42WLC build

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Radmonster
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42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:02 am

Hey guys! New build, I just picked up the very early 42WLC built from what I can tell Aug-Sept of 1941. I've wanted a war era bike for so long and until I found this one I didn't think it would happen for a very long time. The story on this bike from what I was told is that it was owned by an old man for a very long time, he passed and his grandson sold the bike to who I got it from. When the bike was sold supposedly it was still OD green, then it was torn apart and the new owner powder coated the frame and fork black (which I'm about to strip). Luckily most of the original parts have stayed with the bike over the last 78 years. After taking inventory on the boxes and crates, I'm missing some clutch and brake parts, tail light housing, crash bars, horn cover, cover of the cat eye dash, and blackouts (If anybody is holding 42wlc parts let me know!). A buddy of mine that is building an early 42WLA had an extra copy of the Bruce Palmer book so I've been doing research on the correct parts for my year.

So after bringing it home on Saturday the first thing I did was tear her down to see how the ol gals guts looked and Im very happy with how the motor and trans feels.
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matching belly numbers 41-1-11234
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Last edited by Radmonster on Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:40 am, edited 1 time in total.


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Radmonster
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:06 am

more
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IvorGPW
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by IvorGPW » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:54 am

Nice bike, after seeing what you did to the Jeep I can only what kind of a transformation the bike will go through. I do wonder if it would be better just to just keep the powder coating, it’s not something I would choose to do but it’s there and maybe would last better. Good luck on the build and keep us posted.
Tate Christensen
1944 Ford GPW #234613 USMC Radio jeep
1943 Willys MB #263100
1945 Willys CJ2A #10226
1941 Ford GP #9687
1941 Willys MB #100161

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Re: 42WLC build

Post by OLDABEWLA » Tue Sep 03, 2019 6:21 pm

Do you have the fenders? The WLC front fender is a rare bird to find and a WLA is different with being within the braces WLC are big twin and 45 are the WLA but the big twin civilians braces will work but The military are narrow than civilian braces.
The back fender is also different from the WLA with the braces are different and are very hard to find.
The v face cat eye dash original and base is a spendy items but can be purchased.
The blackout lights for the WLC are reproduced also your skid plate is missing repo can be purchase but originals are out there but are most cases beat to hell.

Very nice bike but it's going take some hard hunting and pile of cash to get it were you want with original parts or put repro on it?
I would get rid of the powder coating as I used aircraft stripper that worked the best and will do the job on the crappy stuff!

One plus you have that rare aircleaner.

You have the tool box and bracket?


Craig
☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III

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Radmonster
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:44 pm

OLDABEWLA wrote:
Tue Sep 03, 2019 6:21 pm
Do you have the fenders? The WLC front fender is a rare bird to find and a WLA is different with being within the braces WLC are big twin and 45 are the WLA but the big twin civilians braces will work but The military are narrow than civilian braces.

Craig
Thanks! And you bet I do! One thing I was super stoked on when I found this bike was that I believe it does have its original fenders! At some point the first owner in civilian life made some crude fender skirts that are attached with brad fasteners. This makes them super easy to pop off and after I strip them down to bare metal I will just tig up the holes. I don't have the fender box (I might just make that my self), skid plate will probably be repop and will get some use as I plan on riding this everywhere on and off road. The WL Harley parts themselves wont be to hard to find because I always hit up the swaps and have a pretty good group of people who collect old Harleys. The Canadian parts on the other hand like tail light housing and black outs don't make there way down here to often, so the lights will be repop as well until I find originals I guess (like my NOS glass!).
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:47 pm

rear fender
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by twinflyer17 » Wed Sep 04, 2019 6:36 am

Nice find! I can't wait to see what this looks like when you're finished. Watching your progress on the jeep, I know it'll turn out beautifully!
Sean

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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Militarymc » Wed Sep 04, 2019 1:20 pm

Pm sent

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Re: 42WLC build

Post by OLDABEWLA » Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:30 pm

That's great you have the skins! Added plus!
I restored my skins as I remove the braces and cleaned under them as they can get really crusty and grubby under the braces then I re-rivet with nos rivets and they came out looking like new fenders.
The military Harley fenders have rolled edges in the openings on the sides and some of the early cheap reproduction finder were done without the roll edge if you have them try to keep it this way or if no try to add it to your fenders.

Do you have the kidney tool box?

Craig
☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III

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Re: 42WLC build

Post by OLDABEWLA » Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:54 pm

Here what mine looked like when I first started and now all original parts minus the new leather 12 year project tons of bad parts when started.

Craig
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☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III

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Radmonster
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Wed Sep 04, 2019 7:30 pm

OLDABEWLA wrote:
Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:54 pm
Here what mine looked like when I first started and now all original parts minus the new leather 12 year project tons of bad parts when started.

Craig
Wow amazing job on the transformation on that bike!! I do not have the kidney tool box that is a part that I definitely will need.

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Re: 42WLC build

Post by Radmonster » Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:07 pm

I played hooky from work today and had a good chunk of the day where I could work on the bike. I finished stripping down the frame and fork then got out a can of JASCO paint stripper and went to town on the frame, fork, wheels, and bars. After it set for about 15min I put some layers on and got out my trusty wire wheels that go on the 4 1/2 hand grinder.... a few hours later, the frame is clean and the fork is almost done. I'm so glad I ended up taking the time to do this. The frame has so much more detail now in the castings, joints and welds.

Also while taking apart the fork and checking in my BP book my bike has the original springer with smooth big twin rockers! An early 42 only part :D
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by 199th MP » Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:29 am

i took this picture at a bike event in tenino, washington a couple of years back. the owner rode this WLC down from british columbia
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by 199th MP » Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:30 am

this is the other side.
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Re: 42WLC build

Post by 199th MP » Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:32 am

notice in the second picture, the heel operated siren. pretty rare to see those.


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