RADBMX.CO.UK
Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: vwfish on October 02, 2010, 12:19 AM
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I got the chance recently to own DP Firebird that was in need of some serious work so I thought I would share it with you. Its taken a lot of work on the frame and all other parts are being slowly replaced with NOS parts . I had always wanted a good freestyler and that kit was top of my list as a kid. I never owned one until now. so having paid much more than I would have 20.... ahem yeas ago i decided to make a good effort to get it right. I'll let the pics do the talking.
This is what I bought and stripped.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/63381_474623155902_741635902_708633.jpg)
After blasting and lots of prep to the frame I started to build it up and its coming along nicely
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/001-2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/004-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/005-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/006-2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/007-2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/012-1.jpg)
I'm waiting on a crank, headset pedals and some other parts. pics to follow... :D
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were the decals fitted to the frame from factory? i put it back as it was on originally. its a small detail if it is a mistake.
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no worries, I Looked here and it seems that the builder was told the same thing...
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=114742.0
They are the other way up. also looking here.....
http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/#/freestyler/4543962022
about 6 of the bikes with this decal set have them the other way up. the majority are the way I applied them so I wont be loosing any sleep.
other than being on here till silly O'clock :2funny:
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lovely resto mate :daumenhoch:
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Thanks mate. This is my first bike resto, more used to old Volkswagens but the principles are the same. I just want to do it justice :daumenhoch:
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looks great fish, nice one mate :daumenhoch:
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looks great i take it you are a member on vzi with a vw fetish
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Good work fella... looking sick!
What bars have you got on the new build... not seen them before?
Also what happened to your old OGK wheels... they look like a resto challenge :buck2:
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Looking nice that. I would swap the tyre for some red panaracers my self. It is sweetest dude :4_17_5:
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Looking sweet mate! :smitten:
My one is slowly coming along....Or should I say, my pile of bits is steadily growing! :daumenhoch:
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Looking good so far :daumenhoch:
I don't think there are any hard and fast rules with regards to the decals for the forks. The pic below is mine from 1984 just after I picked it up from the shop and you can see the LHS fork decal has the "F" at the top the same as you have. The RHS also had the "F" at the top. But then again I have also seen survivors with the decals the other way round ::)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/dp1056.jpg)
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An 'E' reg on a mk1 golf????????????? ???
Bike's looking good too :daumenhoch:
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dp mjam mjam :) ---- not sure bout the renthal, though
are those EZ bars=?
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An 'E' reg on a mk1 golf????????????? ???
must be a cabby fella, as they never made a mkII cabby
and the DP is looking awesome, its a bike that is on my list of 'to own'
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Yeah totally agree with Brett on the tyres ... some amber wall tyres woudl be sweeeet :smitten: - red Panaracers are pretty cheap, era correct and have a lovely tan wall :daumenhoch:
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Looking good so far :daumenhoch:
Got to agree with Brett and Ed on the tyres though , maybe even some Whitewalls like Phantom photon had on BITD ???
It will turn out to be a cracking first build either way mate ;)
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looks great i take it you are a member on vzi with a vw fetish
Have been for years, the notchback belonged to Brian Burrows 8)
Good work fella... looking sick!
What bars have you got on the new build... not seen them before?
Also what happened to your old OGK wheels... they look like a resto challenge :buck2:
The bars were sold to me as "OLD SCHOOL BMX RARE 80's AMMACO DUAL BRACE HANDLEBARS" and I still have the OGK wheels in the shed, they cleaned up quite well with a pressure washer.
Looking nice that. I would swap the tyre for some red panaracers my self. It is sweetest dude :4_17_5:
Thinking the same dude! 8)
An 'E' reg on a mk1 golf????????????? ???
must be a cabby fella, as they never made a mkII cabby
and the DP is looking awesome, its a bike that is on my list of 'to own'
100% correct on the cabrio.
Thanks to everyone else for the kind words and encouragement.
Now got the crank fitted but a bit unsure about it as I have never set one up before. Pics in a few mins.
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what ya think? Sungio spider.. I have a red chain ring to go on it but need new fixings.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/004-2.jpg)
the green but needs to be red ???
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/002-2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/001-3.jpg)
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the green needs to be spider side of the bb fish :daumenhoch:
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the green needs to be spider side of the bb fish :daumenhoch:
HAHA! epic fail! I knew I should have asked you. cheers mate. :2funny:
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Splendid! Thanks, like the folding fork pegs on yours.
