Project "RAW DAWG" CB350

J

JohnUSMC

New Member
So after trolling the site for a little while now... I made my first bike purchase (well purchase might be the wrong word... that implies an exchange of money) AND NO I did not steal it!

It is rough, wasn't running (does kick over) and missing a few parts (carbs, tank, and a few other small things)
It has (from what I can tell) only 2500 original miles and was last registered in 1983... I did get a title with it too!!

So this is the direction I am headed. I am going to create a picture diary of my progress. As of today (May 1, 2011) I have owned it for 19 days. Going to chop it, stretch it, slam it, RIDE it...

'73 Honda CB350G
The day I got it -- April 12, 2011
10April2011.jpg


I proceeded to strip it down, here is the parts pile and the first progress pictures
PartsPile.jpg

Stripped.jpg


This is my vision in color form - 5-6" of stretch, 5.5" ground clearance, hardtailed
StrippedModified-1.jpg


First cuts made...
Chopped.jpg


Then I had a bit of a waiting game... Waiting on parts... Getting organized
Miller Plasma Cutter
Lincoln Pro-Mig 135
organized.jpg


Parts arrived... also got an idea for the battery and electrical storage box...
goodies.jpg

lunchbox.jpg


At this point it had been about 2 weeks time... In the past few days I have accomplished a lot more!!!
A little mock-up
mockup.jpg


And keeping everything straight... used a laser to position the rear wheel and sprocket to line up in their stock locations, just stretched back 6 inches overall
straight.jpg


Got the uppers tacked in place now... The bike supports itself now (the wooden block is only there to keep it from tipping over)
Everything remains in alignment (it is one of my biggest concerns after reading some of the other build logs on this and other forums)
Tacked.jpg


Wanted to brace up the frame before I cut the lower part. Didnt want to have to throw the motor back in it... would make it to hard to work around.
Bracing.jpg


So there it is so far... It is May 1 and I still have a ways to go, but I am heading in the right direction. If ANYONE has ANY advice I would love to hear it. I have a vision but still want to learn from those that have gone down this road before. ALSO if anyone can give me advice on what to lookout for concerning the motor PLEASE DO. I have yet to get into it, trying to get the frame situated first and then worry about everything else.

I will try to keep this as updated as possible even if it is only a picture a week, I will try and post something.

Thanks for checking it out, look forward to hearing your comments!
John
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

I was hoping to get more input than this thus far...

But nevertheless... I have made some more progress!!


Frame is all tacked together, uppers and lowers in place and straight.
progress.jpg


Me sitting on the bike, supports me well, doesnt flex and when it is all welded up will be SOLID
john_ride.jpg


Come on guys, give me some input! I value it!!
Need specific advice on the motor as well, Im not sure if I am going to have to do a tear down/rebuild yet... Just wondering what to look out for!!
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

Just me again.


in relation to motor i dont know alot about them but with my bike (75 model 9000 orig km's) most feedback from OZVMX forum as its an eduro bike was to leave the engine and just do all the normal maintenance, fluids, hoses, adjustments, i am ripping off both side cases of my engine to clean/polish and also to do proper adjust of clutch/mechanism and do pull apart clutch only because plates are stuck at moment.


Exhaust apects prob dont effect you much as getting new one made ?


if not take off, remove baffle etc fill with metho and some spare chagne/nuts n bolts and give it a good shake around to get rid of the HP robbing carbon buildup etc.


prob not much useful info for you but atleast its a reply for you to get excited over :)


looks great mate
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

jaderd said:
Just me again.


in relation to motor i dont know alot about them but with my bike (75 model 9000 orig km's) most feedback from OZVMX forum as its an eduro bike was to leave the engine and just do all the normal maintenance, fluids, hoses, adjustments, i am ripping off both side cases of my engine to clean/polish and also to do proper adjust of clutch/mechanism and do pull apart clutch only because plates are stuck at moment.


Exhaust apects prob dont effect you much as getting new one made ?


if not take off, remove baffle etc fill with metho and some spare chagne/nuts n bolts and give it a good shake around to get rid of the HP robbing carbon buildup etc.


prob not much useful info for you but atleast its a reply for you to get excited over :)


looks great mate
Click to expand...

I do appreciate the reply. This is my first go at building a bike.

I have done motor work in the past, but only on car/truck motors, nothing this small...


So my plan is to focus on the frame and all the accessories. I am gonna build the bike as if I know the motor is currently running. Gonna rebuild the carbs and do all the wiring. THEN throw the motor back in and try and start it... If it fires I will do some fine tuning and fix the things that are troubling it and then ride it... IF NOT then I will tear the motor down and rebuild it! Thats the plan!
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

I dig it. Glad you're doing a proper hard tail. I may have missed it in the description (I'm more of a visual person anyway) but what are your plans for paint/finishing?
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

sounds like a good plan mate, looking forward to following your progress
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

Good luck with the motor! Any ideas yet for tires? I think they can make or break a bike.
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

Are you a big dude? That frame looks tiny under you, ha.

Good work so far, sir. The use of lasers to keep everything straight was a great idea. Much better than the "eyeball" technique.

I would recommend doing some decent bracing/reinforcement where the new tube hardtail meets the original stamped steel frame. The stamped steel of these old girls tends to get pretty weak when you cut/reshape it.

Keep up the good work, man. I love me some Honda Choppers.
 
Re: Project "RAW DAWG"

JustinLonghorn said:
Are you a big dude? That frame looks tiny under you, ha.

Good work so far, sir. The use of lasers to keep everything straight was a great idea. Much better than the "eyeball" technique.

I would recommend doing some decent bracing/reinforcement where the new tube hardtail meets the original stamped steel frame. The stamped steel of these old girls tends to get pretty weak when you cut/reshape it.

Keep up the good work, man. I love me some Honda Choppers.
Click to expand...

Yeah Im a pretty big dude... Almost 6 foot tall and a little on the heavy side right now LOL (working on that; trying to get back down to my military weight. Kinda let myself go after I got out 4 years ago)

As for the joint between the stamped steel and the new tubing, I will be welding around the outside of the stamped steel, then I mitered the tubing to match the contour of the rear stamped downtube. Going to weld along it as well... I might even create a third gusset to strengthen up the frame even more.

I will have to take a close-up picture to help explain it!

To answer a few questions from some of the other guys:
Paint: Going to powdercoat the frame and as many of the other parts as I can BLACK
The only sheet metal on the bike will be the gas tank and possibly a rear fender. I am not sure what color I am going to do, but I am leaning toward a DARK BLUE

Tires: Havent figured them out. I will have to replace the front rim as it is rusted too badly... The rear is good, and I might move the rim from the rear to the front and then get a wider rim for the rear. Will obviously have to relace both.

As of right now with the bike now titled in my name, I have $500 into the whole build. I would like to keep the entire build under $1000 but, I have a contingency fund of $500 for any unforseable expenses (engine rebuild)... So all in all, I wont spend more than $1500.

Thanks for the support guys!
 
nice work so far. 350's are not easy to hard tail but it looks like you are on the right course.
 
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