Project Gretta....seat action.....

What color for the Mono Shock spring on Gretta?

  • White (to match skins)

    Votes: 15 32.6%

  • Black

    Votes: 9 19.6%

  • Yellow

    Votes: 9 19.6%

  • Brown (to match skins)

    Votes: 5 10.9%

  • Silver

    Votes: 6 13.0%

  • Chrome powder

    Votes: 2 4.3%
  • Total voters
    46
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

forcefanajd said:
did you end up getting the CR carbs?
Click to expand...

Well, yes and no.

I got a set of CR carbs, but they are going to have to have a custom manifold mate to get them to work, and they are missing part of the linkage brackets to make them work. Still a good deal on Ebay for $120 for the pair...the problem is that they are WAY big for this motor. So for the time being, I got a set of Mikuni VM32s to run just for simplicity. I have had very good luck with them in the past, and they are brand new and prejetted...and I have a synchronizer that will fit them. This will at least get me on the road while I can bench build the CRs and then bolt them up when ready...

I am going to build a set of custom manifolds to make them work that have a slight outward angle to them (kind of like a CB350 has stock). There is a big clearance issue right now.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Is your engine really built? 32s seem a bit big otherwise....dunno....
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

It is build some. The cylinders are bored +1.0 over with matching rings. Other than that, no. I used the same setup on my last 360 and it would pull the front tire easily, so I trust that it will be fine.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Swagger said:
Dude, that kinda sucks. No dis intended for Chris but seriously...you built the thing.
Someone with marginal french should let them know.....
Click to expand...

For clarification, I didn't reach out to those guys and try to sell them some pics. I don't have their contact info, though I really wish I did. Like I said: I think they saw the pics on Facebook and associated them with me. They've featured my stuff quite a bit--more and more lately--so they likely just made a mistake. From experience, blogs don't reference back to build threads in forums. That is one of my favorite blogs that I read each morning, so I'm happy we're even featured.

And trust me: I'm not trying to ride Kiley's coat tails on this one. I have enough of my own stuff to get out there.

--Chris
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Hell yeah man! Doesn't bother me at all dude. And I hope we can all help eachother out the same way. You get credit on my bike because of the pipes you did, which helps your business....I in turn get a good deal on bobber exhaust in the future :D ;).

I'll keep building kickin bikes, and I hope you do the same.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

motofiaccone said:
For clarification, I didn't reach out to those guys and try to sell them some pics. I don't have their contact info, though I really wish I did. Like I said: I think they saw the pics on Facebook and associated them with me. They've featured my stuff quite a bit--more and more lately--so they likely just made a mistake. From experience, blogs don't reference back to build threads in forums. That is one of my favorite blogs that I read each morning, so I'm happy we're even featured.

And trust me: I'm not trying to ride Kiley's coat tails on this one. I have enough of my own stuff to get out there.

--Chris
Click to expand...

Thought never crossed my mind amigo!
It's all good on this end..
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Well guys, got a lot done today. I finished the seat pad!

It is indeed comfy as well.

I finished one that was two piece and vinyl covered, and just didn't like it. It was ugly to me, so I started over today.

I bought some high density foam from my auto supplier today (I have plenty left if you guys need some, so just shoot me a line!) I also bought some 3M spray adhesive. I then went to Wal Mart and got a blue camping pad.

Last night, I built the new base out of 1/4" oak plywood. I then cut out the pattern with a jig saw and attached the bottom and the backrest togther with a small strip of aluminum angle and some pop rivets. Next I sanded and painted the wooden base with black outdoor latex paint and let it cure overnight.

This morning, I started foaming. I first layed down a layer of blue camping mat on the front and back. Then I cut a big block of the 3" high density foam to the seat shape and glued it on top of the blue. Next I carvd he top foam with an electric knife (works great!) to the contoured shape that I wanted.

When I got the shape pretty close, I covered the whole thing with a thin sheet of quilt batting to even out the inevitable rough surface that the electric knife leaves. Finally, I covered the quilt batting with a layer of thin felt cloth.

I really didn't like the vinyl look that I had on the first attempt, so I started thinking about leather. Leather is expensive...unless you go to the Thrift Store and buy a lady's leather trench coat for $15!!!! 8)

I cut my seat cover out of this and then sprayed the back of that with adhesive. I glued the leather to the seat assembly and then pulled it taut and stapled around the perimeter. Then I cut out a piece of leather to fit the bottom of the seat pad (where it touches the bum stop seat) and glued it on to cover the staples so it's nice and clean. The entire thing is attached to the base with industrial strength velcro.