Fish
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the green needs to be spider side of the bb fish :daumenhoch:
HAHA! epic fail! I knew I should have asked you. cheers mate. :2funny:
:daumenhoch: got a couple of nos sets of those red skin walled panaracers as well mate, drop us a pm if you need any :daumenhoch:
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the green needs to be spider side of the bb fish :daumenhoch:
HAHA! epic fail! I knew I should have asked you. cheers mate. :2funny:
:daumenhoch: got a couple of nos sets of those red skin walled panaracers as well mate, drop us a pm if you need any :daumenhoch:
Damn it! you tease! :2funny: PMing now
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Good work Brummie :daumenhoch:
We need a thread for BMX & VW fans... I've had a Camper Van & Karmann Ghia in my time :smitten:
Keep hold of those OGKs - bit of a scrub with bleach and Jif and some sandpaper to sort out any stubbon bits and you've got a nice pair of rare wheels... I'd get em on the bike if I was you ... big OGK fan me :coolsmiley:
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yeah ive had a few type 2,s and a mk1 caddy slammed as f'@@k
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Love a DP me ;) :Great_Britain: :Great_Britain: :Great_Britain:
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What can I do to the OGK's to restore the color? there is a little discolouration but if they are that rare then i would think about fitting them to th DP if i was happy with the look.
Feeling the VW love guys, I have built plenty and owned loads. I might start a VW thread ;)
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"scrub with bleach and Jif and some sandpaper to sort out any stubborn bits"
thats what I did to mine and they came up irie.
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Fantastic advice, Thanks. I will ruin the suntan on my hands as soon as I can! :2funny:
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Coming along nicely is that mate. Looking forward to seeing it complete. I think the panaracers would set it off a bit more too. :coolsmiley:
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fork decals were applied in Wales, it was dependant on who did them, which way they were stuck on!
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I just checked the pic I have on here of my original-stickered forks and they have the 'f' at the top on the LH leg..... :coolsmiley:
I'm too lazy to go out and open up the box in the garage to look at the RH leg.... ;D
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fork decals were applied in Wales
as in "ooooh, now I see --they were applied in Wales... " ..?? .. is that yiur point ??? :10_2_12: ;D
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(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/Icons/1sm213sharepopcorn.gif)
:LolLolLolLol:
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i liked it as found rat look lol.
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i liked it as found rat look lol.
There was an endearing quality to the barn find look, the patina and the layers of dried out grease. The random bits of string some of which seemed to have been rudimentary cable ties and the random spattering of rattle can paint and its over spray.. I agree that it might have been more ridable than admirable but I wanted to take a turd and polish it!
;)
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Lookin' good :daumenhoch: , I'd go with the Panaracers offered ^^ and clean those OGK's up and put em back on ;) . Likin' the use of the spider on the cranks too .
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Cheers, I have the tyres coming, the wheels might go through the dishwasher (shhhhhh) see how they come up and the spider is staying but awaiting a NOS chain ring.
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the tyres will make a massive difference to it.
keep the pics coming of the wheel resto then :daumenhoch:.
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the tyres will make a massive difference to it.
keep the pics coming of the wheel resto then :daumenhoch:.
it might turn into a dishwasher resto :LolLolLolLol:
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Bleeeeeeech :D
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=114914.msg1118444#msg1118444 :daumenhoch:
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Bleeeeeeech :D
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=114914.msg1118444#msg1118444 :daumenhoch:
wow! bleach it is then! :daumenhoch:
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OK after the helpfulness of the forum I have new tyres coming and the OGK's are on the 2nd day in bleach and they are looking very nice! :D
thing is i am now questioning the rest of it... HELLLLLLP! :uglystupid2:
I have swapped the strong post clamp for the SR that was with the bike and with a little cleaning its not perfect but looks nice. the old seat is twisted but gives an idea of the look of a black seat.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/002-4.jpg)
the bars dont look right! well something doesnt!
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/001-4.jpg)
I have red cable sleeve. would it be too much?
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/004-3.jpg)
AND! the chain is also red but will it go with a red chain ring? I have one coming as this is faded!
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/003-3.jpg)
I know how women feel about carpets, curtains and painting the walls! :idiot2:
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I know what I'm going to get if i say this is how its going to be!
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/Icons/Backpacks_thrown.gif)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/Icons/FACEP.gif)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/Icons/rkellywtfio8-1.gif)
:LolLolLolLol:
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Really starting to take shape now fish. Looking really nice :daumenhoch:
I might try and get a White FS880 as you front calliper on a freestyle bike if you can. Rare as hens teeth though
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Really starting to take shape now fish. Looking really nice :daumenhoch:
I might try and get a White FS880 as you front calliper on a freestyle bike if you can. Rare as hens teeth though
it would be nice to and have an oldschool gyro that works. just not happy with the overall look although pleased you like it. I think it should look better.
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No it is looking great what sort of gyro you after? Acs or skyway? Or something more modern like an oryg.
I have a skyway spin master and an Acs pro rotor. Let me know if they are what you are after 8)
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No it is looking great what sort of gyro you after? Acs or skyway? Or something more modern like an oryg.
