Dave Lowry’s 1948 Harley flathead began as a collection of parts that had passed through three family garages. In his small garage in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Dave brought those pieces together with help from his dad and daughter. Along the way, they turned his grandfather’s leftovers into a running motorcycle—and learned a few things together.
Featured in Out of Focus, presented by Garage Build and powered by Dennis Kirk, Dave’s flathead is still a work in progress. At the time of filming, the wiring needed attention. But the story behind this motorcycle is already worth sharing.
Bringing His Grandfather’s Motorcycle Parts Back to Life
After Dave’s grandfather passed away, his motorcycle parts went to Dave’s parents’ garage. Eventually, they landed in Dave’s garage. Rather than keep moving the collection from one place to another, the family started putting it to work.
Dave began the project in November before the interview. A mutual friend had introduced him to vintage motorcycles a couple of years earlier, and The Race of Gentlemen had caught his interest. With a 1948 engine and frame already on hand, he had the beginnings of a build.
He also had willing help. His dad and daughter joined him in the garage, figuring things out as the motorcycle took shape. Dave hadn’t done much wrenching before, so this was a chance to learn with his family.
A 1948 Harley Flathead Built From What Was on Hand
The engine and frame might be from 1948, but the rest of Dave’s motorcycle draws from several years of Harley history. He identifies the I-beam front end and handlebars as 1931 pieces, while the fenders date to the 1940s.
That mix reflects how the project came together: start with what you have, see what fits, and work through the rest.
Even the saddlebags followed that approach. Dave calls them his “$20 eBay specials,” mounted to the fender with self-tapping screws. They’re another practical piece of a motorcycle assembled in a home garage, using the parts and resources available.
Teaching His Daughter to Weld
One of the best stories from the build started with a missing exhaust.
The family was working late one night and getting close to having the motorcycle together. They still needed an exhaust, but some old fishtail tailpipes were lying around. Dave’s daughter wanted to learn to weld, giving them a reason to tackle the job together.
Dave brought out the old welder he calls his “sputter box.” Using wire coat hangers as filler, they welded a fishtail tailpipe onto the headpipe.
According to Dave, the finished exhaust worked without leaks. The sound was right, too.
“It sounds like a sewing machine, just like a flathead’s supposed to.”
A leftover tailpipe became part of the motorcycle, and his daughter got some hands-on time learning a new skill.
Old Tools, Night Shifts, and a One-Car Garage
Dave’s workspace is roughly a one-car garage, with a couple of motorcycles already competing for room. Many of his tools belonged to his grandfather. Others came from his dad or were picked up at flea markets.
Those tools are helping another generation learn how to keep an old motorcycle running.
A registered nurse since 1994, Dave works overnight shifts from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Garage time fits around that schedule. On his days off, he enjoys settling into the shop and working through whatever the motorcycle needs next.
He’s open about learning as he goes, and that’s part of what makes this build relatable. The flathead came together through time spent tinkering, asking questions, and figuring things out with his dad and daughter.
Watch Dave Lowry’s Flathead on Out of Focus
Dave’s 1948 Harley flathead carries more than a collection of vintage parts. It connects his grandfather’s tools and motorcycle pieces with the time he now spends building alongside his dad and daughter.
Watch the full Out of Focus feature below to meet Dave, hear the flathead, and get a closer look at this family garage build.
For more motorcycles and the people behind them, subscribe to the Cycle Source YouTube channel and explore Cycle Source TV.