1973 CB350G Restore/Upgrade - Engine Rebuild

[warnereg]

Ok so now that I have my engine tore down, I can start asking the real questions, and also log this for anyone else that may need the insight.

I bought this bike years ago from my cousin, finaly got it registered last summer, and rode it for the summer, had some running issues, which a few I have worked out since, heres whats been done so far.

-Rebuilt Master cylinder and caliper - replaced pads with Vesrah pads (very nice imo)
-Rebuilt Stock CV Carbs
-New Clutch Steels - Friction disks were still well within spec - Original Steels had bluing
-New Sprockets and chain - Stock Gearing (Prior to this improvement I felt like a bobble head riding down the road - Tight spot in chain)
-Replaced a bunch of nik nak rubber gromets and such
-Cleaned the oil Filter

Ok, like I said I just tore the motor down within the past few days, R. Cyl had 165 psi, L. Cyl had 170. My main concern was that I had no idea what running shape this thing was in other than good oil, timing and compression. I had also read a lot about the shortcomings of the cam chain tensioners. I personaly had found lots of plastic chunks in my oil and the top end seemed to be a bit noisy (clack, clack, clack, clack, and so on.) So I decided to take a look, and Im glad I did because I found that my cam and rockers were TOAST. Cam chain tensioners were chewed a bit but probably still usable, but still looking to replace.

I have been cleaning up all the gasket surfaces, and have gotten them mostly cleaned up, just need another go around for some fine tuning. Also still need to split the cases and have a look at the insides, and also do some cleaning.

Heres what I plan to do - While keeping the original look to the tee (I love the way it looks stock) This will be a daily driver. This is where I get very confused

-KA Slipper - How long do these last compared to stock
-Tsubaki Heavy Duty Cam Chain
-Megacycle cam + Rocker hardfacing and regrind - Anywhere I can have a stock grind done? Was looking at the 123-00 Grind they say its ok to run with stock pistons and springs http://www.megacyclecams.com/catalog/pages/page%2028.pdf But my pistons are a bit scuffed, not too bad at all but if it comes down to replacing the camshaft with a hotter grind I may have to. Also was looking at the X5 cam that Bore-Tech offers however they state that you must run racing pistons and racing valve springs (Valve Float at high RPM?) The thing that confuses me the most that all the pistons they list are stock replacement 1,2,3, and 4th over, and big bore, none of them deemed the elusive "racing pistons" they speak of, anyone know? I know I should just call them to be strait, and probably will after this post.
-Anyway... Ricks Stator
-Bore-Tech Electronic Ignition Edit: Went with the pamco instead - ordered
-Maybe new 5ohm coils and plug wires
-New pistons 1.00 over @ 65mm - If these are the ones are considered "racing pistons"
-Polish/clear Tach and Ignition Housings
-Either bead blast, or soda blast and clear cases/jugs/head/camshaft housing/and valve cover (maybe polish/cant see it anyway) - whichever I can find in the area, unless I can ship them somewhere, but thats a PITA. Could somone elighten me on the diff? Other than how dangerous the glass beads are to the engine? Any prep involved for blasting?

Ive read that diamond clear is the whip tittie, how does it compare to por-15 paints

Well, I hope ya'll got that digested, and I will take ANY advice here, this is not my first motor tear down, but it is my first rebuild, lol.

Thanks all for reading, there WILL be updates, oh yeah, heres a pic of this fine ol' gal!

 

[djelliott]

I've had great luck with the KA Slipper and Tsubaki combo. I'm also running a 3MM overbore (67MM Pistons). I'm using the earlier SL cam. I wouldn't go to crazy with your cam or the bike will run like shit on the street. From your list it looks like you are ready to dump a ton of cash into that motor. Unless you're moving on to a career as a vintage class racer I'd dial it back a bit and save some cash.

 

[warnereg]

There has been a bit of change with this project as I will not be clear coating anything, all will remain bare aluminum bearing the advice of a couple of sources. I gotten everyting tore down and cases split at this point. Both crankcase halves are being vaporblasted right now by Jeff Gibson @ www.vaporblasting.biz, he seems to be very reasonably priced as well as knowlegeable in his craft, and was very nice over the phone, very good comunication throughout the process of getting everything there and having everything ready to go to the point where they can actually be blasted.

I will be running the 65mm bore-tech pistons with teflot circlip buttons if I can find them (would like to be able to run higher rpms, if I remember right Im running about 8k @ 70 mph or close to that, but that doesnt give me much leway to go faster) and KA slipper as well as the Tsubaki cam chain. I have yet to see if bore-tech will machine out the chain path for the slipper, I imagine they will since they sell them.

I will be going to megacycle cams for cam and rocker service, since they seem to be the only ones that offer these services for the 350, Ive heard of webcams but they definitely dont seem as popular, and Ive heard that they offered cams in the past but currently do not. I plan to run the 123-00 grind as it is closest to stock with a light performance upgrade, and runs good on the street. Also will be getting the degreeable cam sprocket for a nice trifecta of cam power! Might even go with racing valve springs based on the condition of the stock ones when I get them removed and measured, just waiting on the tool, probably will happen this week for sure, then I can get the rest of the motor off to Jeff to be blasted.