Modern Vespa

I just drove to Indianapolis to pick this project up yesterday. I had fantasized about it being in better shape than it is, but it could be worse.
Initial plans:
-Stabilize rust. Possibly a patch or brace/support
-clean over spray from trim
-fork bearings, front wheel bearings, cables, wiring...
-collect missing bits (lights, speedo...)

Upcoming:
-Find a motor to swap in without cutting the frame. I want something super cheap to get it running and riding and keep 8" wheels. A friend suggested a VNA motor as a possibility, also considering a VBB motor.

Hopefully someday I will have enough money to do a proper restoration or even come across a better candidate for restoration. For the time being, my goal is to get this back on the road and have fun riding it.

Cool get!!!!

Congrats!.

See deal of the day thread for a vnb engine opportunity…
(DSnyder wanted some of the other bits)

Nice! I look forward to watching it get resurrected

why not resurrect the engine that's in there?

True that. I believe they actually make some go fast bits....err... "go faster"(?) bits for those old birds these days.

It just depends on your goals, is all. Probably easiest to swap in something and call it a day but until you tear it down I'd reserve judgment.

What brand is that carrier?

Sick bike and that rust ain't bad at all!

Rebuilding the stock motor is not off the table, but it gets pricey to build one that can keep up with traffic around town. I am thinking I can accomplish that cheaper with a later motor.
I am also only going to do a swap if I can find a way not to cut anything so it is fully reversible. No final decisions have been made just yet.

It will be a slow process.

Not sure about the carrier, my cousin gave it to me, works great for a lighter scooter or moped. I always run some straps to the roof rack,mint helps keep the load from bouncing and gives me some peace of mind.

A VB1 stock motor is a respectable lump. You'll lose more hair trying to squish a VBB in there than learning to rebuild that one.

Nothing takes the soul out of a Widebody like putting a Largeframe engine in it.

I don't think it's all that bad. If fact I'm a little jelly Nice scoot

Very cool project. Totally worth building out that original engine. There are plenty of performance upgrades to fiit, and make it road worthy for modern riding. Widebody Vespa's with original engines are such a cool thing

Love the bulls eye braided rug seat cover.

It's a hippie-mod mod

Seems like building the original motor is widely deemed the appropriate course of action.

Sure would be cool to watch!

I would say so. The easy way = slap a large frame engine in. Its been done by many, many times. But the COOL WAY = tune up that original engine and make it rip! Worth the investment, and there are not to many tuned up widebody's around here - so extra cool points for that. Plus, your Vespa will be more valuable with the original equipment, and extra bragging points for showing appreciation for the early Vespa engineering.

if speed is what you need buy a hd

No real exciting updates, but some solid plans have been made.

Gickspeed will be rebuilding the bottom end of the motor with a new crank, some gearing updates, and other necessary bits. I will add top end, ignition, various other components as I go so I can break the money spending up over a longer period of time. So the heart of the VB1 will remain with some really fun upgrades.

I have two other engines on my bench at the moment, one of them will be a real quick job, the other is a weird puzzle. I want to at least knock out the easy one before I start pulling apart the VB1. Been busy with family stuff for the past few weeks and now I am sick, so it will happen when it happens.