1978 gs 750e cafe racer rebuild

[drivera84]

Ive been posting for a while but I decided I would start my rebuild tread. I own a 1978 gs 750E which is in very poor condition.

Ive already ordered a 1980 gs750 engine with good compression numbers to replace the existing one...at least till I get up the money to fix this one up. Ive also ordered the complete rebuild kit for the brakes and the clubman bars.

My plans for the rebuild are to use the rear cowl and tail light assembly and just slide it a little forward (cut the frame just a bit). Fit the clubman bars and make a custom seat pan and seat. I was thinking about this idea when I found beergood (a member here) rebuild. He did almost exactly what I have in mind. the exhaust is missing I only have the headers so I plan to buld a 4-2 custom pipe while I look for a kerker or v&h 4-1 megaphone.

Im waiting on the parts to begin building but since I am in honduras its going to take a while.


this is her current sad state...please feel free to give me your opinions. If you have parts you think I might need please feel free to let me know. Im on a tight budget but need parts.

[Guest]

I'm gonna tag along for this one, should be pretty cool

I assume you've seen Beergood's cafe build?

[drivera84]

Hi Pete,

In fact Ive seen most if not all the rebuild posts! Ive enjoyed plenty of reading. Ive also sen cosatiepete?s build.

At first I wanted to do somthing of a bobber but slowly my mental picture of what the bike was going to look like started changing to a cafe style bike. I decided I wanted to keep the original look so thats why Im keeping the rear cowl, very much like beergood.

[Guest]

Hi Pete,

In fact Ive seen most if not all the rebuild posts! Ive enjoyed plenty of reading. Ive also sen cosatiepete?s build.

At first I wanted to do somthing of a bobber but slowly my mental picture of what the bike was going to look like started changing to a cafe style bike. I decided I wanted to keep the original look so thats why Im keeping the rear cowl, very much like beergood.

Good stuff. Coastiepete's is one of my all time favourites on here, but Beergood's came to mind because of the tail piece comment...

[drivera84]

Just got my brake parts in! Cant wait too get home and take a look!

thanks cal_look_zero!

[drivera84]

[Etcheberri]

cool,
have fun with your rebuild!

[drivera84]

thanks etcheberri,

im already having fun! Its going to take me a while...I own a coffee shop down here and I dont have much time so I will be working slow.

[drivera84]

hi guys a little update.

The engine I had found...the deal didnt fall through ...

do any of you have a gs750e engine I could use...if you are in the miami area it would be great, I have someone here that could go pick it up for me and send it to me.

What other size engines (preferably larger) fit the 1978 gs 750e frame? Do the different engine sizes use the same carbs?

I am also contemplating the idea of rebuilding the engine I have...Any ideas as to how much its going to cost me? What parts Im going to need etc.

You can tell from the pics that most of the stuff I have is pretty rusted. The head and carbs are misssing in the pic but I have them...they could probably do with just a cleaning but I am not sure.

and advise is welcome....

thanks!

[drivera84]

yes.....that is water in the cylinder

[drivera84]

[Guest]

Ugh that looks horrible!

You can definitely rebuild that, you'll probably need some new pistons and I suspect you'll need a rebore of the cylinders and one or two size up rings etc.

The big question is what condition things like the cam and bearing journals are.

If they're not corroded and are still within spec then you should be good to go I would imagine, although I'm not an expert of course...

A replacement engine would be easiest of course, but I wouldn't say yours is a total loss either...

[drivera84]

I know pete...its not nice...

I tried taking the jugs off and the rods moved the crankshaft a bit...but the pistons did not move. What do you suggest to unstick these pistons?

[Guest]

I know pete...its not nice...

I tried taking the jugs off and the rods moved the crankshaft a bit...but the pistons did not move. What do you suggest to unstick these pistons?

Penetrating oil, WD, something along those lines... and lots of patience!

I'd probably pour/spray a heap down each cylinder and repeat that every day for a week or something and see if they let up on their own...

[drivera84]

I will post pics of the cams and carbs so you can see em..