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Body work ID??

chuck hahn

chuck hahn

Forum LongTimer
Past Site Supporter
Click image for larger version Name: Zwbzj1.jpg Views: 1 Size: 103.3 KB ID: 1745536 So Sunday i went and got this bike. The big white EPA label on the rear inner fender says its 1978 compliant. The ignitipn in the right cover is electronic indicitive of 80 or newer and the body work appears to be maybe a 79?? Anyway im pretty sure it may have started out as a skunk and for whatever reason the body has been switched. I also got an 8 valve 1000 engine in the deal thats completely blacked out. Pretty sure ive never seen a black 8 valve engine before. So what i want to know can you guys tell me what year and model the body is from. I went back and forth about buying yet another project but for 600 with a spare engine im pretty sure i an make double at least once its a runner again.

The intent is to get it running and road worthy and resell it. Rebuild the engine if needed. Ill pull a compression test on the cylinders and see what numbers come up. Neither engine is stuck but the bike has no spark as of now.

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Thanks. All i can think about the spare engine is it was painted black. ill see soon as the paint stripper hits it.I have a skunk tank and im tempted to find a tail cowl and make it back to orifinal. Seeing its alloy rims and a 78 designation on the EPA stcker i can only think thst all points to a skunk originally.

EDIT... Exhaust is a trashed out Kerker 4 into 1 without a baffle. That will go away.
 
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Fiddles with some wires and restored spark so i hooked up the gravity bottle and she started up with full choke. So i will take a video at some point and post it. But its a solid candidate for some cleaning up and make road worthy again.
 
Big Block. I have a mint skunk tank. Both side covers are with the bike and all i would really need to make it back to its original look is a good tail cowl. As i staed earlier the big white EPA emissions stick says it is a 78 model. So in my thinking its really a skunk with 79 tins.

So what do all you guys that have looked at this thread think? Go for the skunk restore or no?
 
Check the serial number against this chart. It's somewhat accurate pre-production numbers from Suzuki. The start numbers for a year may be off a bit but otherwise should be pretty close. If you still have the frame label on the steering head anything produced after July 1978 would be a 1979 as mine is. Mine is a very early production '79 and shows a production date of July 1978.

Serial Numbers by soates50, on Flickr
 
Crappy headstock sticker is destroyed. Im getting its a 78 based on it says the emmisions are compliant " for this 78 motorcycle " as stated on the EPA label.
 
Got some pictures today after i cleaned the carbs and got her idling smooth. As you can see from these pictures im in need of a stock set of bars and headlight brackets. I have 3 airboxes but will need the filter box and cover. I ordered the center stand and a headlight bucket today. I took a video on my phone but not savvy enough to transfer it to be able to post here... oh well.









Click image for larger version Name: rqz1tX.jpg Views: 0 Size: 110.1 KB ID: 1745815
 
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looks reasonably solid and complete, definitely elect. needs some straightening up. Lucky the corners of the tank ain't dented in with those handlebars, it yus'ta happen a lot. What's that white thing behind the pet cock?.. No clue about the Yr. model, but sure would be a nice skunk.
 
All that wiring in front is the rest of the stock harness for turn signal and clutch switch etc. harness isnt butchered but yes i need to clean up how they hooked the red wires going down to the ignition. And reorganize the spaghetti at the battery box too Easy stuff. Between this bike and finishing up the 86 Ninja 600R ive got a bit of work to do...Currently getting ninja body work ready for paint.
 
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