MetalMan Dan: Howeird's '49 Panhead

How Weird! Howard’s ‘49 Panhead Softail
Story and Photos by MetalMan

This is one of the coolest scoots I've seen in a long time. What we have here is a study in contrasts. Take a minute to consider the fact that you're looking at a 1949 Harley panhead. Well, it's a '49 according to the engine cases, but I'm sure you're having quite a time figuring out what's "not right."

Howard—"Howeird" to his friends—is a mechanic at Easyriders in Columbus, Ohio. Being the expert wrench that he is has provided him with the knowledge to mix and match the right combination of parts to create a most unusual ride.

The bike’s Softail frame was pirated from an ‘84 Harley-Davidson and is topped by twin fat tanks. The engine’s '49 cases are stuffed with such goodies as 4.5-inch stroker flywheels from S&S and JIMS Machine shafts. The iron cylinders are .090-inch overstock. Rockers in the ‘64 vintage outside oiler panheads are controlled by a solid lifter Sifton 112 Cobra cam. Fuel and air are mixed by an S&S “B” carb and the resulting mixture is lit by a Dyna “S” dual fire ignition system located in the Sputhe gear case cover. Combustion by-products are exhausted through Howeird’s homemade 1 7/8-inch drag pipes.

Engine power is transmitted to the ‘84 FXST 4-speed transmission via a primary chain hidden beneath the late model electric start primary cover. The trans feeds power back along another chain to a 16-inch FXST “Centerline” wheel.

Holding up the frame are ‘49 triple trees and FLHTC dual disc legs. Factory brakes reside on either side of the 21-inch RevTech “ProLite” wheel. Topping the forks are factory style controls attached to a set of short 6-inch rise ape bars. By the way, the 2-inch shorter front tubes coupled with a rear lowering kit puts this putt down in the weeds.

Howeird says gearing plays a big part in making this bike fly. He says the top end’s not that great, but it gets there in a big hurry. And it gets there in style. That way cool paint was “Airbrushed by Jim.” Give a look at the close-up shots of the tanks and fender; it’s a neat effect.

These photos don’t do justice to the paint work that took 160 hours to complete. The realistic-looking diamond plate finish begs for you to reach out and touch it...but you’d better ask first!


The man and his machine. Good job, ‘Weird!

Back, I say, BACK !

No portion of this work, including photographs, may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior consent of the copyright owner. (That’d be MetalMan, in case you have a short memory.) All brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.