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Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 2:04 pm
by markj
For those of you interested in Paul Miller's bodywork I got a GT750M Ebay "show quality" body set from him for $899 and I have to say I'm pretty happy. Is it perfect? no, there are some imperfections but you really have to look to find them. One of the radiator clips was broken on arrival but he says he'll send me another one(and I'm sure he will). You'll find the odd imperfection in terms of a pit or an unfilled scratch but it's very minor. It included a new fuel cap, emblems, keys and radiator door. I'm very happy overall. It's certainly something I couldn't have done on my own to this level of finish and probably better than what was stock. For the price it seems to be well worth it. He also threw in a NOS petcock free of charge. I have to say I've had very good luck getting stuff from him over the years.

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Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 2:58 pm
by jabcb
+1 on your assesment. Rather nice but not 100% perfect. Good value for the money, especially when you consider how hard it is to find good restorable parts.

I have two of his body sets. Here is one — sorry no pic of the other one until spring.
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Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 3:01 pm
by Evans Ward
Both of those sets are beauts! I've bought many NOS parts for my 67 Yamaha YR1 project from his company always with great results.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 4:09 pm
by rider
I bought a set for my T500M from Paul, very happy with the quality. The tank arrived with some dents in the top due to packaging. Paul replaced it with no fuss. Great service.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 5:04 pm
by smoketriples
Any idea onfuel proof ness? As in, can it stand a spill?

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 5:16 pm
by markj
smoketriples wrote:Any idea onfuel proof ness? As in, can it stand a spill?
Not yet but I'm sure it's as good as any two part poly urethane and probably better than the original lacquer paint.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 6:16 pm
by smoketriples
I'm interested in finding out. Paul says it's been clear coated in lacquer....I asked him if he was sure of that since lacquer and gas don't mix and he said yes, lacquer. It was the reason I didn't buy one from him. If they do stand up to gas, I may get one.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 9:13 pm
by markj
smoketriples wrote:I'm interested in finding out. Paul says it's been clear coated in lacquer....I asked him if he was sure of that since lacquer and gas don't mix and he said yes, lacquer. It was the reason I didn't buy one from him. If they do stand up to gas, I may get one.
Interesting. I'd just assume it was urethane all the way. I know the originals were lacquer so I'd imagine these would hold up about the same. We'll see. I'm sure going to be careful though.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:27 am
by smoketriples
I'm not at all confident that Paul is correct when he says lacquer, especially when he quotes house of kolor base coats. He's an old timer like a lot of us and 'lacquer clear coats' used to be the bees knees in custom paint.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:20 pm
by markj
smoketriples wrote:I'm not at all confident that Paul is correct when he says lacquer, especially when he quotes house of kolor base coats. He's an old timer like a lot of us and 'lacquer clear coats' used to be the bees knees in custom paint.
You may be very right about that. I hope so. It definitely doesn't have that same hard feel to it that lacquer has.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:09 pm
by smoketriples
I almost bought the tank you have now. Paul was just selling the tank for at least a month, between the claimed lacquer and lack of matching side covers I passed on it.

Depending on how your's work out I may get the next set, or may take mine to a local painter.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 5:51 pm
by markj
You can order the exact color online....I'd think with prep yourself you could save a bit and get good results with a local shop and I did think of that too. I'm very happy though and don't have the time to put into the prep or I'd have given it a go myself.

When you think of it - I got new emblems, new cap(or re-chromed I can't tell), key and radiator door included(he threw in the NOS petcock just as a perk and I do appreciate that). You can pay $150+ on a rough tank and panels with none of that other stuff that might require a lot of body work. So in the end I do think it's pretty good deal when you factor all that stuff in. I have a buddy who had his triumph tiger tank painted and it cost over a grand just for the the repaint. Like I said it's not 100% perfect but it's really, really nice. He does advertise as show quality and certainly I wouldn't hesitate to put on a bike that was competing for a trophy of some sort. Hopefully mine will sometime ; )

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:07 pm
by smoketriples
I might have if the side covers had been with, but was up there over a month without. Dunno. I may just spray myself too.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:31 pm
by markj
smoketriples wrote:I might have if the side covers had been with, but was up there over a month without. Dunno. I may just spray myself too.
Cool - share pics if you do. I plan to do it sometime as I have a few more spares but just no time. I definitely want to try my hand at it sometime though. I think it would be very satisfying....or frustrating..lol.

Re: Paul Miller body work

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:45 am
by Bloop2
I purchased a completely restored T305 from him a few years back. The inside of the tank had been sealed and whatever was used was now peeling off and floating around inside the tank. The petcock leaked and the paint dissolved from gasoline along the bottom of the tank. There were many other issues with the "show" quality restoration, I took it back to him and got my money back.