Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: transitional forms

Author: Darrell Dick

Date: Jun 24, 2002, 12:24 PM

Post ID: 1710488537


Hi Matt,

Did you buy that bike in Michigan? It sounds like one built by the guy
whom I bought my 850T from. His name was John and lived in East Detroit,
I mean Eastpointe. It was an interesting machine. He said it baffled the
shit out of the HD guys.

Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI

On Sun, 23 Jun 2002 11:54:31 -0400 Matt Moore <moore-@triton.net>
writes:
 Hey Jeff,
You have a frankenGuzzi too? What is it? (details!)
Mine is a '73 Eldo. Frame and engine #'s don't match. I think the
engine is
newer. The 5spd trans, I am told, is from a T bike. One of the
previous
owners cut the spine of the frame and lowered it about 3" where it
meets the
rear loops. He replaced the stock tank with a H-D tank fron a mid
70's model
with flames. When I bought it, I knew nothing about Guzzi's and
didn't know
it was not a stock tank. The overall effect looked cool (at the
time).
When I took apart the engine, the cylinders were almost wore
through at
the top, they were .005" over the largest spec and there was a
discoloration
to the lining. So, I have purchased Nikasil cylynders and piston
sets
($ouch$, but I think it'll be worth it).
Now I am slowly putting it back together. I need to repaint all the
sheetmetal. I am going to use the frame I have for now, then
purchase a
stocker down the road. My engine is completely reassembled and I am
now
going to be going through the transmission and updating it.

Matt Moore on Mid-MI
'73 Eldo-mostly
'71 Honda Trail70


----- Original Message -----
From: "jeff m" <jef-@frob.org>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 12:12 AM
Subject: transitional forms


 
(ed. note, a transitional form is an organism with genetic
characteristics that bridge the differences between two related
organisms (e.g. the 'missing link' between man and apes).
most scientists believe transitional forms to be proof of
evolution
 
2. forgive the editor if he rambles, much single malt has been
consumed
 this night.

3. I don't usually talk about myself in the 3rd person :))
***********************************************************************
 
woke up at O'dark thirty this morning, hollowed out my dodge
caravan
 and headed towards eastern washington state. Five hours later I
had a
 new-to-me Guzzi Ambo loaded in the back of the caravan and was
heading
 home (thanks again Blair for the great bike!!!).

I got what I consider to be a transitional form between the V700
and the
 750 Ambassador. It has a Dec 1968 build date and one of the
elusive
 engine serial numbers that start with "A". 750 block, 750 jugs
(and unlike frankenguzzi, they have good chrome!!!!). It is a
right side
 shift, has V700 style sidecovers, has a V700 tank with the funky
gascap,
and
 a v700 taillight mount. Fork top plate must be V700, too as it
doesn't impact the tank. VIN is stamped in the headstock, as well
as
 engraved on a (very odd) VIN plate riveted to the headstock.
Other
 than that it is all ambo..Remarkably, all the pieces (save tool
boxes)
 are there and in relatively good condition for it's age. It even
has
 stock, unbutchered wiring. I'm going to have quite a bit of fun
putting
 this fella back together.

Got it home and started stripping it down. This thing has odd
intake
 manifolds, unlike frankenguzzi's manifolds which fit flush to the
head,
 the new bike has strange notched sleeves that protude maybe 1.5
inches
into
 the head when they are mounted. I'm guessing a V700 carryover, as
I
 couldn't find them on my parts blowup or schematic either.

ah, well. wish me luck.

--j

Entire thread: