Fat Boy Face Lift | Project Fat F*cker, Part 1

The Lucky F*cker Sheetmetal Collection consists of A) a 3.5 gallon gas tank (MSRP $299.99) available for both carbureted and fuel injected models, B) tank adapter (MSRP $99.99), C) solo seat kit (MSRP $179.99), D) rigid style rear fender (MSRP $169.99), and E) fender struts (MSRP $34.99).

The Lucky F*cker Sheetmetal Collection consists of A) a 3.5 gallon gas tank (MSRP $299.99)

On the cover of our Vol. 43 No. 1 issue, we ran a made-over Softail that was built by Rich Fulk, product line manager/designer for Custom Chrome. Once a somewhat stock Softail, the bike was brought back to life after Rich and the bike took a bad spill on the freeway. Working with his friend, Kirk Taylor, over at Custom Design Studios, Rich and Kirk came up with the Lucky F*cker Collection, a set of sheetmetal that helped resuscitate the banged up Softail.

Custom Chrome now offers the sheetmetal collection for Twin Cam Softails and for the most part, it’s all a bolt-on affair with little frame modification or welding. The parts were all designed to work together or the parts can be used individually depending on what look you are going for or what your budget is.

One of our friends, Norm, had a 2002 Softail Fat Boy that had definitely seen better days. With more than 85,000 miles on the odometer, Norm’s Fat Boy had been ridden hard and had the scars to prove it. The bike had the unfortunate luck of lying parallel to the ground not once, but twice. The first was a stationary tip over that left a nasty softball size dent in the left side of the tank. Then several years later, a squirrely incident with a motorist on a two-lane highway left Norm and the bike sliding along the road. Luckily Norm wasn’t injured too badly, but coincidentally the bike ended up with a matching dent on the right side of the tank. After seeing the sheetmetal kit on the Lucky F*cker bike, Norm was inspired to breathe some new life into his faithful Fat Boy and restore it back to glory. Follow along as we show how Norm mocked up the sheetmetal kit.

Source: Custom Chrome Inc.
Contact your local dealer | customchrome.net

1 The right side of the Fat Boy’s tank has a nice big dent in it.
And as you can see the left side has a matching blemish.
Even the leather saddlebags Norm installed have taken their fair share of punishment.

2 With the bike secured to a lift, Norm and his buddy, Dan, made quick work of stripping the bike down. The seat was removed followed by the ECM tray.
2 With the bike secured to a lift, Norm and his buddy, Dan, made quick work of stripping
3 After removing the chrome fender strut covers, the rear fender and saddlebag support brackets were removed as a unit.
3 After removing the chrome fender strut covers, the rear fender and saddlebag support br
4 In order to install the rigid-style rear fender, the solid fender struts had to be cut off from the frame.
4 In order to install the rigid-style rear fender, the solid fender struts had to be cut

5 Norm used some blue tape to mark out a cut line then used a reciprocating saw to knock off the fender struts. This is the only major frame modification necessary.
5 Norm used some blue tape to mark out a cut line then used a reciprocating saw to knock
6 Next, the upper and lower belt guards were removed along with the rear fender splashguard.
6 Next, the upper and lower belt guards were removed along with the rear fender splashgua
7 The new rear fender was then slipped over the tire and rotated forward until the mounting holes at the front of the fender lined up with the splashguard’s lower mount holes on the swingarm. The supplied bolts were then used to secure the front of the fender.
7 The new rear fender was then slipped over the tire and rotated forward until the mounti

8 The fender struts were then bolted to either side of the rear of the fender. The struts are a little bit different from each other with the left side slightly arched out to provide proper clearance for the rear beltdrive. The only welding necessary is for securing the lower fender mount bungs to the swingarm. However, Norm is planning on getting some new wheels (possibly 18s), so he wanted to mock up the fender to the new rear wheel before welding the lower fender mounts.
8 The fender struts were then bolted to either side of the rear of the fender. The struts
9 Norm and Dan then moved to the gas tank. The stock dash was unplugged and removed, the tank was drained, and then removed from the backbone. Sweet dent! Norm made sure to write down the mileage, as the stock speedo/odometer wont be used with the new tank.
9 Norm and Dan then moved to the gas tank. The stock dash was unplugged and removed, the
10 The stock ignition switch will be reused with the new tank adapter, so Dan removed the switch from the dash.
10 The stock ignition switch will be reused with the new tank adapter, so Dan removed the