Cb350T Mini Guy in Maryland

[notabmw1]

Where to start... I moved to Maryland a few months ago, before moving I had built a few bikes, last one was a 82 Cb900f, and realized it was a bit big/heavy for me. So a few weeks ago the wife picked me up what I originally wanted and it is a 71 cb350 twin with roughly 2500 original miles. I almost feel bad about hacking it up, but it does provide an excellent base. Lastly, not only am I into bikes but I also build old British car, mainly focusing on Classic Mini Coopers. Currently I have 4 at the house, 2 are customers cars, and also a 61 Morris Minor. I design custom products for them, and currently fabricate subframes to do more modern engine swaps in them. I have done already a 2000 Acura Integra GSR swap, working on a Suzuki 3 cylinder turbo swap right now, and the Morris Minor has a V6 camaro engine in it.

Anyway, if your local and want to hang I am off on Fridays and that's when I usually do my wrenching. Plans for this bike are just to clean it up, IE I started fabricating a hooded lucas tail lamp under the seat poking out, installed drag bars, reverse megaphones, got new tires on the way and a seat I designed (somewhat of a "brat" / bentley style seat with the stock pan), and some other bits and bobs. Anyway, onto the pics:

Picking it up and stuffing it in the van

Notice the straight pipes the previous owner installed

In the background you can see the Mini with Suzuki swap

Cleaned it up a little and installed the new muffs to make neighbors and myself a little more happy

Started stripping her down, petcock now leaks, nice...

Here's where it was sitting Friday morning, now I have new levers, switches, cables, etc installed. Waiting on tail lamp to arrive back from powdercoating.

 

[VonYinzer]

Welcome to DTT man. Love the Mini projects!

 

[notabmw1]

Here is some teasers off the other stuff going on right now:

Fabricating entire new front subframe and motor mounts

Skipping 2 months ahead, and whala, Suzuki motor in. Only a million small details left to do.

Morris Minor and my Mini.

 

[notabmw1]

Finally finished all the wiring for the new switches.

I fabricated a new rear fender by chopping up a harley rear fender I had laying around and shortening the stock fender and tacking it together.

And here is how it looks with the hooded lucas tail lamp, bullet mini turn signals, license plate bracket, and I also fabricated a upswept exhaust that just barely clears the rear pegs.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Hey man,

Welcome to the DTT. Whereabouts in Maryland are you? I am in Frederick.

 

[notabmw1]

I am over in Arnold, MD off Rt 2 near Annapolis. Would love to meet some other guys, we just moved out this way, and I have been waiting till spring to hopefully meet some like minded folk. I got tons and tons of projects at the house I am trying to wrap up for spring, so I'm in the garage usually all day Friday, and sometimes get some weekend time in. Looking to set up a ride from my house to Solomans Island when the weather gets warmer.

Anyone think I should paint the front fender black, I am on the fence. Sadly I am going to be wrapping the header to the muffler in black just because of the welds I did on the pipe. Painted half of the pipe flat black last night so it doesn't rust. May also be picking up some black on black rear shocks, or black bodied chrome springs, whatever I can find in stock. Seems to be a shortage right now.

Need to get my new tires and tubes on as well. May have to do this early Friday.

 

[bradj]

Representin western md
Call to come to arms

 

[notabmw1]

Still waitin to meet up with some riders. As I said I'm new to the area, and I can't wait till Spring to start cruising, and going to a few shows, etc to hopefully meet some like minded folk. If anyone is in the area and wants to hang, have a beer, wrench, etc. let me know.

Hopefully I will have this thing put back together and be able to go for a short ride on Sunday. Still pissed they sent me the wrong seat after waiting 4 weeks for it. Ah well...

 

[teazer]

That was a really nice clean CB. If I were yiu, I'd try to make all the mods reversible.

Nice engine swap on that mini. I always fancied the idea of dropping a modern motor into one and I was thinking Mazda 3 series. I have no idea if it's feasible, but I remember driving all sorts of Minis and they were not exactly fast back then.

 

[Poopwink]

Maybe a little unrelated...

Have you ever heard of someone putting an engine inside the cabin on a Mini? I grew up next to a few colleges and remember seeing some student's old Mini with a V-TEC motor just behind the front seats. Wild stuff.

Nice CB, by the way! I would leave the front fender as is.

 

[notabmw1]

Teazer, I hear it all the time with Mini's from the purist's. I get it, and yes this bike was fairly cherry, but with that said all the mods are reversible. I can never leave any of my rides alone. Look at my van, who has a 2000 Astro with HOK tangerine orange and black flake lowered on 18's, etc for my tow rig?

Poopwink,

Yes it has been done many time, rear mount engine, rwd. Everything from yamaha R1, hayabusa, b18, k20, 350v8, etc.

And I am super pissed just pulled 3 6am-10pm shifts, and I was getting ready to leave here at 3pm to head home and start working on the bike so I can get the tires mounted and sure enough I just got shat on with a few more hours of work. Mutha f-er. I'm gonna take a day off next week if it's nice out.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

I have been working 6-10 this week as well. It's no bueno.

 

[jtricer1973]

Real nice and clean 350!!! Love the Mini Coops too!!!

 

[teazer]

I have no problems modifying a Mini. having driven them back in the day. Yours looks good. I don't really have a problem cutting up old Hondas either, but that's another story.

2000 Astro - so new - our Safari is a 91 with 270,000 and it has definitely passed it's use by date. Front diff went up in smoke (literally) last summer so i think I'll just get a newer one. I hate vans but those things are amazing workhorses. Pop the seats out and a 750 Suzuki slides in the back with no problems.

 

[notabmw1]

So, got a ton more work done on Friday, got the new shoes on. My bud bought me a nice motorcycle jack last night since I picked him up a 73 honda that needs a bit of tlc. Anyway, onto the pics:

And I also finished building my Mini motor, just waiting on a waterpump, starter, carb, etc that should be coming in this week

Needs a few touch ups here and there.

 

[notabmw1]

Another FUN WEEKEND!

The Kendra's

 

[Dragsterhund]

nice collection man! Love the minis. I'm in DC/Alexandria, would love to photograph your collection sometime.

 

[notabmw1]

Thanks, just remind me when I get a little further along with everything.

 

[codys1024]

hopefully my garage will look like this one day a bunch a dam cars , a few motos , and a shit ton of tools ....=)

 

[notabmw1]

Thanks man, believe me it didn't happen over night, it took about 5 years to get where I am at, and still got a ton more stuff I want to get like a bead blasting cabinet, another plasma cutter, would love to get a cnc machine, and a oven in there. I am running out of room, by far my best investment was the scissor lift for working on the mini's. I got it for $600 used from a hotrod shop that bought it new.