Here's some pics. Hope you dig it!

The foam:

HPIM0567.jpg

HPIM0568.jpg


The seat all foamed up:

HPIM0569.jpg

HPIM0570.jpg


And all buttoned up:

HPIM0571.jpg

HPIM0572.jpg

HPIM0573.jpg

HPIM0574.jpg

HPIM0575.jpg

HPIM0577.jpg

HPIM0578.jpg


And the donor coat:

HPIM0576.jpg


Well, hope you like it. I think it turned out great. Have a good evening fellas!
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Normally seats this basic dont do it for me, especially when everything else on the bike is done so flawlessly. But for some reason it works, i like it :)
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

WOW! I really like it. Great job.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Looks sweet man. Good idea on the quilt batting. Once you break the seat in a little and if the bumps start to show back up, it may require another layer of batting. So defently hold on to any extra just in case. Love the colors and it gives a nice finished look to the seat.

Cafepete I was just talking about you (your pancake filter actually) and here you are. I really like that filter BTW.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Thanks guys.

I really wanted to do this myself. I have an upholsterer in town that I could have taken it to, but I wanted the DIY attempt. The only thing I would have preferred differently is to rib the leather on the seat, but that's beyond my abilities. I think it turned out great. It actually looks better this morning than it did yesterday. I heated the leather with a hair dryer to stretch it over the seat, so this morning after it cooled back down it is nice and taut. Looks great.

Thanks for the compliments.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

I can't believe you cut up a coat like that. It was a classic. :'(

Kidding, nice thinking there. I did my own seat as well. and used basically the same materials, can't beat those $6 camp mats! the difference is that I used a marine grade vinyl upholstery that looks and feels very similar to leather. It looks great and is really easy to work with.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Looks kinda familiar!

http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=10995.0

Great work Kiley!
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

i've been following this build for quite sometime now and i must say your work is incredible. the bike looks phenomenal!
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Hey man, thank you so much guys! That means the world to me.

I'm sitting on the couch at work feeling like an old woman. I'm watching the sec championship game and stitching on some leather...I'm just giving some stitching skills a shot to see what I can come up with...I had plenty of leather left, right?!

Anyway, thanks again for the compliments!
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

troybilt said:
Looks sweet man. Good idea on the quilt batting. Once you break the seat in a little and if the bumps start to show back up, it may require another layer of batting. So defently hold on to any extra just in case. Love the colors and it gives a nice finished look to the seat.

Cafepete I was just talking about you (your pancake filter actually) and here you are. I really like that filter BTW.
Click to expand...

Glad you like it Troy, I'm happy with it myself.

Kiley can't wait to see your handy stitch work.
I also plan on redoing my seat and adding some stitch work
to it, should help to give that extra touch of vintage.
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

Here's a question for you guys. Considering the near full teardown of my motor, I've been thinking about something lately... I reassembled everything with assembly lube: the jugs, the head (including cam), the valves, etc. Would it be standard practce to pull the plugs and prime the oil pump prior to starting like you would on a car? The head uses an oil bath system for the camshaft, and everything has been drained from the motor. The only other option I can see is giving a "booster shot" of oil through the valve covers. I just don't want to cause unnecessary damage to the cam or journals while starting for the first time. Any info is appreciated.

Oh and Pete, it's looking cool so far! Here's hoping that it turns out well!
 
Re: Project Gretta: The evolution of a confused '74 360

The whole thing looks amazing!

As for the stitching, it's super easy with a basic machine.

If you're wanting to do ribs, here's how to do it:

You'll need three layers - Your Leather/Vinyl, a thin poli-foam layer (The thin batting that comes in a roll), and a muslin layer (Thin, cheap backing fabric. You can use any thin fabric, though - it doesn't have to be muslin).

You'll want to assemble them in this order. Like so:

--------Leather--------
--------Poli-Foam------
--------Muslin----------

You can keep these together while you're sewing with either a thin layer of spray adhesive or with pins.

Now you'll want to mark where you want your ribs.
You can do this however you prefer but I like using one of 2 ways.
First - Use masking tape and stick it on the top layer (leather) in whatever spacing intervals you prefer.
Second (My Preferred method) - Turn the combo over and mark with a pen or sharpie on the muslin layer. Then when you go to sew it, run it through the machine upside down.

I've done this on a few projects and it's turned out really well.

Here is an example of the (somewhat) finished product:
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=10152.msg101245#msg101245

I can snap some more example pics if you want. Sorry for the hijack!
 
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