GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

[znsullivan88]

Bought the bike a little over a year ago. It's a 1978 Suzuki GS400. I bought as substitute for a car in the summer. Cheaper. More fun. Looked cool. I worked odd jobs in the summer and part of a crew delivering sailboats the rest of the year. One of our popular delivery locations was St. Thomas. Town there called Charlotte Amalie where I spent time neglecting the Suzuki back in the states. Now I'm back. Got a career as a shipbuilder/welder and some time and money to put into it.

Here's a shot the day I bought it. Put shocks on it after the first week of breaking my back on shitty RI back roads.

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Right now it's completely apart. Head is at the machine shop. Should be done next week. Pistons and jugs looked over. I got a few things that need patching up


heres the pistons after soaking in a little dish soap and hot water and my home work bench where the details get worked.

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Carbs rebuilt

 

[znsullivan88]

Here's where that patching up is needed. I found a "glob of dirt" on the bottom crank case. Chipped the dirt off the bung hole and found a crack... I'm gunna wash it over with the TIG and machine bung.

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Then when I was taping the jugs off the bottom end I slipped up and tapped the fin. Just a little chip but enough to piss me off.

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Here's the new machine my shop mate picked up. My dynasty 200 doesn't do AC so I lucked out this time. Gotta practice on my cast aluminum.

 

[brotus]

Nice to see some more suzuki twins around. Any idea what direction your going with it?

 

[znsullivan88]

Nice to see some more suzuki twins around. Any idea what direction your going with it?

well the bike had been previously kinda hacked by the PO so it going in the resto/mod tracker direction.

 

[plagrone]

I see someone else saves their gelato containers

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

I see someone else saves their gelato containers

haha yuh. Perfect size for "pickled pistons"... old family recipe.

Picked this up today. 1976 CJ 360t. Sat in a garage for 15+ years. 7.5k. All original. Kick only. Owner thought it was seized. Pulled the plugs. Put it in gear. Pushed it around a little and it freed up. Good compression. Just gotta a get some new coils and clean out the tank.

 

[plagrone]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Nice, good find

 

[znsullivan88]

The CJ is potentially for sale too. If anyone is interested. Gunna just ride it around until it sells tho.

 

[Jasper944]

Do you have some more pictures of the GS400 before the teardown? I have one in the shed and I am still figuring out what to do with it..

 

[znsullivan88]

Re: GS 400 build. "Charlotte"

Do you have some more pictures of the GS400 before the teardown? I have one in the shed and I am still figuring out what to do with it..

This is the only one I have.