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On The Warpath
 By Moen

This page will be in future issues of the VI, and will chart the progress of the Warpath Peoples' Indian with monthly updates. 

For new readers, the Warpath Project sprang from Lyle's improved 1948 Daytona "Big Base" Sport Scout racing engine cases, and it just may become the first new (real!) Indian since1953. -And with a twist. This modern-day web stuff makes it possible for people all around the world to stay close in touch and work together on various projects. Pooling our resources and relying on trading as far as possible to keep costs down, it looks like we could build new, slightly modernised and quite affordable, Sport Scouts if we work together. The VI Exchange and Buyers' Club are both part of, what we could call the VI Network, together with this page, and I hope the parts can nourish each other for a greater whole. 

Besides the engine cases, there are already quite a few related projects going on, and this page will keep you up to date, so if you are interested in this project -and perhaps a Warpath of your own, check back every month!
 


News this month:
Prototype Engine Case
Primary Covers
Bonne Valve Lifts
Cylinder Base Gaskets
 

Idea: How about if some of the people, wanting one of these bikes did some sketches and a story of what their bike would be (roadster, racer, original, bobber, chopper??), and how they intended to go about it (all new parts? mix of new/old?) and sent it to me for posting here to help the creative juices get flowing in the garages all around the world?

OK, it ain't much, but here's a page on my Warpath project...

-And here's Tim Pickering's thoughts on the same theme!
 

Updates!
(click on blue text links for more info - use browser "back" button to get back here for more!)
Updated
Part
News
Contact Person
More Info
Sept. 00
Cases
Lyle has cast the aluminum master pattern for the cases, as well as actual prototypes of the cam-side case. These were shown at the VI booth at the Davenport meet and are now being machined up. Some minor changes will be made. Moen Case update
Davenport
Sept. 00
Primary
Cover
The prototype inner cover has been machined, and adjustments to the pattern is being done. Outer covers will be machined soon. Magneto drive cover (in two versions; stock and finned!) will be done soon.
Moen
Case update
Sept. 00 Lifts Matt Willkinson's Bonneville exhaust valve lifts will be ready for the Chester PA meet October 6. Price $200-250. Nine sets still available. Matt Willkinson Buyers' Club
Sept. 00 Gaskets The VI Blueprint team has made drawings for the cylinder base gaskets (SS, 741, Warpath) for James Gaskets. James is doing the tooling for the gaskets now, and they should be ready soon. Other gaskets may follow. Dave Clements Blueprints
 
August 00
Cases
Case patterns progressing
Moen
Case update
August 00 Heads Problems with mold release (tall fins and sand is a tough mix) are being solved.
Jim Wall
Buyers' Club
Heads May story
July 00
Primary
Cover
Prototype inner primaries cast and sent for machining. Outer cover also cast. Moen Case update
May 00
Cases
Lyle Landstrom, with the help of Jim Wall and others is making good progress on the engine cases. See this month's article
Cam covers have been cast and are being test machined. More on this next month
Moen
Case update
Casting
BB cases
Cam cover
4-Cam
May 00
Clutch
New Kevlar clutch plates (and soon complete kits of clutch plates and springs) are now available at prices close to OEM plates. Sounds perfect for Warpaths! 
See this month's article. (updated September)
Rob Olsen
New Clutch
May 00 Fenders Tom Keene has unfinished front fender blanks for trade. These are the prewar type and for 18" wheels. See the Exchange page
Tom Keene
Fenders
Exchange
May 00
Forks
If 10 orders can be found, new complete 640 front forks from Jürgen Hecker can be made at a projected retail price of US$1600. Or possibly new 741 forks could be made (as the factory racers used these) See the Buyers' Club page for details. 
At the same time, VI "projecteers" are talking about possible forks too. Nothing definite on this now, but hopefully there will be an update on this next month.
Moen
Racing forks.
Buyers' Club
Blueprints
May 00
Frames
If 10 orders can be found, new 640 front frames from Jürgen Hecker can be made at a projected retail price of US$1200. The same goes for rear frames, at a projected retail price of US$400. These could either be 640 or 741 (as the factory racers used these). See the Buyers' Club page for details. 
VI "projecteers" are talking about possible frames too. Both front and rear, and hopefully there will be an update on this next month.
For Hecker frames:
Moen
 

 For VI frames:
Jim Wall
 

JH frames
JH ACE
JH 4 frames
Racing frames
Buyers' Club
May 00
Heads
Jim Wall has the patterns for the pre-war "Tall Fin" racing heads at a foundry for a quote. More next month. See the Buyers' Club page.
Jim Wall
Heads
Buyers' Club
May 00
Primary
Covers
Lyle currently has both inner and outer primary cover, as well as the cover for the magneto drive opening, available in unmachined form. Patterns may be modified to fit coming transmission case for 4-speed gears (& clutch?). This will not be until the engine cases are done. See this month's article
Moen
Case update
Lyle's Page
May 00
Lifts
Matt Willkinson is making a batch of 10 sets of Bonneville Scout valve lifts. See the Buyers' Club page. Matt Willkinson Buyers' Club
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