79 Spitfire 5

[Kajun72]

Well found a Spitfire 5 at my local community bike shop. It's all there, but needs some tlc. Paint is chipped all over, s-2 rims are rusty inside. Atom drum brake needs new pads. I do not know where to start? What should I do about the rusted steel rims and paint? Any advice would be appreciated.

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[ssimpala1901]

I wouldn't paint it myself I would just clean it up as best I could with some cleaner wax. The fenders look like and add on, maybe at the dealership. I would just shine the wheels up as best as I could and ride.
I don't know about the Atom brake drum, my brother had one same color and year, less the fenders. Unfortunately, it was stolen the first time we locked it up at a bike rack, he had it about a week - 10 days, never got to wear out the Atom brake.

 

[phantom]

I agree. I would just clean the begeezus out of it and take the fenders off and sell them or use for another bike.

 

[TRUEBLUE1981]

I agree.. clean up as much as possible. .maybe just and some white wall tires to it.

 

[rustjunkie]

Looks great!
Ride it

 

[bikeyard]

I'd leave the fenders on in Washington state, and ride the crap out of it.

 

[rustjunkie]

Those look like they could be the old Schwinn accessory fenders, maybe they're stainless?

 

[GTs58]

That should clean up real nice. Be very cautious on the decals and chain guard screening. They might disappear just waxing them. I don't care for fenders on these cruisers, but those look nice and fit dang good. They would look even better without that 70's reflector. Some TLC is all I would do, it's already a very presentable Spitfire.

 

[Kajun72]

Well thanks for all the advice so far. The fenders are very rusty underneath, so they are going to go. I have some touch up paint from, Koolestuff, schwinn sky blue, pretty close match. So I am going to touch up the bad spots and clean it, new pads for the drum brake (FYI 80mm x18mm moped brake pads with fit) and clean up the inside and seal and polish the rims. I have some new tires and tubes to install.

 

[Rivnut]

Get a brass detailing brush and work on the rims between the spokes. If the outer parts of the rims are just coated with surface rust, make a pad of aluminum foil, wet it, and rub the chrome until the rust is gone. If it's pitted rust, those methods won't work. It might not me like new but better. Here are some before and after shots of what these methods did to a Schwinn Typhoon I restored.