I grew up around old skool bikes. My dad has a policespecial Pan and a high bar chopper Pan, as well as astroked Shovel, a flathead, and two Ironhead Sportsters. It'sbeen in my blood way before the yuppies decidedDiscovery Channel made it cool. I always wanted tobuild a Pan after years of riding on my Pa's as alittle kid. In '96 Pa found me a basket case K modelthat we rebuilt with an ironhead motor. I rode thatbike for the last eight years, but definitely had myeyes open for a Pan, Knuck or Shovel to build.
I am aschool teacher but in the summers work with my buddiesat HEAVY METAL CUSTOM in Faribault, MN. Throughworking there I met a guy they knew who happen to have a basket case Pan for sale. He originally wanted 11grand for it, due to the fact that it came with a newSantee raked hardtail frame as well as the original,new sheet metal and tires and the motor had the 84-inch, S&S hot kit stroker put in and had brand new .060pistons ready to be put in the jugs. I couldn'tafford that so I told him if he would ever drop below8 grand to call me. Two years later, this lastDecember he called, and I picked up the basket case for$7,500.00.
After realizing that my unheated garagewas a shitty place to work on a bike, I decidedto bring the entire bike to my high school metal shopclasses. I could teach a class-project-bike-build.
Ishowed the students all the components and explainedwhat everything represented and how to properly installeach item. We then set up weekly goals, where we wantedthe bike to be. We spent each week working toachieve that goal. One week we talked about machiningand used the school lathe to machine axle spacers. Anotherweek we used our CNC plasma cutting machine to makethe “FTF” '57 Pan remote oil filter bracket as wellas the custom “OLD SKOOL” skull side mount licenseplate bracket. Every aspect of the bike build wasincorporated into my classes to help the studentsbetter understand the old skool way of chopperbuilding.
We then contacted PAUL COX from Gasoline Alley abouthaving a custom seat made, (we watch the biker buildoff episodes in class to show fabrication techniques). Paul thought what we were doing was cool, and he bumpedus up into the front of his waiting list to get acustom seat made for the project.
We even made him some cool shop signsthat are hanging at gasoline alley as we speak.
My students had a blast with the project as it became a roller. With the help ofNOAH, from Heavy Metal Customs, who took the day off ofwork, unpaid to instruct my class room. He workedwith the students TIG welding, then aligned the motor and trans for the 3-inchBDL belt drive, they sold us at cost. THANKS FOR THATHMC!!!
About one week before school was over Paul Coxgot finished the seat, and we finally took the last groupshots of the bike and all the anxious students who were involvedin the bike build.
The bike is a great running oldPan and will be a part of me until the day Idie. Since I paid for everything on it, I do get tokeep it and will someday pass it on to one of my sons. The other one gets the '52 K model.
This summer I'll ride the old rigid chop to”THE BOOGIE” in Indiana, the 3rd week of July, and willit to Sturgis. I hope to hook up with Paul Coxand Indian Larry.
My plan, for next year, is to build abike every year with my students and eventually sellthem, as a fund raisers, to find another old skool basketcase to rebuild.
–KB
Frame: Santee frame
Wheels: 16 rear, 21 front
Tranny: suicide shift 4-speed,
Cam:Andrews “B” grind cam
Lower End: S&S stroker kit with .060pistons…86 incher
Primary Drive: 3 inch BDL belt drive
Rear Sprocket: 48 tooth
Tranny Sprocket: 26 front
Electrics: 12 volt electrics
Oil System: Custommade remote oil filter bracket and side mount licenseplate holder.
Seat: Paul Cox
Finish: Semi flat-black paint
Pipes:Custom made “Fuck the neighbors” loud as hell pipes.
BAAS METAL CRAFT
Custom made steel signs, art, furniture and fabricated parts
www.baasmetalcraft.com
952-215-1252
“When in doubt, burn out!”
Yes, we know some of the photos are reversed. Just making sure ya'll are paying attention.
