1974 Commando Paint - Blue

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The tins after bead blast. The tank had some bondo! The painter thinks the tank will be usable. I am prepared to find a better one if it doesn't work out.

1974 Commando Paint - Blue
 
I am following this with great interest.
Not so sure I would be using that tank on a high dollar paint job.
 
I loved my emgo nice thick steel but had some machining marks on top that needed lite skim of filler
 
illf8ed said:
Dave.
There is an original blue 850 right side cover on eBay now.
1974 Commando Paint - Blue
1974 Commando Paint - Blue
Click to expand...
I bought that 850 side cover off eBay and it's fire flake blue is just about a perfect match with the original paint on my 1971 Roadster. The tank was painted over in the early '70's and I was able to remove the covering paint recently. It revealed some brand new looking fire flake that matches the 850 side cover. (it also revealed the reason the tank was painted). I don't know what year the 850 side cover was from, but it does show that the paint shade used in 1971 was apparently still in use in 1973 and maybe later years. I can post pictures tomorrow if anyone is interested.
 
The painter contacted me after removing the bondo and told me he would have no problem saving the tank. He is one of the most meticulous guys I know, so if he says it will work, I trust his judgement.
 
Dave Swanson said:
The painter contacted me after removing the bondo and told me he would have no problem saving the tank. He is one of the most meticulous guys I know, so if he says it will work, I trust his judgement.
Click to expand...

Good to hear the tank is good. Looking forwards to seeing the finished product - as I'm sure you are :)

The EMGO tanks are a very good copy, but as already said, they need a coat of filler/primer to get the imperfections ironed out.
Other copies aren't as faithful to the original shape as the EMGO, and it makes one realise how good the original tanks were.
 
That side cover is for a pre '71 Commando. I have a '71 Blue Fireflake 750 and the color is duller blue than steel tank Commandos. My '73 Blue Fireflake 850 is much more brillant blue.
The Black Commando pictured is probably part Mk2A, air box is, but it looks like earlier swing arm spindle.
You'd be better off with a OEM fuel tank if it can be saved, it has internal baffles to prevent fuel sloshing.
 
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My Nov 73 build MK2a has the early swingarm arm spindle, the change to the welch plugs was mid model year going by previous posts.
 
They are perfect. Everybody has opinions, but that's my favorite color on Norton's. Must be, I have a 750 & 850 with the same paint scheme :-)
As for the non Norton community, I did enjoy being at a rally years ago crossing the Hudson in NY and the ferry captain commented that he'd seen a lot of Norotn's that week and mine was the best looking one he'd seen. Glad he'd not seen some of the real customs :-)
 
Looks very nice.
Blue is the best color. Looking forward to the completed project..
 
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