$2000 Pan

Hey guys, I am an ironhead sportster guy currently working on resurrecting an old Indian scout. A friend and co-worker has roots in a small village in a remote, rural
part of Michigan not far from me. He phoned this morning to talk about an old guy cleaning out his garage full of H.D. stuff from a happily misspent youth.

Amongst the stuff is reported to be a '49 panhead, that was ridden two years ago...asking price $2,000. Obviously this warrants the 120 mile drive for a look.

I know I am opening aHUGE can of worms here...but as pan guys what would you look at first when examining a $2,000 pan? Aside from possibly stolen, cracked cases, bad spigots, etc.
I am out of my element on this one.

Jerry

I am out of my element on this one. Jerry

Jerry,
Obviously you don't know about the Gypsy Curse on motorcycles coming out of dead storage. If you direct me to this cursed machine I will dispose of it in a manner where no one will be harmed.

[Pa]

One of these days someone is going to come out with a vacine which will cure that Gypsy curse Chris has.

$2000 doesn't buy much in vintage HD parts. If it even looked like a HD I would buy it.

Jerry

I'd give 2 grand even with a grenaded motor and the VIN segment shredded.

Well, as you can imagine, when it is time to buck up the picture becomes a little clearer... it is not a complete bike, but it is a complete engine & tranny for $1000.

My friend bought it sight unseen. I remember in 1987 or 1988 a guy I worked with was telling me about a titled pan motor he just bought for $2000.
I don't remember if it was a 65 or not, but he seemed awfully enthused...again, I am not a pan guy but I doubt seriously that they went down in value
over last twenty plus years...

Heck, the transmission alone is easily worth that.