I have a skyway spin master and an Acs pro rotor. Let me know if they are what you are after 8)
seems a bit pointless if the brakes wont clear the frame.
I will think about it tho and if I get offered something that will make it worth while i will be in touch.
I'm a bit more concerned about the look of the rest of the bike first tho
:(
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you know what, how bout dropping the ogks and go for smth clean, light and simple ... blk, white, chrome, spokes?
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v521/fischflo/orb_and_the_show_off.jpg)
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WoAH CHILL!
Everyone goes through this... first builds take a little time to get your eye in... stick with the basic things that YOU were happy with dude! then work from there.
You were well on the way with the way you were going so stick to your guns ... trying to take in all the opinions you will get will be a 'too many cooks' thing... build as much as you can so you can see the balance of colour.
The white frame / chrome bars / white skyways were cool
The tyre change was good science from Brett etc - get your skyways on with the Panaracers and see what that adds
You've gone with white brakes which are cool but maybe you do need red cables - you just gotta try it.
Bretts right about the front brake - you can get a FS880 from ebay if you keep an eye out or ask on here - but then you need another rear red cable and a hollow stem bolt for the stem.
You are spot on about the 'carpets, curtains and painting the walls!' - thing ... same shit!
Also check out the builds that others have done in the museum on here and on Steves site http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk (http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk) as that helps loads to work out what works and what doesn't
I LOVE DPs :smitten:
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/forsale/oldschool/DiaCompe%20FS%20880%20F%20brake%20white.jpg)
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Right after my Drama Llama moment last night and having the pedal spindles turn up this morning I decided to change the cable sleeves and build it up with the skyways and full red tyres.
What do you think?
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/026.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/028.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/024.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/027.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/025.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/023.jpg)
Its growing on me :smitten:
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very nice, just move the bars back though :daumenhoch:
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very nice, just move the bars back though :daumenhoch:
I'm 6'2" :LolLolLolLol:
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I might try and get a White FS880 as you front calliper on a freestyle bike if you can. Rare as hens teeth though
There's one for sale here :daumenhoch:
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=115621.0
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Coming on a TREAT :smitten:
If it was me...
Red Panaracer tyres / chrome seat post / red seat ( combo matches bars then ) / lose the pads for now
SWEET :angel:
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Coming on a TREAT :smitten:
If it was me...
Red Panaracer tyres / chrome seat post / red seat ( combo matches bars then ) / lose the pads for now
SWEET :angel:
+1
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getting there, but deffo loose the pads. The seat and grip colours should ALWAYS match IMO. :daumenhoch:
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I'm thinking the same about the seat post and seat. the pans are coming soon and the OGK's will get their finishing touches tonight.
Thanks again for all the + comments and advice guys.
Fish
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I can only go along with the other guys and suggest Red seat, Chrome post and no pads.... :daumenhoch:
I'm so glad my build is going to be a replica of my BITD ride....If it ends up looking crap, at least it'll be old skool crap! :D
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All done now. going to keep the race pedals tho.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/008-3.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa185/cyprus-holiday/012-2.jpg)
Thanks to all those that gave me tips and supplied parts. 8)
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yessss!
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v521/fischflo/queen200.jpg)
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fookin peachy - really liking that - stick it in for BOTM :smitten:
(http://jameswoodward.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/amazement.jpg)
ogks over skyways ANY DAY
IMO keep the pads off and change the front brake to an FS880 with a hollow stem bolt and its perfect ... but feck dat... its lovely... you must be very chuffed... looks a lot like the way Glynn Lewis set up his bikes :daumenhoch:
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Mmmmmm that is sweet!....Hope mine turns out that nice! :smitten:
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looks lovely fish :4_17_5:
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fookin peachy - really liking that - stick it in for BOTM :smitten:
(http://jameswoodward.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/amazement.jpg)
ogks over skyways ANY DAY
IMO keep the pads off and change the front brake to an FS880 with a hollow stem bolt and its perfect ... but feck dat... its lovely... you must be very chuffed... looks a lot like the way Glynn Lewis set up his bikes :daumenhoch:
is it good enough for BOTM?
???
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fookin peachy - really liking that - stick it in for BOTM :smitten:
(http://jameswoodward.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/amazement.jpg)
ogks over skyways ANY DAY
IMO keep the pads off and change the front brake to an FS880 with a hollow stem bolt and its perfect ... but feck dat... its lovely... you must be very chuffed... looks a lot like the way Glynn Lewis set up his bikes :daumenhoch:
is it good enough for BOTM?
???
:daumenhoch: Looks very Nice
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Nice - definitely looks better for the changes :daumenhoch:
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Cheers guys, now in BOTM :daumenhoch: