1970's CB550 custom - Lazarus

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They are dirty but they are stainless steel spacers with a stainless washer.


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So after I spent all day at the armory doing my civic duty with the guard...

QBT=5 hours of pretty much uninterrupted quality barn time! Got a lot done on the bike today.

1) got the motor finally into the frame...whoa! That was a PITA! I have mock bolts holding it in not actuals. I need to do an extensive inventory on where the actual brackets and bolts really are!

2) “mocked” up the rear sets just for fun but also to start the idea of where I’d like them. Long way to go there still

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In honor of st patty’s day, I repurposed my Guinness box as a paint booth. LoL.
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Put some old pistons to use...
Counter sunk them in my shop table. Make for a great cigar ashtray.

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Stepped away from my bike project all last week for this...
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More to come on this story, boy is it a doozy!


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So...”the story”

It all started a week ago when I found the truck on fleabay. I don’t normally buy vehicles there because I’ve had problems in the past with people properly disclosing information. This is important later on in the story.

So I decide to pull the trigger and I make an offer. They counter offer and I agree to the terms. I’m very specific about the idea that I’m going to fly down and drive the truck back so if it won’t make the trip just tell me now I say and I will arrange for transportation. It was no problem because I was going to spend probably $1000 to go down and get it and shipping it back to Michigan was probably going to be $1200. So the cost is relative but the road trip sounded like a lot of fun and this guy assured me multiple times that the truck was ready for a road trip.

Let’s just say, that was not the case! Period

I bought the truck for the right type of price knowing that it was going to need several thousand dollars worth of work to get it up to my standards and I’m OK with that, I didn’t expect it was all going to need that work before it left Florida but whatever. I’m still very happy with the truck very excited to get it up to my road trip standards!

It’s nearly complete. But it’s been a distraction that’s for sure. I’ve repaired the following:
2 new AC Delco 850 CCA batteries
New alternator
New water pump

Ordered:
New transmission shift solenoid and pressure transducer (along with filter and gaskets to flush)

Smarty touch screen s2g with egt probe

New shocks


Needs:
Rebuild steering box
Driver seat repaired (torn leather and foam)
2 latches in center console need attention
Rear sliding window cable repaired


All fluids changed:
Oil - done and every 10k
Fuel filter- done and every 10k
Transmission - will be done with solenoid replacement
Pumpkins and Transfer case - needs to be done


Long term upgrades:
New moog frontend parts: tierods, ball joints and track bar

Brakes inspection to establish replacement cycle

Undercoated and bed liner done again soon


Cool upgrades already done:
17” Dodge Power Wagon Wheels with brand new BFG AT 285-70-17
Firestone air bags for rear
Goose neck installed
Undercoated and bed liner done before



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Man, I will say, from experience that the 48re transmission really is that bad. I had one as a hauler, 0 mods done at all, and the transmission went out at 70,000 miles then again at 120,000 miles. I fixed it again and sold it. Have been trying to find a 2006 with a manual for months now.
Definitely make sure you tighten the bands on the 48re when servicing it, will greatly increase service life.
 
cb360j said:
Man, I will say, from experience that the 48re transmission really is that bad. I had one as a hauler, 0 mods done at all, and the transmission went out at 70,000 miles then again at 120,000 miles. I fixed it again and sold it. Have been trying to find a 2006 with a manual for months now.
Definitely make sure you tighten the bands on the 48re when servicing it, will greatly increase service life.
The 48RE is essentially a 727 TorqueFlite which Chrysler has been using in vehicles since 1962. The 48RE is just the heavy duty version, though the basic design has remained largely unchanged. The biggest issue they have is with overdrive cooling, which can be sorted with a valve body kit, but you shouldn't be using overdrive when hauling anyway. I've heard the same complaints with the 545RFE like I have in my 05 Ram, but with 180k miles and zero issues, I think that's largely due to user error or people repeating internet posts.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I do appreciate it. Yeah I’ve heard a lot of the same kind of things but my buddy is a transmission mechanic and that’s all you guys. He seems to think that if I put a couple hundred box of good parts in it I might have $1000 total and the transmission but that he’s positive he can make it a reliable unit. I really wanted a manual, but as you know unicorns are far and few between and the unicorn mega cab with a manual yeah forget about it! Unless that is I wanted a Dually LOL. Lots of them out there


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I got over 200,000 out of my Dodge before I sold it. The issue with the transmissions is the design. The basic design has not changed since Dodge had push button shifting. As such, the transmission does not circulate fluid when in Park. If you are inclined to set with the motor running in Park while shooting the breeze with your buddy it's not a good idea. I got this information directly from a Dodge engineer when I asked him about the overwhelming recurrence of transmission failures for these vehicles. Replacing the shift solenoid and pressure transducer is a good idea. I replaced mine twice in 200,000 miles, the first time at around 100,000 when the truck would violently down shift when you took your foot off the gas. The second time was a "just in case" when I got close to 200,000 miles. There are a couple of other sensors that link the transmission, rear end and computer that may give you fits in the future. If so, go to just about any Dodge forum and you'll get the information you need. That is a good looking truck and I tell everyone that my Dodge was the best riding/driving truck I've ever owned.
 
