Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

A forum for stories, pics and updates of your resto's. Be it a barn find, Grampas hand me down or a bike being brought back to it's former glory.If you are restoring it, show us your stuff!

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Motowalt
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#16

Post by Motowalt »

Thanks Easter.
It has been a real rewarding learning process....
Last edited by Motowalt on Fri May 30, 2014 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#17

Post by Motowalt »

Found a pair of HD mufflers…the muffler brackets were offset and not identical so I had to cut one off, install the bolts and then re-weld one side…the welds are not pretty, but I think they turned out ok for an amateur…they sound good…are not too loud, and I like the shorty look…

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Last edited by Motowalt on Sat May 31, 2014 3:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#18

Post by Motowalt »

Had the headers silver ceramic coated - pricey, but a huge improvement!

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Last edited by Motowalt on Fri May 30, 2014 10:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#19

Post by Motowalt »

I prefer the bodywork on the Gen 1 (75-77’s) bikes so I used those for the shelter and side covers…the early shelter frame bolted right up, but I had to alter the '78 side mounts to accept the early covers…

Had an old '77 frame that was too rusty to put on the road so cut off the side panel mounts and cut to fit and bolted them to the 78 frame and wollah! It worked! And they can be removed and the '78-79 side panels re-installed…but why would you ever want to?

Side Cover Brackets cut from old frame:

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Right Bracket trimmed:

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Left Bracket Trimmed:

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Right Bracket Installed:

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Left Bracket Installed:

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I should insert the "blood" pic here...those cut pieces are really sharp devil1
Luckily, no stitches were required.

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Norbert R
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#20

Post by Norbert R »

Well, the thread is called B,S & G :lol:
Well done saving an otherwise doomed good motor !
I agree fully about the '75 to '77 body styling being the nicest.
Nulla futuit datum...
1977 GL1000 - BOTM April 2015
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ericheath
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#21

Post by ericheath »

Rodger, did you see that last post??? You have been neglectful of your psychological brain washing about the 78's. Okay back to our show.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
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Motowalt
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#22

Post by Motowalt »

Plus Eric, everyone knows the 1st Gens are the fastest... lolol

OK, it was finally time for paint…so the motor has to come out of the frame one more time…

First I sanded, primed and painted the motor. Red Scotchbrite pads, dust blown off with compressed air, wiped down with Duplicolor Prep wipe.

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Then carefully spooned the motor back into the frame to avoid scratching anything:
(don't forget to install the crankcase breather cup BEFORE installing the motor...it's nearly impossible to bolt it up once the motor is in the frame...don't ask me how I know that!)

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I did a lot of the initial bodywork prep by sanding off the old paint and decals before taking everything to my painter…'75, '76 and ’77 bodywork, 83 front plastic fender (a huge decal needed to be sanded off there)…and 78 chrome rear fender which I chopped and shortened. Had my painter weld and grind several holes on the rear fender since I would
be mounting a different tail light.

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Went with gloss black for the fenders and House of Kolor Candy Apple Red for the bodywork along with a 2013 OEM GL1800 tank emblem (looks deep red to black, depending on the lighting) to finish it off…

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Lucas hooded style tail light for the rear in gloss black to match the new fender paint…

Superbike handlebars powdercoated black. Ran the control wires inside the bars.

Aftermarket headlight brackets

New, custom length Galfer SS front brake lines along with a Nissin Racing Master Cylinder allowed me to get rid of the OEM brake pressure switch and crossover tube which can be a real pain to bleed. Plus, there's no sanitary way to mount the 77 pressure switch on the 83 fork.

Rebuilt all three calipers with OEM Honda seals.

Then I cleaned and lined the tank using POR 15. New drain crush washer, drainbolt threads coated with aviation gasket sealer to prevent leaks.

Painted the radiator and hose covers.

Polished the carb caps and intake runners.

Reinstalled all the bodywork and fenders…

Sourced a Harley Sportster seat and modified it to fit.

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I'm really starting to like how this old girl is turning out!
Last edited by Motowalt on Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Norbert R
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#23

Post by Norbert R »

Motowalt wrote:
I'm really starting to like how this old girl is turning out!
Me too! That red is magnificent
Nulla futuit datum...
1977 GL1000 - BOTM April 2015
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77Wing
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#24

Post by 77Wing »

That's awesome!
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Easter
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#25

Post by Easter »

You make it sound so simple, you must have done this before! Now I know why I can't figure out where that breather cup is supposed to go! Looks really sharp!
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Motowalt
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#26

Post by Motowalt »

Thanks guys.
This bike has thrown alot of roadblocks in my way as I was bringing her back to life...

Stay tuned...there's more to come :mrgreen:
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Roady
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#27

Post by Roady »

Lovin' your color scheme.
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ericheath
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#28

Post by ericheath »

Sweet, you're hired.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
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Barney T Weasel
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#29

Post by Barney T Weasel »

Sheesh you really have done the work on that bike. Hope its reliable now and worth the effort. You've done an amazing job. action1 type1
GL1000 '75 model Blue....heading to rat, then cafe racer then full resto...owned 33 years.
http://www.dungbeetlebiker.com/forum/forum.php
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desertrefugee
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Re: Blood Sweat and Gears (BSG) 76/78/83

#30

Post by desertrefugee »

... and bolted them to the 78 frame and wollah! It worked! And they can be removed and the '78-79 side panels re-installed…but why would you ever want to?
I agree fully about the '75 to '77 body styling being the nicest.
Plus Eric, everyone knows the 1st Gens are the fastest...
Rodger, did you see that last post??? You have been neglectful of your psychological brain washing about the 78's.
Ouch! Well, in spite of the negative press, there are a few of us who like the 78/79 style. I'll admit that it wasn't my favorite either - until I picked mine up recently. Thinking about it, the shelter lines mimic the early CB750F - a bike I had and loved decades ago. I'm liking it more and more...even though it won't see the road until this fall. (Sorry, I digress).

Regardless of year, the ravishing red beauty (and subject of this thread) will be a delight to ride and show. Congratulations on an outstanding result!
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