CarJackD – Custom Automotive Paint NJ

Anybody who knows this site knows what I do – I’m a freelance custom painter that’s had the pleasure of doing some really cool paint for some really cool people. A lot of folks ask me why I haven’t quit my day job and started doing this full time – I tell them I’ve always kept my painting as a hobby for a couple reasons:

1. I never wanted to get to a point where I considered it a “job” and, by definition, start not liking it, and
2. I always thought i needed to do more than paint a car or bike to REALLY get the most out of it.

Also, over the course of the last few years I’ve found myself itching to get my hands dirty again – my 9-5 is in front of a computer and, while its rewarding in its own way, doesn’t ever speak to this primal need i have to bust my knuckles on a piece of oil covered steel. This article from NY Times Magazine really lit a fire under my ass, for anyone who felt (or feels) that getting shuffled into the college/business world isnt for them… read it now.

So, with all that being said, I present my new project: The complete tear-down and rebuild of a 1978 Honda CB550 Motorcycle

Here she is - not in bad shape for $300

I choose this style bike because it fits all of my criteria: I knew I didn’t want to spend a fortune and needed something that was going to be driveable, reasonably quick, and cool as hell. After browsing ebay, craigslist, and googling “custom motorcycle” for hours I decided on a late 70s, japanese bike that would get the “cafe racer” treatment.

After finally deciding, it made my search relatively easy… the best way I found is to use the term “Basket case” when searching craigslist or ebay. I typed it in on a guess and found out that it’s a term used quite a bit for motorcycles – it literally means “this bike comes in baskets”: disassembled, maybe a working motor, hasnt run in years, etc. Fortunately it also usually means CHEAP! I found the bike on craigslist for $400 – after a little back and forth I rolled the bike into my father’s work van last saturday of $300. The guy I bought it from also included some parts, two THICK manuals and a list of related websites he’d found while he had the bike… Thanks Andy!

In the future Ill be sure to post any good websites I come across (or please feel free to suggest some too!) I will also chronicle all of the steps, from tear-down, to engine rebuild, to paint, to final assembly with pictures and video whenever possible.

The other thing I’ll be sure to do is post any cost incurred throughout; I don’t know myself how much this is gonna cost, but I can guarantee you that building it by yourself and using the internet wisely will make this project much more affordable (and gratifying) than paying for a brand new bike.

So, wish me luck… I’m gonna need it!

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