Advice Please!! CB350 rebuild

[72texas350]

In a month or so I am going to start rebuilding and painting my locked up '72 CB350k engine. This is going to be my first engine rebuild, so any advice of things to keep in mind would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I don't just want to rebuild this 350, I'd like to add as much power as I can for as little money as I can. Any advice on that end would be great too.
What are the best ways to add power? What are the easiest ways to add power? What all should I look at or buy before I get started? How easy is it to screw up the whole thing?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[Levonn350]

Very important lessons I learned on the same exact bike...
#1, Athena gaskets are cut better than Vesra, worth the extra $ imho.
#2, The cam sprocket is mounted with a dowel setting bolt... don't misplace that or put it in the wrong hole. I made that mistake like a nooob.
#3, the clymer and shop service manual are your friends.
#4, find someone on craigslist or something to powder coat the engine side covers, rattle can just never seems to look right. Maybe it's me, but I spent over $20 in paint just to blast it all off and pay $60 to have it powder coated.

 

[Musowi]

honestly, just allowing the motor to breathe better is the best way to do to gain easy hp. (i.e. high flow air filters, unrestricted exhaust, jet the carbs). it might be the best way to go about gaining hp if you are uncertain about your engine rebuild skills. changing the drive sprockets can also help you gain more lowend power or top speed depending on what your looking for. all of those can be done for pretty cheap and you shouldn't have to worry about too much compatibly with other components. or just search for rebuild threads and copy what someone else has already done to their engine if your set on a modified engine.

 

[72texas350]

Thanks, Levonn for the advice! Musowi, before the engine locked up, due to stupidity, I was running it with straight pipes and velocity stacks. I will definitely change the drive sprockets.

 

[snmavridis]

Out of curiosity, what are the most common reasons for an engine to lock up?

 

[72texas350]

I know low/no oil is one...