1947 Chief Restoration.
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by owner Luis Rives,
website www.indianchiefresto.com
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The Motocycle:
1947 Indian Chief, matching frame and engine authentic numbers , serial
number below #2000; bike was in basket case condition and had not run in
nearly thirty years when restoration was begun.
Time:
October 2000 to September 2002 |
Original Parts Restored:
Frame and fork, front suspension components (not including shock
absorber), center stand, rear chain adjusters, rear fender braces and
bumper, engine cases, camshaft cover, cylinder barrels, cylinder heads,
oil pump, carburetor, intake manifold, top and bottom engine mounts, inner
primary cover, outer primary cover, generator drive sprocket, generator
drive pulley, transmission case, kick starter and pedal, left and right
gas tanks, wheel hubs, front & rear brake drums, front brake plate, rear
and front brake arms, clutch pedal, brake pedal, seat post assembly,
handlebar, instrument panel, shift lever; generator and generator mount
were part of the “basketcase” parts that were not reused.
Custom Features:
Original 74 c.i. engine enlarged to 80 c.i.;
Electronic Ignition;
Motovalve;
King Clutch;
Sealed Primary Drive
External filter mount using true motorcycle oil filter in oil return line;
Twelve volt electrical system with automotive
alternator and solid state regulator, multiple fused points, heat shrinked
wiring with all terminations soldered;
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 Stainless
steel spokes in new chrome wheel rims;
Hold-down ties for traditional Indian battery box containing 12-volt
battery inside;
Hand painted emblems in air cleaner cover and battery box;
Powdercoating of nearly all black finished parts (except cylinder barrels,
hubs, brake drums, and headlight shell |
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Credits:
Frame and Fork:
Chris Smith, Pittsburg, Kansas
Engine:
Chris Smith
Transmission:
Chris Smith
Gas Tank:
Mattson’s Radiator, Stanton, California
Powdercoating:
Indian Coatings, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Cadmium Plating:
Detray Plating, Independance, Missouri
Wheel Hubs:
Chris Smith
Paint:
RSM Custom (George Murello) Wallkill, NY
Seat:
Heather’s Leather, South Carolina
Parts Suppliers:
Kiwi Indian Parts, Riverside, California
Starklite Cycle, Perris, California
Ziggy’s Motorworks, Port Orchard, Washington
Oregon Vintage (Stan Jessup), Salem, Oregon
Ed Glasgow, Tully, NY
Auto Electric Store, Newburgh, New York
Rolling Chassis Assembly: Chris Smith
Final Assembly:
Luis Rives
Aluminum Polishing:
Luis Rives
Sheet Metal Fitment:
Luis Rives
Electrical:
Luis Rives
Custom Oil Filter Mount:
Luis Rives
Gas Tank Headdress Decal: Luis Rives
Tool Box Decal:
Luis Rives
Transportation:
Federal Motorcycle Transport |
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would like to thank the following persons and entities, whose input, large
or small, direct or indirect, and whose advise, helped me put a classic
American motorcycle back on the road:
Chris Smith, George Murello, Steve Blancard, Stan Jessup, Rob Olsen, Dave
Clements, Steve Adams, Ed Glasgow, the listers at the VirtualIndian online
forum; Jerry Hatfield, Hans Halberstadt, Jeff Hackett, and Tod Rafferty for
those great books that also have special value because all I purchased at
the Border’s Bookstore that was located in the World Trade Center complex,
Kiwi Indian Parts, Auto Electric Store, VirtualIndian.org, Jerry Greer’s
Indian Engineering (for that beautiful catalog).
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