This will be a slooooooow one but figured I’d start a thread for fun. I’ve got lots of as-found images I’ll share later but why not get it started.
Found a $100 Thunderbolt ($600 by the time the dust settled) a couple of weeks ago and despite it not being my size, I couldn’t be happier… Well, I’d secretly hoped that upon pickup I’d find an oh-so-sweet three digit Paul Brodie serial number but settling for a Bailey-built tbolt is still a win no matter what way you look at. Especially with the original brazed RM fork and stem… Win. Haha.
Anyways, verrrrrrrrry rough. As a lot of Vancouver bikes made before builders knew the climate challenges, this one has zero drainage holes and a rear facing seat post clamp. Long story short, major bubbling all over and after tapping profusely, I’ve uncovered a few holes between the down tube, one of the chain stays and the seat tube. I’m not going to repair it. To cost prohibiting. But will wire brush all the rust internally out and spray enough converter in there to solidify Medusa. At that point, I’ll emery cloth the bad bits to steel, divot the holes in and JB Weld them as a DIY braze repair. Perhaps do a repaint as it’s looking pretty rough and thanks to a couple cool Vancouverites, I’ve actually got OG decals in the same colour. Thinking solid blue (same as current blue) and white fork, black stem. Pretty sure that was one of the factory colours?
Anyways, signing off. Excited for this one. Any input or arguments to my plan? Open to suggestions!
Ry
