Author Topic: 1985 GT Pro-Performer build (Read 9980 times)

andy sweeney · « **on:** January 06, 2014, 09:46 PM »

My frame and forks arrived today and as I've been busy collecting parts recently I thought I'd best start a build thread.

Firstly, the frame and forks - March 1985 - one of the first Japanese frames, and beautifully welded it is too... although it won't be staying orange for long - it'll be off to get blasted and powder coated in white...

It has these correct GT sized DC cable clamps, but they are blue, which whilst will kind of work with the white theme, I'd prefer black, so if anyone has any mint black ones in the correct size and fancy a sale or swap, let me know...

It also came with this Tange locking nut...

And also this Tange 125 headset...

I don't know much about these 125's other than this one, whilst good for a rider, is not 'show pony' so needs to go. Got to see if I can find a GT Epoch from somewhere.

I did manage to find a 'show mounted only' '85 seat clamp in white... which was nice...

NOS SR-470 pedals...

NOS SR 'Hollow' welded ultra-lite CrMo OPC...

NOS Sugino 44T Chainwheel...

NOS MX1000's...

Got some NOS '84 Tech 3's on the way, but no pics yet.

NOS '84 DC Cables...

NOS Kashi seat guts...

NOS Suntour 16T freewheel...

NOS Skyway valve caps...

NOS Skyway freestyle brake blocks...

NOS GT Layback post...

NOS Pro Performer bars...

Super mint show mounted GT mallet stem...

New pads...

New decals...

There's a black suede Kashi Aero and skinwall Panaracer tyres on the way from Japan which 'should' see all the parts to complete, par for some chain tensioners, Tuff II's and a bottom bracket.

Hopefully it'll turn out to be a nice bike.

I'll post more once I get the FF back from powder coating and can start throwing it together.

That Swan Guy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:51 PM »

I've got a black/polished seat clamp the same as that if you fancy a trade?

I need a white/polished one.

I can send pics in the week

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:57 PM »

Andy mate, you have been busy.

This will look the business mate, and will be great seeing it in the flesh at Chester.

All I would do is ditch the decal on the seat post, and replace it with the earlier foil coin decal to match your frame decals, that's just me though, it's your bike, build it how you want it.

andy sweeney · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:18 PM »

Quote from: Retrodan72 on January 06, 2014, 09:57 PM

Andy mate, you have been busy.

This will look the business mate, and will be great seeing it in the flesh at Chester.

All I would do is ditch the decal on the seat post, and replace it with the earlier foil coin decal to match your frame decals, that's just me though, it's your bike, build it how you want it.

Hi Dan,

The foil decals are going when it gets powdered in white - got a new decal set coming to match the ones on the bars and post

Mat · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:21 PM »

Nice
Paint everyfink yellow, be ace!

andy sweeney · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:26 PM »

Quote from: Mat on January 06, 2014, 10:21 PM

Nice
Paint everyfink yellow, be ace!

I prefer white.

nitrohopper · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:52 PM »

andy that orange is a funky colour love it

andy sweeney · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:10 PM »

Quote from: nitrohopper on January 06, 2014, 10:52 PM

andy that orange is a funky colour love it

Hmmm - not my particular "cup 'o tea", plus it's chipped and scratched so needs a full blast and powder anyway.

Faze 3 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2014, 05:22 PM »

Heh Andy

That will look the bollox when it's popped together, love a white GT, ssssooooooooooooooooooo 80's

Keep me eye on this thread then.

TORKER mick · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2014, 06:35 PM »

that's going took very nice

good to see a change

andy sweeney · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2014, 07:08 PM »

Got the frame stripped and ready to send to Superbike Dan. Just waiting for a large box of bits to arrive from the USA including some 50th Anniversary alloy hubb'd Tuff IIs....

Sc0tty · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2014, 09:39 PM »

What paint stripper did you use please Andy, and where did u buy it?

eddie kidd · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:14 PM »

Quote from: andy sweeney on February 01, 2014, 07:08 PM

Got the frame stripped and ready to send to Superbike Dan. Just waiting for a large box of bits to arrive from the USA including some 50th Anniversary alloy hubb'd Tuff IIs....

Ding Dong...

Would love a set of these myself...

oldscool · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2014, 07:45 PM »

Nice im building an 85 pro performer survivor.

eddie kidd · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2014, 09:33 PM »

Building an 84 PP myself...

Should be finished by 2024...

andy sweeney · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2014, 10:43 PM »

Quote from: Sc0tty on February 01, 2014, 09:39 PM

What paint stripper did you use please Andy, and where did u buy it?

Sorry - when I say stripped, I meant of all the remaining hardware - not the finish.

