Finally restoring the M37

[hndrsonj]

Top is ready for primer. Hood is last big thing to prep tomorrow, paint remaining prepped parts Thursday.

 

[Bill W]

 

[Another Ahab]

That's the plan considering I'm doing the bulk of the work myself. I might be a little over my head in body and paint, but I'm going to see how far I can take it. Wish me luck!

That will be fine. Sure hope you'll post it all up on a thread here.

Good luck, Brother!

 

[hndrsonj]

One small spot left to sand on hood (now done), and ready for primer/paint tomorrow.

 

[Another Ahab]

One small spot left to sand on hood (now done), and ready for primer/paint tomorrow.

Those (2) hooks (lifting hooks?) weren't there before now were they?

Is that for hanging for the paint job?

 

[hndrsonj]

Those (2) hooks (lifting hooks?) weren't there before now were they?

Is that for hanging for the paint job?

Nope, stock M37 hood.

 

[Another Ahab]

Those (2) hooks (lifting hooks?) weren't there before now were they?

Nope, stock M37 hood.

Ooops.

I mixed up the image of the cab top, with the image of the hood.

My error.

 

[zout]

Did I mention you totally suck being able to get your hands on that pristine Norton. I remember running against them with my 69 XLCH yes ago...fast fast bike.

Back to the 37...absolutely outstanding workmanship Jim. We call that kind of work TRAILER QUEENS under a tarp in transport and roped off when showing so nobody can come within 50 ft of it. Just stare and drool.
SALUTE SIR.

 

[Another Ahab]

Did I mention you totally suck being able to get your hands on that pristine Norton. I remember running against them with my 69 XLCH yes ago...fast fast bike.

I had to look it up, nice bike.

 

[hndrsonj]

Hood, hard top, tailgate and two tables of parts painted and drying. Monday will see a lot of parts being bolted on. The Norton tank/panels will be done hopefully by Tuesday. Not doing decals either letters will be gold paint (hopefully).

 

[NAM VET]

When I was in Germany, '69-70, the Norton bikes where top dog, not just because of their performance, but also because of their revolutionary anti-vibration engine mounts. Quite a few other young officers had Nortons, and the prior Atlas bikes, and then the Commando's. I road one once, just before I was posted from Germany to Vietnam, and told my self "when I get back in a year, I am going to get one of these." But in the intervening year, my life goals changed, and I firmed up other professional plans, and never did get a Norton nor any other bike. When I occasionally see one now, I just marvel at how small they really are. Back in '65, when I was new to the University of Nebraska, I was going to buy a Honda 305 Scrambler, the really hot looking bike, and when I told my dad, He said he would pay half the cost of a car it I did not buy a bike. He hated them. So I used my saved up lawnmowing money and with his additional $750, bought my first car, a '63 TR4, which started me on a life-long path of sports cars, thru the other British sports cars, eventually, to a 427 Cobra, several Porsches, and up to a year ago, a Porsche GT3. But sold that, and now working on getting my M37 on the road. Off to see the machine shop in a few minutes.

all the best....

 

[Another Ahab]

No doubt about it, the Norton was a good looking solid machine.

AND they were hard working. My cousin had one up in the hills of Albemarle County in VA and ran it as his dirt bike (!). He ran the thing ragged, but it never stopped running.

Nice progression in your motoring history. The M37 sounds like a good way to top it off.

 

[maccus]

Jim do you know that Molly's husband Jeff is a professional air brush/sign painter? I have seen his stuff and it is very well done.

This is the Norton I remember.

 

[jeffhuey1n]

Looking good Jim!

 

[Another Ahab]

This is the Norton I remember.

Sweet

 

[hndrsonj]

Jim do you know that Molly's husband Jeff is a professional air brush/sign painter? I have seen his stuff and it is very well done.

This is the Norton I remember.

We will see how the Norton turns out. Could not find the gold paint code (they were all decals), so I went with 1979 Trans am gold.

Here's some of the painted parts pulled out of the booth this morning.

 

[zout]

BUDDY of mine that owns EV ENGINEERING in Howard City Mich could have gotten you the paint codes...but the color you chose is an awesome color as well Jim....you lucky SOB........LOL

 

[papabear]

We will see how the Norton turns out. Could not find the gold paint code (they were all decals), so I went with 1979 Trans am gold.

Here's some of the painted parts pulled out of the booth this morning.

I've only seen one other restoration project go that far into detail and that was Tinwoodsman's MB.

Youse guyz sure know how to take professionalism and attention to detail to the next higher level.

 

[hndrsonj]

Norton tank painted. I picked the best M37 parts from several trucks so what's going together was not necessarily together before, and everything seems to be fighting me (it took 3 people just to install the dang window). It's slowly coming together.

 

[Another Ahab]

Both of these projects are defining the peak of excellence.

You're absolutely nailing it with BOTH of them.