View Full Version : Build Blog: the General Lee
My current project, an all purpose, go anywhere hardtail...
Its based around my trusty old steel '98 Moab 1 frame and a pair of crow bars (also steel).
I got the frame stripped at A1A Master Sandblasting in NE MPLS for $20.
The bars were a red powdercoat, so I had to do that myself, a can of BIX stripper took care of that.
The powdercoat job was done by Powdercoating Technologies in Plymouth. It's around $50-$80 depending on your color and how quick you need it. Mine ended up being $50 and change.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_03.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_05.jpg
I started the build tonight, got as far as I could in the unheated, un-attached garage, before I was too chilled.
Headset cups and BB in:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_07.jpg
Fork and headset installed:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_08.jpg
Rear D:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_09.jpg
Bars added:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_10.jpg
Cranks, and wheels, just to get a feel for how it'll look:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_A_11.jpg
I actually need to get a few more cassette spacers before I can get the rear end together, anybody got some of the plastic ones that come out of 8spd shimano cassettes? Or anybody got an old cashed 8spd cassette I can have to pull apart??
I also ran into a problem with the front brake caliper and need to get some different hardware to make the rotor and caliper line up properly.
Anyway, just thought I'd share my winter project. I'll keep throwing up pics as I progress. Sorry if I bored anyone.
JBergland
11-17-2005, 09:32 AM
Why all that nice orange, but then have a white fork??:) Looks good!!
JB
Why all that nice orange, but then have a white fork??:) Looks good!!
It's just what I had laying around, besides, it'll match the white piping around the "01" when I add those....
kidinthecorner
11-17-2005, 10:17 AM
very nice. Love the color.
nigel
11-17-2005, 10:25 AM
Now im not a fan of orange but with the nice bright white fork for contrast thats going to look sweet. If you keep everything else black, its going to be nice and clean looking.
Little D
11-17-2005, 10:40 AM
Where are the bow and arrows (with dynamite tips) going to be mounted?
Very nice update Kosk. Thanks for including the places of business and cost associated.
berrywise
11-17-2005, 10:54 AM
Pete,
That paintjob really breathed some new life into your old frame. I should do the same for my girlfriend's '98 bassboat blue homegrown. The paint is all beat to hell on it (though back in the day it sure looked sweet).
Now im not a fan of orange but with the nice bright white fork for contrast thats going to look sweet. If you keep everything else black, its going to be nice and clean looking.
That's the plan, that wheelset is even black rims/spokes/nipples....super fly, the only other silver piece is the Arch Rival Rear brake, but I do have a LX parrallel push I could swap off the x-check to keep the black sceam going.
Where are the bow and arrows (with dynamite tips) going to be mounted?
Very nice update Kosk. Thanks for including the places of business and cost associated.
That's what the welded on cross brace of the crowbars is for, I also have to wire up the horn still too.........YEEEEEHAAAWWWW!
Here's a few "before" pics. I didn't get any inbetween shots, but they really weren't that exciting, just a natural steel gray frame and bars.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/moab_old1.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/moab_old3.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/moab_old4.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/crowbar_old.jpg
Very nice, can't wait to see how it looks done. Right now the orange/white makes it look like a cream-sicle. mmm... I used to have a boat that had a horn that would play the dukes jump music. You should find one and mount it to it. :crazy2:
transplant
11-17-2005, 08:36 PM
How are you going to apply the details, paint by hand or vinyl stickers? That really looks sharp.
How are you going to apply the details, paint by hand or vinyl stickers? That really looks sharp.
Thanks, the powdercoat job came out sweeter than I expected!
As far as the "01" stickers I haven't figured that out yet. I'll probably try to find some vinly sticker sheets or something, its a pretty easy font to reproduce.
SpecHR55
11-17-2005, 09:37 PM
Sweet bike. Definitly an all around when you have a raceface bashguard.:D
The orange with white adds a nice touch.
Well I picked up a few extra spacers and a lock-ring on the way home so I was able to get the rear end put together.
