84 Fat Chance box crown

[Proto2000]

Picked this one up last week in SF of all places. Story is that he went to Boston on vacation and was looking through FB and saw this for sale so he bought it and sent it home before he left. The previous owner was the original and has stored it for about 20 years after riding the crap out of it. When I got it of course I tore it apart to check that it was not needing repairs to the frame and I did find that there is a pin hole on the bottom back side of the seat tube at the BB, the only place that water can get into the frame. All tubes on the frame are sealed with braze except the down tube but there are screws for water bottle holder and no moisture got to it. I did spray frame saver in those 2 tubes just to be on the safe side and will run it past Dale Saso to be sure I don't need to do something about that issue. Likely will media blast the bars even though they are color matched to the frame then respray black since matching old red paint will be nearly impossible. The rear wheel is toast, front is fine but I did find a replacement set that I did not know I had. Same hubs as originals, Suntour XC, but with RM20 rims and not the X22 that were on it. Added a nicer set of derailleurs, originals were pretty beat up, have nicer levers and shifters too. I'll post when I get more parts or as I progress on this one.

 

[BlackCat]

Hell of a find.. is that bar/stem combo a Fat fabrication?

 

[Proto2000]

I would have to think it is. It is not a standard 22mm fit but a 21mm fit into the steer tube. I really do not want to blast the red/chrome since I have seen both on bikes but matching paint is way past my abilities. I'm open to options. I think the paint on the bars is in need of some refurb. Maybe I need to consider some other options.

 

[Synthiaks]

I fit were me I'd keep the patina on the bars, shows its history & looks nicer that introducing fresh paint IMHO........but depends on what you want to do with it going forward.


Very cool to find.

 

[Lucidone]

Is it not an option to carefully removed the paint and retain the (presumably) original chrome finish?

 

[Proto2000]

I did pull the bars and removed some paint on the quill area and it looks to be a WIN set of bars so whatever I do will be fine since they are not made by Fat. I will try to get the paint shop to match the color, I have the water bottle cage bolts all painted and matching color as the frame.

 

[27motorhead]

Amazing find! How cool and gorgeous is that bike?!

 

[Tsundere]

Amazing.

 

[Retro_Roy]

i picked up a project 1985 fat chance kicker with a box crown fork last month.
so i will be watching what you do with this one. looking for pointers.
happy new year.

 

[Proto2000]

Great find. Post a pic or 2 of what you have. I have had a few newer Fats over the years but this older one just has a style to it, fork rocks and the semi brazed frame says Cool. Loving the slack almost 2020's look to the geometry.