If you want to strip paint or powder coat without blasting, without a doubt the best chemical to use is Dichloromethane...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-LITRE-Dichloromethane-1000ml-MDC-Methylene-Chloride-99-/221279113127?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item3385434fa7

But be warned - is is VERY NASTY STUFF INDEED - read the health and safety data sheets BEFORE use. There's a reason it's not available in B&Q and to be fair, I'm surprised it's available on eBay, but... it is the absolute mustard when it comes to removing coatings. Nothing comes close. Brush on, coating wrinkles up and falls off in seconds.

andy sweeney · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2014, 10:45 PM »

Quote from: eddie kidd on February 01, 2014, 11:14 PM

Quote from: andy sweeney on February 01, 2014, 07:08 PM
Got the frame stripped and ready to send to Superbike Dan. Just waiting for a large box of bits to arrive from the USA including some 50th Anniversary alloy hubb'd Tuff IIs....

Ding Dong...

Would love a set of these myself...

To go with the theme of the bike, I've got for the white ones with black alloy hubs

My pal is shipping them in from California for me with all my NOS parts I've been collecting which for some reason have all been in the states... must be a GT thing.

Sc0tty · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2014, 06:17 PM »

Quote from: andy sweeney on February 02, 2014, 10:43 PM

Quote from: Sc0tty on February 01, 2014, 09:39 PM
What paint stripper did you use please Andy, and where did u buy it?

Sorry - when I say stripped, I meant of all the remaining hardware - not the finish.

If you want to strip paint or powder coat without blasting, without a doubt the best chemical to use is Dichloromethane...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-LITRE-Dichloromethane-1000ml-MDC-Methylene-Chloride-99-/221279113127?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item3385434fa7

But be warned - is is VERY NASTY STUFF INDEED - read the health and safety data sheets BEFORE use. There's a reason it's not available in B&Q and to be fair, I'm surprised it's available on eBay, but... it is the absolute mustard when it comes to removing coatings. Nothing comes close. Brush on, coating wrinkles up and falls off in seconds.

THanks mate. So did you send your frame to Dan with the orange gloss paint finish on it? Is Dan going to media blast it for you? If Dan can do the media blasting I wont have to bother buying any stripper.

andy sweeney · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2014, 06:53 PM »

Quote from: Sc0tty on February 03, 2014, 06:17 PM

Quote from: andy sweeney on February 02, 2014, 10:43 PM
Quote from: Sc0tty on February 01, 2014, 09:39 PM
What paint stripper did you use please Andy, and where did u buy it?

Sorry - when I say stripped, I meant of all the remaining hardware - not the finish.

If you want to strip paint or powder coat without blasting, without a doubt the best chemical to use is Dichloromethane...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-LITRE-Dichloromethane-1000ml-MDC-Methylene-Chloride-99-/221279113127?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item3385434fa7

But be warned - is is VERY NASTY STUFF INDEED - read the health and safety data sheets BEFORE use. There's a reason it's not available in B&Q and to be fair, I'm surprised it's available on eBay, but... it is the absolute mustard when it comes to removing coatings. Nothing comes close. Brush on, coating wrinkles up and falls off in seconds.

THanks mate. So did you send your frame to Dan with the orange gloss paint finish on it? Is Dan going to media blast it for you? If Dan can do the media blasting I wont have to bother buying any stripper.

I haven't sent it yet, but I am assuming Dad will blast the frame and forks. I've never come across a powder coating business without blasting facilities - the two go hand in hand.

Sc0tty · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2014, 11:04 PM »

Dad??!!

andy sweeney · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2014, 10:48 AM »

Quote from: Sc0tty on February 03, 2014, 11:04 PM

Dad??!!

Not as bad as when I called my PE teacher in school dad......

(All boys Grammar school, aged 15... not good)

Sc0tty · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2014, 01:19 PM »

When is the GT gonna be finished Andy?

andy sweeney · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2014, 07:36 PM »

Quote from: Sc0tty on February 06, 2014, 01:19 PM

When is the GT gonna be finished Andy?

FF arrived with SB Dans this afternoon - no idea what the usual turnaround is?

I ordered some 50th Anniversary alloy hubbed tuff 2 which once with my pal in California, the box can be opened and loadedwith all my NOS gear he's been collecting for me, then he can ship it across the pond.

So... I guess it's a case of how long will SB Dan take to coat and return the frame as I'd imagine I'll have the wheels and other parts back in 7 - 10 days...?

andy sweeney · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2014, 09:03 PM »

Howdy fight fans!

In the white corner, we have Sweeney's freshly powder coated GT FF on their way back from Superbike Dan's...

I'm waiting for a big box of bits to arrive from California including my 50th Anniverdary alloy hubbed Tuff II's and then I can commence assembly!

andy sweeney · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2014, 04:33 PM »

Who-hoo!

The postman delivered a nice big box today, kindly packed and sent by a friend in sunny California and cunningly disguised in customs friendly wrapping!

I can't describe the excitement...

A-ha..... a clue!

Yep - it was my 50th Anniversary alloy hub Tuffs and a treasure chest of booty...

By now, I'd already thrown the Panaracers on!

More BMX goodness...

A gorgeous suede Kashi Aero.

New GT pads...

NOS Suntour freewheel...

Took some searching but located a NOS GT Epoch headset...

Mint Mallet stem...

Mint 'wings' seat clamp...

NOS date matched 1984 DC front and rear cables...

Collected a few stickers...