The drive train ends up being a 32/33 x 14/16/18/28 which gives me about 7 different gears effectively spread pretty evenly across a ratio of 2.3 to 0.8. A little shallow for the over-the-road travel, but optimized for off-road using only a 2x4 setup. I tried to get it to 2x3, but just couldn't get enough range and even spacing at the same time with out using crazy chain ring combinations, this set up utilizes part I had laying around.
Threw the rear brake on too just for fun, Arch-Rival, they are pimp brakes. Gotta run the "mullet" brake setup because:
1 - its the General Lee, there has to be a mullet present, and it aint gonna be me.
2 - the frame is a '98 so no disc tabs, and the fork has no brake bosses.
Blah blah the garage is cold blah blah here's some more pics:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_B_02.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_B_03.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_B_04.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_B_01.JPG
waitabit
11-17-2005, 09:45 PM
Where are the picture's of Daisy Duke?How does she look in your cold garage? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_112.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS)
Sweet project Pete. Gotta bring that baby out to the Ice Races.
soupboy
11-18-2005, 11:17 AM
be sure to throw a nstop chain guide dealybob on the ST to keep the chain from falling off to the inside.
be sure to throw a nstop chain guide dealybob on the ST to keep the chain from falling off to the inside.
Nah, there will be a F. Der to take care of that. Just haven't put it on yet. I just cant bring myself to clamp something on that sweet, sweet finish yet.
Got bunch more done this morning. Only thing left really is the front brake. I'm still waiting for the correct adapter and hardware to mount the caliper. Yesterday I scored a pair of 8spd shifter pods in decent working shape out of the OoO basement for dirt cheap, so I was able to string up the drive train and the rear brake.
I decided to go with a friction shifter for the front derailleur though instead of the pod because I hate indexed front derailleurs. The friction thumby allows infinite adjustment of the position of the FD so no matter what cog I run in back I can make it so the chain never rubs the front cage, score!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_C_01.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_C_02.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_C_03.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_C_04.jpg
jeffgude
11-19-2005, 07:37 PM
I decided to go with a friction shifter for the front derailleur though instead of the pod because I hate indexed front derailleurs. The friction thumby allows infinite adjustment of the position of the FD so no matter what cog I run in back I can make it so the chain never rubs the front cage, score!
I use the same setup on my commuter bike, I have an old XT thumbshifter for front shifting, LX Rapidfire for the rear.
Very good looking paint job, especially the orange bar, but what fork is that?
but what fork is that?
(01/02?) Rock Shox Psylo SL, 80-125mm U-Turn, external R/C adj + lock-out.
Konaboy
11-22-2005, 05:58 PM
Does PTI have a color palette/price sheet that they send out to interested parties? I'm interested in having a frame painted over the winter.
Does PTI have a color palette/price sheet that they send out to interested parties? I'm interested in having a frame painted over the winter.
Not that I know of. I just went over there with the bare frame and bars. They had a whole wall of color samples. He pointed out which ones were not for "outdoor" use, and let me choose from there. Then I just left the frame with them and waited to hear back. As far as price goes, that's subject to color choice and how fast you need it from what I understood. If I waited for someone else to do a job in that color, they could just do the frame at the same time and it would be closer to $50. He told me if I wanted a certain color ASAP, it would be a minimum of $80. As far as availability of custom colors etc, I didn't go into that with them, but I'm guessing if they could, it'd cost more. Give 'em a shout of stop in, I think they are open until 5pm.
14920 28th Avenue N
Plymouth, MN 55447
763-559-4779
www.powdercoatingtech.com
Konaboy
11-23-2005, 12:13 PM
Thanks for the info. Sounds like I have to stop being lazy and just go over there.
Finally finished up the bike. I had to wait on the front brake caliper. Got that stuck on now, and added the vinyl tubing potector to the chain-stay, ready to rock. I rode it some over thanksgiving, without a front brake, seems to work good, the 2x4 gearing is sweet. I also threw my seat bag on there for holding the light batteries for winter night rides.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_D_01.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1108307/GL_D_02.jpg
drmrboyalex
12-05-2005, 11:30 PM
in that second picture i had to look at it a few times before i figured out that it wasnt inversed road bars on that. i was super confused at first
SpecHR55
12-05-2005, 11:33 PM
in that second picture i had to look at it a few times before i figured out that it wasnt inversed road bars on that. i was super confused at first
Its a poster its leaned against.;):laugh:
That bike turned out nice good job.