Rider52 said:
I got over 200,000 out of my Dodge before I sold it. The issue with the transmissions is the design. The basic design has not changed since Dodge had push button shifting. As such, the transmission does not circulate fluid when in Park. If you are inclined to set with the motor running in Park while shooting the breeze with your buddy it's not a good idea. I got this information directly from a Dodge engineer when I asked him about the overwhelming recurrence of transmission failures for these vehicles. Replacing the shift solenoid and pressure transducer is a good idea. I replaced mine twice in 200,000 miles, the first time at around 100,000 when the truck would violently down shift when you took your foot off the gas. The second time was a "just in case" when I got close to 200,000 miles. There are a couple of other sensors that link the transmission, rear end and computer that may give you fits in the future. If so, go to just about any Dodge forum and you'll get the information you need. That is a good looking truck and I tell everyone that my Dodge was the best riding/driving truck I've ever owned.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I heard that if I swap out the valve body it fixes the cooling issue. So I’m looking into that too. Not sure that’s something I can do!


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Swapping solenoid operated valve block isn't too muchof a chore, just make sure to get the cable connectors back on the correct plugs. It costs around $120.00 for a dealer to do the plug swap :'(
 
crazypj said:
Swapping solenoid operated valve block isn't too muchof a chore, just make sure to get the cable connectors back on the correct plugs. It costs around $120.00 for a dealer to do the plug swap :'(
So this comes with a factory plug grafted onto it.


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So I got the fuel rail swapped out on my truck. And now no more fuel leak!


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Got a few more parts in this week. But been busy putting cabinets up in my garage. I have 3 more to put up. 6 in total. They take about 15 min to assemble. This had to be done so I can park the Megacab in the garage. Everyone has been a critic saying, “why do you need to park in the garage so bad?” LoL. Seriously? Because I can! I made the garage just big enough to be able to park this truck in it or Ford Superduty 8’ crew cab. So now that I have a MC that will be my DD, I want to park in the garage. Tonight is designated day to finish hanging the remaining 3 cabinets on the wife’s side where she parks. My goal is to clean up the messy look a little bit by putting anything in the garage away, in a cabinet.

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Almost done with the garage retro-fit of cabinets. And almost completed my truck repairs if all goes well I’m back on working on the bike next week.



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Well, I got the garage finished and now my "new to me" 2006 Dodge Ram Megacab took another turn for the worse. Its like it has a mind of its own and just when I want to start back on my projects, this truck creeps back in with issues! LOL.

This time the starter bolts backed themselves out. If that wasn't bad enough, it flexed when I tried to start it and broke off one of the mounting tab ears and then cracked the transmission adapter housing!
The ear can be repaired so I have to take the brand new starter off to have the mounting ear welded back on. My buddy offered to fix. And then drive the truck to his house and put the damn thing on a hoist for him to fix the adapter plate mounting hole that was cracked. What a PITA!!!

So, it looks like it might be a few weeks before the truck is back on the road. I figured I would use the time to clean the barn up. I have tools and projects everywhere!
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So, couple of updates. Sold both the distractions. I was sad to see the super duty go, had that truck for 4 years and nursed it back from the brink of death. Then I bought that Megacab. Damn that was a big distraction! Anyhow 3 months in the wind. Both gone. Sold the Megacab too!

So with this truck adventure behind me, missed my July 5th deadline (even though I got a few days). It won’t be done by the 5th. I am not sure if I want to drive all the way to Mid-OH for the vintage bike show at this point.

To get back on schedule, the bike needs a lot of work. I think if I can put in some hours here and there I can get it done maybe for an end of the summer ride.

And to complicate matters, Buddy of mine just moved back to MI and he’s been staying with me... hard to get anything done when he’s around, more distractions . It’s like anything people have different interests. So I’m trying to help him find his own place. That should help.

Ok so hopefully this is a start of my fist progress report on the bike since end of March-ish.

Report: bike is a mess. Clean up the mess. Start putting things back together. I have all the essential parts. Only fab left is the rear fender.

I will get there.......slowly!





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Update: seems the only time I get to update anything is when I’m not home. So anyhow, purchased a pneumatic motorcycle table. Going to get rid of the pallet rack I have it on now. My dad just finished his cement. So the pallet rack is a donor to his barn and I get some much needed floor space back. I loved it. It was CAF, but alas you have only so much SGFT and the pallet rack was too big.



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Well sorry for the delays in posts. But I’m taking some advice I decided to embrace and this summer was awesome. I may not have gotten to all the projects but here’s a good run down:
Helped a good friend relocate back to Michigan where we are starting the process of buying a business.
took the whole family to glacier national park, all I can say is wow! If you haven’t been there then you are missing out. This was the most majestic place I’ve been in the US and I’ve been a few places. This is a bucket list for everyone in my opinion, even if you don’t like the outdoors. We rented a cabin about an hour south of the park. It was amazing. My kids are 20 and 16 now and they were a ton of fun to take on this trip.
helped my 16 yr old son pass his driving test. We did lots of parallel parking practice
and now we almost have his 1997 XJ ready for its maiden Offroad trip to Batchawana ON, CAN. We are both excited.
been hitting the gym 3-5 x per week since July 2018 so at it a solid year now and feels great

So maybe I didn’t clean the garage or finish building my motorcycle but hey I figured I need something to do this winter when it snows!



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