Cb360..... possible cb350 Motor swap?

[Kingofafrica]

Happy thanksgiving ya'll! So I just recently picked up a 74' cb360 on CL for a pretty good deal (IMO) because vintage bikes around central FL seem to be increasingly popular and the prices seem to be rising a bit. Anyways, I got this thing for $850 in fair condition with a title and it runs well. It has been very reliable for me, also the tank had just been lined so that is a plus! I am eventually going to tear it down and cafe it but I am commuting on it now and I don't want to hassle with it! Stay tuned for the tear down

So from what I read, these bikes are the ugly stepchild of the 350's. Some love em' and some hate em'. I love this bike, and I love the frame.... yeah, yeah, it may be a little bit more bulky, but I just like the lines. What I don't like; the horror stories I hear about the oil system/top end parts/ and so on. It just seems that the 350 motor is all around better, and there is no way of getting passed it. From what I hear the cb350 motor will fit in the cb360 frame, but not the other way around. This brings me to asking questions!

How simple is the transplant? Has anyone experimented with this? Obviously I'm not expecting it to bolt right it (that would be great if it did) I am prepared to do what is necessary to make it fit. Is it worth doing? I am going to explain where and how I am getting the 350 motor in the next Paragraph (I can't believe I always structure my posts this way -_-) I am very attached to the 360 so I am trying to make the option of selling it my last. Mainly because it is one of the many classics I have bought that didn't need any wrenching, and it has a clean title I will take your guys advice though! I think if I were to sell it, I could get a far higher price then what I got it for. Due to the fact that there was no inclination of a CB360 being sold in the CL listing, it was a very vague description about a classic honda, and the guy lived in BFE.


Finally on to the 350 motor. Just found, what I believe is another very good deal. This guy wants maybe $40 for a parts bike including the motor, frame, fenders and some other miscellaneous things. I could probably offer to haul it out of his garage and he would take that offer. He just wants it gone. The motor is frozen but the guy says the valve train looks fine and he can shift through the gears. Other than that, it is a mystery. Is this worth the risk? I mean it can't hurt if it is technically free (I am going to barter with him, or try to get it for free) I haven't done a complete tear down and rebuild, so I think this is a way to start! What I want to do is rebuild that motor, tear down the 360, cafe it, and transplant the 350 motor! Sound like a good idea?! It will take some time but I'm okay with it!

I want to hear all your opinions before I delve into this! Also, I hope you enjoyed the read....

GOBBLE GOBBLE. Stuff your faces today, and give thanks! :]

 

[crazypj]

350 isn't any more reliable than a 360 if you rev them, the piston type oil pump isn't as good as 360 trochoidal pump which is why it doesn't seize cam bearings quite as soon (high oil pressure is the problem, not low oil pressure)
The cam bushings are in the end covers so easier to change than complete head, but, if you don't use thick oil or keep motor at the red line, it should be fine
If you stay off I-4 in the early mornings and late night (when everyone is doing 80+) you won't have any problems

 

[tweakedlogic]

If you look at the lower frames of both bikes, you will see that the 350 has a bar about an inch higher than the right side. On the 360 both of the bottom rails are even. The lower engine mounts reflect this. Something would have to be fabricated to connect the left lower mount to the frame.

The 360 has more torque (slightly) due to the longer stroke. It also has 6th gear. I enjoy riding my 360 much more than the 350. The brakes and handling are better. The red line is higher. I repeatedly rev mine to the natural rev limiter when the points start to float. About 11k. The 350 would burn the cam in short order with this treatment. The worst part about the 360 is is shares the centrifugal oil filter with the 350. The 350 has an access so you can clean it out. The 360 has none, so you have to remove the right cover.

After you remove all the heavy junk Honda strapped to the 360, you have a really nice, fun, clean bike. I beat the hell out of mine and it keeps ticking because I do the maintenance and take care of her. You can mod them a little. The after market doesn't support it like the 350. But I've found that for bombing around the city and carving up on the forest roads it's a great bike. If it were not for the straights, I would not be in the back of the pack of my sport bike buddies.

 

[Rider52]

The 360 motor will fit in the 72 & later SL350 frame.

 

[tweakedlogic]

Don't know, never owned an SL. I do know that the SL is kick only. so maybe the motor and frame have even lower mounts. But the cb350 has different lower mount positions.

 

[crazypj]

I guess SL 350 has a higher top tube?