JBergland
12-06-2005, 09:28 AM
Oh no ya don't... that bike is NOT finished!! It still need a big 'ol "01" somewhere!!:)
JB
Yeah, Jay, I know. I'm working on it. The bike is done mechanically, I should have been more specific.
Anybody know a local place where they sell vinyl sticker sheets? My wife checked Micheal's for me the other day and all they had was pre-cut letters. I don't need much, so I'd rather avoid ordering from the internet, seems like that's all bulk.
JBergland
12-06-2005, 11:56 AM
Get the '01' and a dixie horn/bell... you should be good-to-go!!:)
JB
At the Gates 2121
12-06-2005, 05:05 PM
Oh no ya don't... that bike is NOT finished!!
JB
Yeah you need some dirt on that frame its to freaking clean
Hey moderators, anybody know why all my externally linked pictures are gone from this thread?
Was this an automatic thing that the forum software does or did someone strip these out, and if so, why was nothing noted as being edited?
berrywise
12-16-2005, 10:43 AM
bump, bump bump
oh, sweet they came back, cool. Wonder why they were gone the other day, maybe it was the external site (villagephoto)....
Oh Crap, look what showed up today:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/frame.jpg
Looks like it's time to play musical bike-parts!!!
Cool... a black one this time. What's the plan for it?
69er with a mullet??
BTW - what's with the vent in the bottom of the door?
Cool... a black one this time. What's the plan for it?
69er with a mullet??
BTW - what's with the vent in the bottom of the door?
No niner for me, a 29" wheel in a regular drop-out suspension fork feels like a wet noodle compared to a 20mm thru axle....blah!
This one is to replace the love that was stolen from me a year ago. I'll be swapping most of the parts over from the General, so it'll just be a 5" travel, 160mmR/185mmF disc, 2x4 spd, do-everything hardtail. The General will then become a dedicated SS using parts I picked up from The Basement, stuff I have laying around, and a 85mm MX Comp.
The vent is for air intake, the furnace is in there, we live on the second story of an old house turned apartment.
berrywise
12-21-2005, 10:43 AM
BTW - what's with the vent in the bottom of the door?
It's so his roommate can breath when he locks him in the closet.
JBergland
12-21-2005, 12:34 PM
[quote=Kosk]The General will then become a dedicated SS using parts I picked up from The Basement, stuff I have laying around, and a 85mm MX Comp.quote]
I like the idea of a single speed, but please don't tell me the General will become a 2nd priority project????:cryin:
JB
It's all one project in my mind. My whole fleet is really just an every changing cluster-bleep of parts that manifest themselves into several ridable bikes at any given time of the year depending on my mood/needs/wants.
And I still need to find some black and white vinyl sticker sheets to make the '01' decals.......
JBergland
12-21-2005, 03:22 PM
Please tell me the General will at least make an appearance at the ice races??
Might even be able to collect an ‘appearance fee’ if you can get that ‘01’ squared aware!!:)
JB
Well, musical bike parts commenced, beer was consumed, and this was half of the end result (although not complete yet, Im still waiting for Geno, who is waiting for Q, who is waiting on Avid, to get a 7" BB7 for the front):
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/INST_v2_NDY.jpg
The other half:
The General is also looking quite nice as well, I just installed the front brake last night, I'll take a picture tonight and post it up.
Please tell me the General will at least make an appearance at the ice races??
Might even be able to collect an ‘appearance fee’ if you can get that ‘01’ squared away!!:)
JB
I've been lazy about the decals, but I got a few leads on places that might carry vinly sticker stock, so I just have to get after it. I thought about painting 'em on, but I'd rather go the sticker route, that way I can always remove them or replace them easily when they get chewed up from derby'n.
