Street ripping, pavement shredding KZ400...er now a KZ650 mono-shock superbike
- Thread starter valvesprung
- Start date
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Yes the return oil line is plumbed into the oil cap as the plug that is typically used on the back of the oil pan is blocked by the exhaust. The plug under the points cover is the pressure feed and we just replaced the plug with an 18x1.25 to AN adapter. Eventually one this bike gets a GPZ engine we'll use the stock pan flanges from the factory oil cooler to run both.
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Well...went to start it up a few weeks back and after several failed attempts we found that cylinders 1 and 2 had little to no compression. After sending a boroscope into the hole we assumed it was a head issue, likely a head gasket. Once the head was pulled, the gasket was fine, no burned valves were found, and it turns out...the blow hard previous owner tried to shim two of the valves with massive head bolt washers...DOH! So the valves weren't ever allowed to fully close. It's all back together now, and as soon as I can pick up a new chain tensioner from a buddy we should be able to fire it off!
MotorbikeBruno
Over 1,000 Posts
valvesprung said:
Glad he didn't damage anything. Idiot. Sometimes you just have no idea what a PO was thinking! (or drinking....)
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
ILoveThumpers
Everywhere is thumpers!
Fantastic fabrication! The paint and seat ruined it visually, though, for me anyway.
About the exhaust; why not bent pieces? I dig the look but that's so much work/welding that a tubing bender could knock out in a half hour. Just curious.
-Deek
About the exhaust; why not bent pieces? I dig the look but that's so much work/welding that a tubing bender could knock out in a half hour. Just curious.
-Deek
Swagger
Putting boot to ass since 1967!
re: exhaust......If ya gotta ask why.........
Luckily the seat and paint weren't picked for you so it's all good. Besides...who wants to see another carbon copy, just like the next hipster, belly-button bike? How many flat black, generic shitty glass seated D-bag wagons do we really need?
Luckily the seat and paint weren't picked for you so it's all good. Besides...who wants to see another carbon copy, just like the next hipster, belly-button bike? How many flat black, generic shitty glass seated D-bag wagons do we really need?
RustyOlive
Been Around the Block
Dayum!! Skills to the max.. Stunning bike! From fab to paint, love it all.
Bike to be proud of!
Bike to be proud of!
ILoveThumpers
Everywhere is thumpers!
Swagger said:
No worries. No, it wasn't built for me and tastes vary quite a lot of course. I like bass boat flake on occasion and I even like gold but not together, and not with a red seat that's almost pink. I know he must have put a lot of thought into what he wanted it to look like but it just looks thrown together to my eye.
Regardless, the bike deserves major props for the fabrication and overall look. Better than I could hope to do!
-Deek
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Thanks guys. The seat has proven nearly impossible to capture on film, but it's a very dark oxblood/wine red color. It's so much more sublte and understated than it appears in the photos
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Finally about done dialing in all the little details, but time has been something we haven't had much of. Thought I'd toss up one more photo from the pro shoot...a bit silly, but we're kind of like that
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Unfortunately progress has been fairly well halted. A dead hole meant the original engine got pulled out. I snagged a "rebuilt" engine off of Craigslist for $150 (got the rest of the bike with a titled frame too). Got it cleaned, stripped and painted, installed it and found out the starter clutch was toast. Rebuilt it, and finally got it back together last week...starter clutch still acting up.
I also snagged a Weisco 700cc kit and a pair of Kz750 cams. The original engine will get thoroughly reworked soon, and will receive a set of 28 or 29 smooth bores from a big KZ. That'll be a bit out still though...
Hoping to get the bike running without the starter so we can make sure it's work the time and money to install a complete new starter clutch.
I also snagged a Weisco 700cc kit and a pair of Kz750 cams. The original engine will get thoroughly reworked soon, and will receive a set of 28 or 29 smooth bores from a big KZ. That'll be a bit out still though...
Hoping to get the bike running without the starter so we can make sure it's work the time and money to install a complete new starter clutch.
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RustyOlive
Been Around the Block
Look at that booty!!!
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
Lord knows I like em thick...
