit taking pictures and start your restoration thread. Geesh you have been home for a week now.
if we had a day where it wasn't over 105 by noon.... I might get started. Although today has possibilties, it is only 94 at 10 am.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:29 pm
by RebelRouser
Sleep All Day And Tinker All Night...

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:53 pm
by Dog Boy
Roger, the items you mentioned as "aftermarket" are indeed just that.

Don't know about the stockers of the same year/s but the oil filter cover bolt is chrome.

Any other questions you may have re: LTD or not LTD, feel free to ask.

AL

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:09 pm
by 1CrazyMoFo
C'mon guys, cut Rodger a little slack.
You just don't twist off the top of a fine wine and start chugging.
No, one must take a moment and admire the bottle and the label.
Rodger is in the admiring stage and will be chugging before we know it.
Plus, he's got all weather to be snowed in with it.
Peace,
Frank

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:33 pm
by rcmatt007
no work for the wicked (that was suppose to be no REST) was 103 on the way home from church (another morning.... oh never mind) I have some aluminum powder coat coming, so the oil filter, fuel pump, header and timing belt covers will go back to aluminum. rebel sent with it a OEM LTD rear end, the manifold, timing cover and fuel cap which look good will stay chrome. The other thing that will need work is the horseshoe exhaust, lots of rust on the surface so it will get wire wheeled and then painted.

but as Frank says, I am just enjoying the pleasure of the smell of the fine wine

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:02 am
by starket
rcmatt007 wrote:but as Frank says, I am just enjoying the pleasure of the smell of the fine wine
Fine rare wine was meant to be drank and fine rare motorcycles were meant to be ridden.
Too much oxygen on a fine wine while savoring the nose will make it bad and gas sitting in unused motorcycles will turn bad.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:30 am
by 1CrazyMoFo
I never run naked into a lake without first inquiring about snapping turtles.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 12:55 pm
by rcmatt007
that is true.... the "OH" hanging on that ethyl group in wine really likes to turn into ch3cooh, when exposed to air....

Maybe savour the the aroma of a fine single malt....

We have had now over 60 days of 100+ temps and the records continue to fall!

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:13 pm
by 1CrazyMoFo
You don't wanna know.......
............................................60 and cloudy.

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:36 pm
by rcmatt007

Re: chrome and a LTD

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:36 pm
by mtclimited
Same temps here. Can't work after work. Heck, we can't work at work...lol.

Nice bike. If you want some OEM stuff, I have a few odd parts here and there that I keep back for that reason. Send me a PM for things you might need for that LTD. I might have spares.