GS500 cams in GS450?

[Rocker450]

I am rebuilding my 82 gs450 lump, and was wondering if gs500 cams would fit in and if so what years? And if there is any other performance upgrades. My carbs are crap and thinking of running some vm32s or vm34s. Any insight would be awesome. Thanks

 

[SeanGSUK]

http://www.thegsresources.com/

 

[jeffasaurus2]

Completely unrelated to your question, what tank have you got on your 450? Any bigger pictures?

 

[Rocker450]

Its a gs550 or 750 can't remember. I had to move the front mounts forward 2 1/8 inch and use a longer bolt for the back mount. That tank is coming off as for the rebuild I'm putting on a Ducati GL? 500 tank and 750ss style seat. Here is a mock up of how it will look like

 

[Rocker450]

Also I used 77 GS400 wheels to replace the snowflake wheels that was on there. It was a very easy bolt on swap.

 

[jeffasaurus2]

The spoked wheels look much better than the mag wheels to me, luckily mine is a 450t, it came stock with the wire wheels.

From what I can see in your avatar I really like the look of the tank you've got on there. I've gotten myself a 650 tank that I'm gonna swap out for as soon as the season is over.

 

[Big R]

From what I've read on the GS engines, the cams shouldn't be swapped from one head to another (not even 450 to 450). The reasoning is that your individual 450 head is machined at Suzuki to fit the camshafts that are in it. That being said, I know people have swapped camshafts without swapping the matching heads with no issues. Like stated earlier, the folks on the GSResources would know about the 500 cams in a 450 head.

One thing I do want to point out though - VM34's are used a lot on 650cc motors (popular with the XS650 folks). So even VM32's may be too big unless you do hop up the motor. Have you looked at the pre-2003 (?) GS500 carbs as an alternative? The jetting should be awfully close, and they are Slingshot carbs.

 

[Rocker450]

Big Rich thanks a lot. I didn't think about the cams thing as you pointed out great to know. And I will look into the carbs. I have owned this bike for 4 years now and just want to get a little more grunt from it. My other bikes are inline 4s and 650 twins. But this is my fav bike (for some reason).

 

[Rocker450]

Jeff yeah mine is the "L" the tank looked to chooperish to me so I pulled it with in a week of having it. I wanted the stock box tank,but at the time I couldn't find one so I got that tank that's on there now. Bare metal with clear coat.
You asked about a bigger pics I don't have a computer and do all this online stuff from my phone,so not really sure how to make a bigger pic.

 

[jeffasaurus2]

I feel the same way about my tank now, I've had it for nearly two years now and finally decided its time to do something about it. Got the 650 tank waiting to go, pretty excited for the larger capacity of it as well. A little more range will be nice.

Also, The GSResources would be a wealth of knowledge for you. I know that people have switched out their heads on these engines without the matching cranks when they've botched the exhaust bolts. Just a thought.

 

[Rocker450]

I guess I'm not looking in the right places there I find a lot of stuff for the 500, but not really anything for the 450. I will look again later tonight, there is daylight left and I'm cutting all the crap off the frame that don't really need to be there. I don't know why they even put this crap on there. Haha

 

[gk45011]

Jealous!
The mags are growing on me a little but I would kill for a set of the spoked rims like you and Jeff have..GRRRRRRR

Great build

 

[Rocker450]

Well get you a set, I got my set from a 77 gs400 simple swap. Just make sure you get the cush drive and brake for the 400 with it, as the 450 rear drum and cush are smaller(don't ask how I know lol) Total spent $110 for wheels, $45 for cush drive and brake drum, ebay is good sometimes.