Reviving the 1969 Norton Fastback

[Too Alerttt]

My neighbor's Fastback has been sitting in his garage in pieces ever since he tried a rebuild back in the early 2000s. The original crankcase has a nasty crack near the mounting point and we're thinking of replacing it with one from Molnar. I'm curious if anyone has encountered alignment issues when swapping in their cases on these earlier models. Is it usually straightforward or should we expect some fitting headaches

 

[slowbutfurious]

Molnar cases typically boast high quality, though some of the earlier models might require slight machining to ensure proper alignment. So just double-check the main bearing bores and deck height before you put everything together

 

[Mark Appleton]

My neighbor's Fastback has been sitting in his garage in pieces ever since he tried a rebuild back in the early 2000s. The original crankcase has a nasty crack near the mounting point and we're thinking of replacing it with one from Molnar. I'm curious if anyone has encountered alignment issues when swapping in their cases on these earlier models. Is it usually straightforward or should we expect some fitting headaches

Unless your neighbor is racing this bike, it seems like buying new cases is an expensive solution to a problem that can easily and inexpensively be fixed with a set of used cases. If you contact me with your engine serial number, I am quite sure I would have a good set from the same year and could supply with bill of sale to make "replacement engine" easier to add to your vehicle registration and insurance than a set of new unstamped cases. email full contact details and engine numbers to [email protected] .

 

[Maeo2]

Isn't it nuts that after decades, there's still no truly plug-and-play solution for classic Norton rebuilds? If Molnar's the gold standard, why do we still expect some fitting headaches like it's just part of the hobby tax?

 

[MidnightMoto]

You've made a great point about how used cases can save money. When you have cases from the same year along with the right documentation, it really makes the registration and insurance process a lot easier compared to brand-new cases that aren't stamped.

 

[Too Alerttt]

I agree it's part of the challenge with old bikes that even new parts require careful fitting.

Mark, your offer to supply a good set of used cases is fascinating and something my neighbor and I need to consider seriously. It presents a different path for our project. If we decide to go with a used set, what's the typical condition one can expect from cases of that era? For the community in general, when inspecting used instances, are there common wear points to check beyond cracks, such as warped surfaces or damaged threads?

We have some thinking to do now. I'll talk it over with my neighbor this week.