1981 Kawasaki GPz550: Restoration

[blowerbike]

my 82 GPz1100 worm gear adjust backwards also....really had me cornfused....

[srsupertrap]

my 82 GPz1100 worm gear adjust backwards also....really had me cornfused....

I am glad I am not the only one. I like the GPz clutch cable routing

Here are the latest photos, I spent an hour rummaging through Advanced Auto Parts thermostat gaskets looking for one that was close to the intake manifold. Only required a little dremel modification



Before there was only one gasket on the engine side and gobs of red RTV sealing the boots. Those adapter plates were home made too. The workmanship is interesting . . .we will see if its air tight



Got the 27mm Flatslides installed, the new OEM throttle cables open and close fully with plenty of slack

[Nessism]

Looking awesome Steve! Amazing work! Please record a video after you get it going!

[srsupertrap]

Looking awesome Steve! Amazing work! Please record a video after you get it going!

Ed, I still have not tackled reinstalling those stainless steel bezel rings on the speedo & tach . . . that might be the hardest job of all.

[srsupertrap]

10/18 Progress: Meter Assembly . . . broke the original trip reset wheel trying to remove the covers. That knob screws on CW and is never meant to be removed.







Finished the Tachometer. Right of the Tachometer is a roller chain pin I got from the Ford Norfolk Assembly plant. During summer shut down, they were replacing a section of worn chain used to move F150's along the assembly line. I asked a pipefitter if I could have the used pin. He said sure . . . that thing must be hardened to hell because when you hit something with it the other pieces always bends.





New speedo & tach cables. The tach cable is from Motion Pro and too long





Ops Check: The horn button does not operate the horn & the headlamp indicator light is On.

[Big T]

Waiting impatiently for Steve to slap the exhaust on and feed this thing some gas

[srsupertrap]

Waiting impatiently for Steve to slap the exhaust on and feed this thing some gas

Well the petcock has been soaking in Berryman's and I just started a new job with a medical device manufacturer outside Boulder, CO.
But I did score a NOS Supertrapp muffler for the GPz 550 for $60 shipped





Now I need Supertrapp header for a 80-83 KZ550 or 81 GPz550
A coworker mentioned he has a CB400F that has been sitting for 15+ years

[azr]

Score indeed. Nicely done.

[Rob S.]

Hijack

My 82 GPz1100...

Wouldn't mind seeing some (a lot of) pics of that beast.

It just barely edged mine out in the 1320 and prevented Suzuki from three-peating as World's Quicket Production Motorcycle.

[blowerbike]

Wouldn't mind seeing some (a lot of) pics of that beast.

It just barely edged mine out in the 1320 and prevented Suzuki from three-peating as World's Quicket Production Motorcycle.

here Rob..
i won't clutter his thread.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?227279-APE-GS1100-Cyl-Studs&p=2122850#post2122850

[srsupertrap]

11/3 Weekend Update:

Replaced all the petcock gaskets & seals last weekend so yesterday I flushed the tank and installed the petcock for a leak test. The GPz petcock is vacuum operated like a the GS1000



No idea what the tab on the back of the gas tank does. Perhaps it sits against the long gone airbox?


New vacuum & fuel line . . .



Like the RS34 SmoothBores the guys at Mikuni did not provide enough clearance between the top of the Carbs & Petcock



The paint is really bad shape but at least it looks like a GPz550

Rusty & dented. Probably needs professional help

[Nessism]

Awesome work Steve! Count me as another waiting for you to feed this beast some gas!

[srsupertrap]

Waiting impatiently for Steve to slap the exhaust on and feed this thing some gas

I am in the process of moving BUT being a gearhead I found this 82 GPz on C/L and could not resist for $150, there's a diamond in there. The CL link will be deleted soon. The guy I bought it from was moving too

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/mpo/4752935486.html

A Bassani Superbike pipe might be the finishing performance touch. It's a 1984 model so likely a bracket will need to be fabricated.



Everything else is 4 Sale ( Carbs, Airbox Body work ): Title in hand

[nvr2old]

Dang. That pipe alone is worth way more then the cost of the bike. Nicely done. This bike is gonna be SO cool. Love the style of wheels on these bikes, painted a magnesium gold, they'd look like a pair of Morris wheels.

[Nessism]

Nice pick up Steve. Guess you don't have enough to do.

Learned something today which may serve you as well: the valve cover on my 750 has a rub block for the cam chain, and when you install the cover it contacts and deflects the chain. Your 550 has a similar rub block in the valve cover so you may want to check to see if the block depresses the chain between the cams like it does on the 750. In order to degree the cams on a 750 you need a cutaway valve cover to avoid upsetting the timing when the cover is installed. Hope this is not the case for the 550 but wanted to share.