1981 Kawasaki KZ750 Resurrection

[Nessism]

Got a shipping notice from Bike Bandit today. Not to be fooled again I check the shipped quantity and low and behold, ONE piece. Damn! Still gonna be one piece short.

[Vmass]

Awesome job on the engine cases!!

So are you saying you sprayed the " Kawasaki" and the raised portions then sanded the color off ?

[Nessism]

So are you saying you sprayed the " Kawasaki" and the raised portions then sanded the color off ?

Yes on sanding off the paint. VHT is quite brittle and you have to be careful as you feather back the paint to the edges of the letters. I used a paint stick and wrapped it with sandpaper (I'm spacing out and forgot the grit level already, but it was something like 220).

[chuck hahn]

I just wrap a tshirt rag tightly around a finger and use acetone to wipe off the raised areas. I polish first, paint, then wet wipe the unwanted paint off.

[salty_monk]

Looking good Ed.

(by the way - If I missed a call from you the other day let me know. There was no message so maybe it was a butt dial!)

[Nessism]

Looking good Ed.

(by the way - If I missed a call from you the other day let me know. There was no message so maybe it was a butt dial!)

Sorry Dan, thought your number was Costco pizza! Oops.

Happy to report that I got all the damper parts. Finally! Bike Bandit sent me the invoice saying they were sending one piece but as I was opening the package I was thinking/hoping that they sent two and I got my wish! At any rate, the engine is going back together and I'll put up some photos tomorrow. Happy days!!

[Nessism]

Bottom end is together. It was quite the jigsaw puzzle. Had to backtrack a time or two to make sure I put it together properly but think I got it.

P1020648 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020647 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020646 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020645 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020649 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020650 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020651 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020652 by nessism, on Flickr

[Nessism]

Got the top end installed but didn't take photos yet. Soon...

Had a visitor at the door this evening. A man from across town brought me a package with my missing parts! The PO delivered to his house instead of mine. I didn't ask why he waited so long. Oh well, now I've got spares.

[Nessism]

Created a bit of trouble for myself on the cylinder head. Long story but bottom line is I need one new new intake valve. No big deal. Found a guy on ebay that had a good deal on a NOS Kawasaki valve so ordered it up. Only about 100 miles away and the package was delivered to the PO five days ago but it's not here yet. Just amazing. Have another part inbound from AZ (one state over) and it's taking a long time as well. All those stories about the PO being slow and unreliable are TRUE. I'm getting antsy and want to install the engine this weekend but not sure I'll be able to now.

[jsandidge]

Maybe you should go visit that guy across town. He might have your other parts too.

[Nessism]

Starting to look like a motorcycle.

Trying to figure out which exhaust to go with. Unfortunetly, the Supertrapp hangs low under the sump which I hate, and the muffler in the back doesn't align either. Think it's time for plan B...

P1020671 by nessism, on Flickr

P1020672 by nessism, on Flickr

[Nessism]

Exhaust system frustration setting in. Need to bend the midpipe to get the Supertrapp system to align without hitting stuff in the back. It's not just a matter of making a new hanger bracket or whatever. The header hangs down below the engine more than I like too. One good curb and this thing is going to get scrapped. Not a fan of conventional headers for this reason. Marving makes a nifty system with a flat collector that tucks up nice and snug under the engine but they cost something like $500 in the US, if you can find one. Think I'm going to throw the stock pipes back on for now. They are rash and dent free for the most part, just have some corrosion spots and speckling. Going to find out how much to get them powdercoated with one of these new fangled high temp coatings. I'm afraid of the cost though. Another question is black or silver?

[dorkburger]

I contacted Jet Hot to get a quote to do my header about 2 years ago. I was quoted around $300 for the header, plus return shipping. I goofed though and forgot to ask about the mid pipe. That was a per foot charge, which I dont recall. A co worker who fools with race cars said I could probably do better locally, but I ended up using header spray paint, which needs to be redone.

Bike is looking great BTW.

[Nessism]

I contacted Jet Hot to get a quote to do my header about 2 years ago. I was quoted around $300 for the header, plus return shipping. I goofed though and forgot to ask about the mid pipe. That was a per foot charge, which I dont recall. A co worker who fools with race cars said I could probably do better locally, but I ended up using header spray paint, which needs to be redone.

Bike is looking great BTW.

Thanks for the comments about the bike.

Local joint says about $200-$250 to "ceramic coat" the exhaust in black. They lightly sandblast to rough up the metal first. If I want silver for a more bright finish they charge a little more because the metal needs to be polished first. I've got a few rough patches on the exhaust so it's a fair bit that some polishing is needed regardless.

I'm going to check out the system in the light of day today and make a decision.

[SVSooke]

You mean that Supertrapp is for a GPz750?Which year?The 82 or 83 and later?Got me going just thinking about itNot that I could afford it even if you wanted to sell itJust wondering while I'm thinking to ask alloy can or steel?