Pending a pair of studded tires, as long as the "appearance fee" comes in a red, white, & gold can and starts with G and ends with "ium", I think it can be arranged.
The General is also looking quite nice as well, I just installed the front brake last night, I'll take a picture tonight and post it up.
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/GL_v2_side.jpg
Well, there it is, still needs decals, and a new wheelset. The ones on there currently are just so I could see how things were lining up. They are acutally an old cheapo pair I had on a commuter for several years and the hubs are pretty rough and all the nipples and spokes are corroded from winter use. I plan to make a new wheelset out of a pair of new non-disc LX hubs I have lying around, and a pair of silver Alex DM24's. I'll proally add custom rattle-can barring too, just like in the ones pictured.
The last thing I may do is try to ditch the tensioner and see if I can get a chain to work out with a half-link or two. If that ends up working, then I'll switch the drive train to a manual-shift dingle w/ 38x14 and 34x18 side-by-side gearing, then I'll have a "to the trail" gear and a "trail" gear.
I'll proally add custom rattle-can barring too, just like in the ones pictured.
Great lookin' bikes!
Personally I think of the confederate flag as the redneck's swastika, so I'm kinda surprised I'm sharing this idea, but...
Since the General Lee has a confederate flag on the roof, you could paint the tops of the rims blue and put a white star on the rim between each spoke hole.
[edit]:
Or you could just use the color scheme - alternate blue and white bars on the rims.
pc
KleinCrazy
01-04-2006, 10:33 PM
The last thing I may do is try to ditch the tensioner and see if I can get a chain to work out with a half-link or two. If that ends up working, then I'll switch the drive train to a manual-shift dingle w/ 38x14 and 34x18 side-by-side gearing, then I'll have a "to the trail" gear and a "trail" gear.
How about using a White Eno Eccentric Rear with a White Industries Eno Dos 16/19 Freewheel. It would be the VERY expensive way to do it, but would get rid of the tensioner and set you up perfect for building a 39/36 geared commute to dirt ride.
Just a Powerball winnings thought.
Nice Looking ride BTW.
James
Since the General Lee has a confederate flag on the roof, you could paint the tops of the rims blue and put a white star on the rim between each spoke hole.
That's an awsome idea!! but alot of work too....I was just thinking about making some stickers that are just a solid blue bar with white stars and then just laying them along the seat stays or fork legs.
Just a Powerball winnings thought
Yeah no kidding, mega spendy. I guess I'm just a fan of the stock 9spd freewheel body and spacers. Leaves you with lots of options, makes the wheelset compatible with other bikes for emergencies and allows you to convert to gears if need arises.
When the new wheelset gets built I'll proally buy a 14T and 18T surly cog, but that's about as blingin' as I'll get. (The splines on the FH body aren't solid, they're two thin splines spaced apart, so I'm thinking a DX cog may damage them over time, better to go wide base)
Thanks for the kind words guys!
Oh, look what we gots here:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/decals.jpg
Clockwise from top:
Toptube(full length), Downtube(both sides), Headtube, & Seatstays(1-R,1-L)
Yeeehaw!
Oh, look what we gots here... Yeeehaw!
Details?
Where did you get 'em?
Are they custom made, or did you luck out and find a Dukes decal kit??
transplant
02-03-2006, 09:45 AM
Man, them shor are purty. If you didn't get them custom, you lucked out big.
My crafty little wife found a paper supplier online that sold bumpersticker material in 8.5x11 sheets for making your own custom made stickers, and ordered me up a batch as a late x-mas gift. It also came with a waterproofer to seal the ink, so I'll have to apply that next. Once I get them on the frame, I think I'll also try a spray-on clear coat, if there is such a thing, to give 'em one last layer of protection.
As far as the design goes, I made them all myself using good old paint at 4X my actual desired dimensions. Then I saved copies of the bitmaps as TIFFs and then used photoshop to print them to real-life size using our Epson CX4800 on "best photo" and the "semi-gloss" paper setting. I'm pretty stoked for how they turned out for being a homebrew job.
