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Been sitting on and collecting these parts for at least two or three years. I guess it's time to start putting it together.
The frame is a 1973 CB500 that I traded some CB400F footpegs for. I've painted it, re-greased the swing arm and steering bearings and it's awaiting the engine. The shocks are an unknown brand that I've used a few times before. They're an eBay find and they perform surprisingly well. I cleaned them up and detailed them, too. Don't worry, there will be a certain amount of patina to this bike, as I'm going back to the true roots of "sweep the floor" and using parts that I have on hand.
Cleaned up the top triple. Installed new LED bulbs and routed the wires through a set of CB400F bars. The controls are also from the old '73. Grips are new and will go along with the bodywork.
The head had two broken exhaust studs and a very bad attempt at repair.
But, luckily, I had a good head that came in some parts that CalJ dropped off. I started taking it apart to clean and lap the valves and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it had already been rebuilt, new stem seals and all.
Pulled the head off a couple of days ago and I think someone has been inside this engine, too. The cam gear bolts were replaced, the gasket seemed new and had some gasket spray on it (not dry) and the pistons had almost no carbon on them.
I'm gonna take a chance and just replace the head, O-rings, pucks and head gasket. I'll put a new gasket in the valve cover and I'll pull the sump to check things out, too.
Why Hippy Bike, you ask?
Well, I found this killer OG paint tank on eBay a year or so ago. I had my painter friend touch up a couple of spots, buff it out and clear coat it. But the paint scheme is the real deal old-skool '70's.
Here are the side covers, in storage with new emblems and a set of rebuilt carbs that I had Rick at OldskoolCarbs do probably 3 or 4 years ago. They've been in that drawer ever since.
I also had Tom E. do something special with the headlight bucket.
It's a little overcast today, so the pics aren't the best. I got the rebuilt head swapped. I also replaced the cam chain tensioner (didn't like how the other one moved), pulled and cleaned the sump, installed some guts in the polished clutch and stator covers and adjusted the valves.
At this point, I'm about ready to drop the frame over the engine. I need to polish up the wheels and have the tires mounted. Won't be long and it will be a roller.
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