Buffet Racer: Propav8r's '78 GL1000

[propav8r]

Eh, looks fine to me, but I'll know more after blasting. Pretty sure somebody just whacked something with the center stand at some point.

Fake edit// I guess you're referring to the small holes in the second photo. In that case, yeah, you're probably not wrong. That does look like rust/corrosion.

[propav8r]

Made some progress on the frame this evening.

[doubleminded]

I have a 78 parts bike,but no sidecover if you need something I might have it.I live near dallas.ronbayless57@gmail.com

[propav8r]

Did a lot more blasting last night...





I'll be heading out of town for a few days at the end of this week, so progress will slow for a bit. As soon as I get my replacement wiring harness, I'm going to rig the motor up to run on the bench and evaluate where I'm at with the carbs.

[Easter]

I have now done several of these and the first three or four I sent my carbs to Pistol Pete. Plug and Play! I kept my first build and three years later it fires instantly. I got brave on my last couple of builds and using the Randakk kit was able to do the carbs myself with acceptable results. The great thing about working on bikes instead of cars or trucks is the parts are so much lighter and usually easier to access, especially on a stripped down bike like yours. A raised table is a wonderful thing. Let me add my welcome to the club.

[propav8r]

Thanks for the welcome Easter!

[marteney1]

Looking forward to watching the build. Alas, I no longer own my '78, but I'm on craigslist about every day looking for one. Good luck, man. Don't forget to keep us updated!

[propav8r]

So this past weekend, I spent some time in the Catskills as the crew chief for a buddy's Audi CQ rally car at the Empire State Performance Rally.

We had a blast, and overall, did very well. We did DNF because of a bad fuel pump, but in rally, you get DNF'd if you miss so much as one stage. In actuality, the pump was dying, they brought the car back to service, I swapped out the pump, and they went right back out. They only missed about 6 miles of racing, but oh well.











I did a little body work on the false tank and shaved the area where the flaming chicken goes. I might get some flack for this, but I just really don't like the way that thing looks! Also picked out a color...



The paint is going to be far from perfect, but I'll be happy with a 5-footer paint job. I'm sure I'll drop the bike a time or three early on anyway. It'll look more than passable after a wet sand and buff.

[Easter]

Rally looks like a lot of fun. Probably a lot less expensive to work on bikes.

[propav8r]

Rally looks like a lot of fun. Probably a lot less expensive to work on bikes.

It was a blast, but yeah, bikes are FAR cheaper. we burned 112 gallons of fuel in the tow rig there and back, plus about 30 gallons of race fuel at 8.50/gallon...the fuel cost alone was insane, coupled with the $800 entry fee, not to mention the cost of the car, spares, trailers, tools, etc...it's just not attainable for the average person. My buddy that owns the car is a very well compensated Borg Warner engineer, so it's a little easier, but still a strain on the wallet.

[propav8r]

Broke down and spent some money last night...

Hotwingglass Seat (really excited for that one), timing belts, all brake pads, adjustable shocks (my stockers are completely wasted), and hopefully, a head gasket/top end set.

I'm reasonably sure that the right side head gasket is blown or weeping, and it seems like a STUPID simple job. Might as well go ahead and tackle them.

Anything else I should do with the motor out? I've checked resistance/continuity in the stator and that seems good. I need to check the neutral switch since, if I'm remembering correctly, the light was always on.

[Easter]

Water pump? May be OK if it has metal blades and no side play, if plastic (bake-lite) then do it now. Easy enough after assembly but much easier now. Check the clutch, virtually impossible in the frame without working from underneath the bike. Maybe some other items underneath the back cover like starter chain.

[propav8r]

Water pump looks like it's in great shape and doesn't have any play. Mine's a metal impeller. I guess I should just pop off the back cover and take a look.

[propav8r]

Got the frame all painted up yesterday evening. I have a few spots to touch up, and this tractor paint is taking 5ever to harden up, but I'll be gone this weekend so it can just sit there undisturbed for awhile.









Next up: Cleaning and painting the forks and wheels.

[Easter]

Looks great. Always hard to get that spray gun in and out and around without bumping something.