I have no idea how durable these things will be, but the materail is marketed for use as a bumper sticker, so it should work out hopefully. The good news is that I fit all the decals on one sheet, so I have lots of extra sheets to make replacements, and now that the files are saved away, it's just a matter of reprinting new ones. And if they end up not working at all, it was a trivial expense.
Now we just need the 18th to come so I can build my wheels!
rideharder
02-07-2006, 01:23 PM
i would not advise clear coating after the decals are placed. the few tractor and car restorations ive done the decals are the last thing to go on. if you clear coat over the deacls there could be a chemical reaction with them and ruin you whole panint job or if you ever want to replace the decals you will crack the clear coat trying to get them off. as for clear coating make sure what ever you use will work with your finish coat. it would be a shame to see such a sweet bike bubble and crack.
i would not advise clear coating after the decals are placed.
Sweet, thanks for the tip. I was hoping somebody would confirm/deter my plans!
I've got lots of extra material, so I'll just slap 'em on, forget the clear coat, and when they get tore up, just make new ones.
- Wheelset got built: Alex DM24s on M572 LX hubs using 2mm DT swiss.
- Full Surly 38 x 14 || 34 x 18 dingle speed drivetrain installed.
- Decals applied!
- All I need is a handlebar 'stache, and a mullet!
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/theGeneral01.jpg
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/theGeneral02.jpg
Here's a couple shots of the DT;
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/theGeneral03.jpg
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/theGeneral04.jpg
YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAW!
Nice Ride!
If anybody has an extra orange presta valve cap from a Maxxis Welterweight tube, I'll send you a standard black one and a SASE to send the orange one back to me in......:crazy:
I thougt I had two prestas, but the other tubes turned out to be schraders! (freebees from the GMDH)
kidinthecorner
02-28-2006, 09:58 PM
That's a nice looking bike! I like the multiple drivetrain options.
Have you taken it off any sweet jumps? :) Great looking bike man!
You have to adjust the Singleator's pulley if you want to change gears, right?
transplant
02-28-2006, 10:36 PM
"Just some good ol' boys, never meanin' no harm. Beats all you ever saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born."
That is a great looking bike.
flombe
02-28-2006, 10:47 PM
Wow! Don't forget to get a Daisy to go with the ride....
You have to adjust the Singleator's pulley if you want to change gears, right?
Correct, a gear change requires me to loosen one 4mm allen bolt and slide the pulley arm over a about 3/8 of and inch.
A pretty simple and quick procedure, that allows me to still have a "road gear" and "trail gear". (Which is my main beef with a single-speed - spinning 4+ miles over the road at 2:1 just to get to the trail is boring and slow, and I sure as heck ain't gonna drive there!)
Wow! Don't forget to get a Daisy to go with the ride....
I already lined her up permanently back in october, but she won't pose with the bike, something about me being border line too-redneck for her.......
WuShih
03-01-2006, 03:35 AM
- All I need is a handlebar 'stache, and a mullet!
Where's the bow and arrow mount? I understand the moonshine is in the camelpak but where does the bow go?
Nice bike, very cool indeed, love the graphics.
JBergland
03-01-2006, 08:53 AM
NICE!! What are the chances of getting an in-person look at the Ice Races??
JB
danger!
03-01-2006, 12:05 PM
Very nice indeed!
Are the doors welded shut? :D
Better watch out for Rosco. :crazy:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/FC_2.jpg
Tegra54
03-05-2006, 10:47 AM
Better watch out for Rosco. :crazy:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/500/FC_2.jpg
are those levers colored in with a sharpie marker?
Better watch out for Rosco. :crazy:
What's up with the wrap on the TT?
What's up with the wrap on the TT?
are those levers colored in with a sharpie marker?
The top tube wrap is temporary until I paint over/scrape off the frame decals, and yup, the levers are colored in with a sharpie. :)
It is my beater/rain/errand bike, so no brand names. They are pretty much all low-end parts, but I figure the likelihood of theft is less if there aren't any visible brand names.
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