$150 stinker Project.. 78 GS1000E

[sschering]

1 year later.....

I spent the last year collecting parts, messing with other stuff and riding my 79.. Sold the 77 XS-400 to make space in the garage.. So sad to let my first bike go.

I think I'm ready to start on this one..

I got all the gaskets I need to put the engine back together so it's time to take it apart..

I got a good start over the weekend..




Pulled the jugs off.. quite a relief that the rings were not frozen.. It came off easy. Pistons and bores look ok.. Lot of cleaning to do.





As for the exhaust.. I got that covered.. Prepare for the pipe porn..


I also rounded up a set of 78 air boxes, and a set of K&N superbike bars, dyna ignition & coils.

Lots of options on how to go with it..

Do I go the restoration path and make it all stock..

or

throw in my 1100E swinger, K&N pods, slotted rotors, 8" light, clubman bars, bar end mirrors, tarozzi rear sets and so on..

[Flyboy]

This is going to be a goodie, I am along for the ride.
I thought that was an XS400 in the background, I had one as well as one of my first bikes, still have fond memories of it.

[sschering]

Someone needs to talk me into starting work on this bike..

Sadly tempted to part it out and move on because I never find the time to work on it..
All I do is push it around the garage to get it out of my way.

[SVSooke]

Hey buddy work on your 78 1000,like I should talk.Mine languishing while I redo the 85 750

[Octain]

Someone needs to talk me into starting work on this bike..

Sadly tempted to part it out and move on because I never find the time to work on it..
All I do is push it around the garage to get it out of my way.

With ya on that one..

[Kiwi Canuck]

Start a project thread

A good way to keep motivated when starting a rebuild is to start a thread in the projects/rebuilds, then you are committing to complete the rebuild otherwise you are letting down all the people who are following your thread when you don't stay on top of your work.

Wait a sec, you've already done that, so what's your excuse?

I see a beautiful Skunk/Cooley just sitting there waiting to get back on the road, get at it, you'll be glad you did once it's done.

Maybe I can send you a round tuit, I have a few spares I'm not using.

Cheers,

David

[GSX1000E]

Someone needs to talk me into starting work on this bike..

Get to work!

[sschering]

Thanks guys.. Maybe if I give it a cool name.

Skunk/Cooley Skooley?

Having to pull the motor, strip it down and re-gasket it has put me off a bit.
I have all the gaskets so I should just get busy..

[Kiwi Canuck]

Thanks guys.. Maybe if I give it a cool name.

Skunk/Cooley Skooley?

Having to pull the motor, strip it down and re-gasket it has put me off a bit.
I have all the gaskets so I should just get busy..

That's a great name

I did the same as you and pulled the jugs off before I had cleaned the motor, at the time I didn't know I would need to split the cases to replace the crank, but that's another story.
So you will need to either bag the top of the motor before cleaning or remove the pistons and drop the jugs and head back on and clean it with what ever your favourite cleaning/degreasing product.
Or stuff the crank cases with rags, I didn't do that as I wanted to use a pressure washer to help remove some of the grime and wash away all of the Simple Green so I didn't get any corrosion afterwards.

My favourite degreaser is simple green at full strength and a really good nylon brush, some use kerosene or brake cleaner to get the really grimey parts clean first.
Once it's clean the job is a lot less intimidating and it's actually pretty easy to do.

I painted with VHT SP127 engine paint, and at $9.00 a can it was very reasonable as I only used one can.

Before



After cleaning, and this area had 1/2 inch of solid grease and grime, I put a few big sheets of cardboard down and a few old newspapers and a went at it.



After I was finished painting.





So there you go, easy peassy.

[gmansyz]

Nice!
How's it going?