I'm going to build it!!(At least try!)

Schwinndemonium · #1 10-20-2009, 02:23 PM

Straight from the Dream Bike thread, at the urging of another seasoned member, I'm going to try to build a Mk IV Jaguar 5 speed the way that Schwinn would have done it between the years of 1959 to 1962. The only deviation that I have to do, is I HAVE to use a handlebar stem mounted shifter from a late 1966 Collegiate, because of the tank. With a big tank like the Mk IV Jag has, you can't have the shifter on the top bar. Can't have it on the down tube,either, because the tank blocks the view of it. I'm going to try to find a relatively complete 3 speed bike that at least has all the sheet metal, including the correct tank, with the brake and shifter cable cutouts. Then I believe I can take it from there and make it work. The biggest problem is going to be to try to find the complete early rear Atom axle, with its freewheel and the little spoke protector that the five speed Corvette uses.( I'm NOT parting out the bikes I have for this project!) Ideally, a complete and nice condition Corvette rear wheel would be the best scenario. Next to find is an early Huret Allvit derailleur. It may take years, and thousands of lives, but it can be done!!

Jim.

Slick Rick · #2 10-20-2009, 02:36 PM

You Go BOY!!!!

PEDALSNOSTALGIA · #3 10-20-2009, 03:09 PM

OK Jim, If you are really to go through with it I may have some good hard to find donations for this project. The only stipulation is if I ever get to your neck of the woods I want to take it for a ride.

. I think the 61 had the smaller spoke protector than the 62, the larger one may be much easier to find.

smitty · #4 10-20-2009, 03:23 PM

like field of dreams, they will all come to you, to build one for them!!!! that will be one awsome bike, cannot wait to see it! smitty

stratelecaster · #5 10-20-2009, 05:05 PM

It can be done...
Ambition, determination and CA$H is all ANY project takes.
If you've got at least 2 of those 3, it'll happen.
Best of luck

Schwinndemonium · #6 10-20-2009, 05:07 PM

.... and I don't even have what I call a nice rebuilder core, nice original paint three speed relatively complete bike yet. I got my eyes on one, but I've been spending quite a bit of money, lately on old Schwinns, and it's getting close to the holidays, and antique Schwinns are not a priority right now. I have to think about my family, for gifts for Christmas for them.I will do this project, but within reason. It took me six years for me to correctly rebuild my five speed Corvette.I did it a little bit at a time when I was able to afford it. This project may take just as long. I just don't want to raise the ire of my wife,and don't want to break the bank, either. I already did a dry fit of the stem shifter collar to the top of the front rack collar,and they fit together like a glove. The stem shifter collar fits down over the front rack mount collar perfectly flat, and covers it very nicely. I did have to file off a anti-rotation pin off the inside of the shifter collar so that it will fit on the non slotted fork steer tube of the older bike on which it has to go. I just hope that the steer tube is tall enough to accommodate both collars, and still have enough threads left to put the lock nut on it. That will be my biggest concern, right now, as far as this phase of the project goes.

Jim.

bartcycle · #7 10-20-2009, 09:20 PM

The spoke guard and rear derailleur was used on the same era Varsity and Continental.

Guido · #8 10-23-2009, 02:39 AM

If I was going to build a bike like that, that would be considered a "Dream" bike that didn`t have to be original, I might opt to use one of the chromed plastic, stem mounted, 5 speed Positron, Schwinn Hurricane stick shifter. It mounts to the stem with the long wedge bolt instead of wrapping around the stem`s neck. They look really slick too.

Schwinndemonium · #9 10-23-2009, 10:41 AM

This is all that exists of this project, so far. Like I said before, I'm trying to build this bike the way that Schwinn would have built it back in the day that these MarkIV Jaguars were new. It's now alot harder to build a period correct bike almost fifty years after the fact, then it would be to use parts that span that fifty years. I hope to give the feeling that when one looks at the 5 speed Mark IV Jaguar, that they would say "They don't build them like that anymore"(they never did,this bike). Anyone can put modern components on an old bike, and make a nice rider, and that in, and of itself is OK, but that's not what I'm trying to do here. My definition of modern parts is anything made after 1975. I'm trying to build something that "could have been" under some very fortunate kid's Christmas tree in the late 1950's to the early 1960's.

The stem shifter collar, as you can see mates up very nice and flat to the rack collar. I just only hope like I said earlier, that there are enough threads on the fork steer tube to thread the big lock nut on top of that.

Next step; Get a decent,(does not have to be perfect) 1959-1962 Mark IV Jaguar 3 speed bike, complete with at least the correct chainguard, and three speed tank(it has cutouts for the brake and shifter cables). Hopefully it will be complete enough that I don't have to spend years hunting correct parts. I'm trying to find a bike that has decent original paint, though.

Jim.

stratelecaster · #10 10-23-2009, 01:30 PM

And here I thought it was just me that builds Schwinns around various Schwinn parts instead of the other way around

Looks like you're out of the starting blocks and running.
Keep us all updated and best of luck.

Schwinndemonium · #11 10-28-2009, 01:26 PM

I'm just waiting for it to be shipped, which will probably be at the end of the week this week, or early next week. It is an 80% complete original paint bike, 1961 Radiant Green Mk IV,and it has all the original sheet metal, very nice screening original three speed model, but is fitted with a Bendix two speed kickback hub.That doesn't matter to me though. I'll post pics of it when I receive it.That's all for now.

Jim.

PEDALSNOSTALGIA · #12 10-29-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwinndemonium

I'm just waiting for it to be shipped, which will probably be at the end of the week this week, or early next week. It is an 80% complete original paint bike, 1961 Radiant Green Mk IV,and it has all the original sheet metal, very nice screening original three speed model, but is fitted with a Bendix two speed kickback hub.That doesn't matter to me though. I'll post pics of it when I receive it.That's all for now.

Jim.

Hey Jim, I checked out the Jaguar on the auction site. It looks like it has good bones for the project. Let me know if you need any thing once you get in to full swing.

OptimusJay · #13 10-29-2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwinndemonium

I'm just waiting for it to be shipped, which will probably be at the end of the week this week, or early next week. It is an 80% complete original paint bike, 1961 Radiant Green Mk IV,and it has all the original sheet metal, very nice screening original three speed model, but is fitted with a Bendix two speed kickback hub.That doesn't matter to me though. I'll post pics of it when I receive it.That's all for now.

Jim.

Jim,
I looked at that bike a couple times while it was on the auction site and actually thought about you and your project. That looks like a good bike to start with. Keep us posted.
Jay

Schwinndemonium · #14 10-29-2009, 02:35 PM

My son helped me modify the repop seat tube decal using Open Office, and Windows Paint. I'm working on the finer points that I want this bike to have, before I get the bike.Does this look OK?

Jim.

PEDALSNOSTALGIA · #15 10-29-2009, 06:57 PM

Jim, That looks like it would have back in 61 to me, Or as my son would say "ITS LEGIT"