I came across this '83 gem about 6 months ago. My thought was to do it for Sunny's HOT STOVE LEAGUE 2010-2011 2ND ANNUAL and see if I could meet a deadline (my customers would probably tell you no! LOL). It sat in the Cave right where I could see it everyday. So the ideas piled up. The green flag dropped on the Nov. 16th. Here is a quick catch up.
It starts like this; tear down will stop at the motor and forks for now.....
Box O' Stuff. not much will be reused here. I'm hearing the cash registers now.
OK here we go !
Stock rake is somewhere around 26deg. I think we want to be in the 30's. Don't you ?
I used a motorcycle jack with a block of plywood to hold solid and true. By keeping the motor in I can use the weight of the lump to execute the stretch.
1st cut. (this will be the area where the drop of the steer tube will be decided I'll remove 1'' from here later)
2nd &3rd cut. This I did by starting with a cut off wheel on the weld and finishing with recip. (you can see crossbar has also been severed) Are we having fun yet ?
We're just about ready to drop the front end but first a 3/4 cut to the upper stays (this will allow front to drop with the weight of the forks)
after double checking all the cuts for alignment i.e. a sprung or twisted frame I removed 1'' from vertical brace ( cut#1)
By RAISING the jack the head is lowered.
Now, double check alignment and TACK WELD (very important) the vertical brace (#1)
Final Cut. Using a cut off wheel make a V cut only 3/4 thru. just in front of the vertical brace. (I wound up with approx. 3/16'' at top of V)
Now the jack can be lowered to original ground clearance hieght and....
with the welds tacked in place you're now free to roll it around the driveway. She now sets at 32-33deg. with about 4'' of trail and the wheelbase has been extended by 3''. Why??? Because we Can.
I will double check alignment in the shop with my trusty Home Depot laser before final welds are made, but by doing it this way the steer head stays straight. I'll save final welding and connect radiator crossbar when the frame is bare. Right now it's on to the rear suspenders.
