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here’s just something about a real chopper that just grabs my attention every time. This beautiful ‘59 Pan Shovel from Kenny Arrington does just that! Better known throughout the chopper underground as Kenny Slaughter. He’s been cranking out some incredible rides from “The Slaughter Shack” in St. Louis, MO for a few years now and he just seems to get better with each one. This particular sled was built for the sole purpose of having something worthwhile to put in a bike show in Milwaukee. Kenny knew that he had to step
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July ‘18 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE
it up for this build, so he decided he would use some original chopper parts from the 70’s that you don’t see very often. First thing he started with was a ‘59 Panhead motor and transmission that he picked up as a complete bike down in Tennessee. Now, some of you who are reading this might be wondering how or why this motor has Shovel heads with Pan lower end. Well, back in the late 60’s and early 70’s bikers used to put the newer Shovel heads on their Pan engines for better performance and some say looks as well. Hence the name Pan/Shovel. The motor and transmission had been rebuilt
shortly before he bought the bike, so they were put aside so he could get started on the rest of the project. The frame was picked up in Southern Illinois and it started life as an original ‘57 straight leg frame. Keeping in line with St. Louis tradition Kenny modified it with 2” of stretch in the downtubes and gave the neck 28° of rake to give it the “derake” style that St Louis is famous for. Kenny and another good brother, Tony Stone, molded the Wassel tank onto the backbone along with the horseshoe oil tank to give it a smooth look that flows with the
