Subject: Re: Project poll (longish)
Author: Matt Moore
Date: Feb 12, 2005, 7:58 PM
Post ID: 1718380972
My project...
is a 1973 Eldorado, mostly. It was originally what is referred to as a
"bitsa bike", bitsa this, bitsa that. I bought the bike from a friend in
1991 and rode it for about a year, then thought I had blown it up (put in
idiot light in wrong hole). Bought another bike (Honda) and decided to
restore the Eldo. took it apart and it sat for 10 years in boxes, being
moved around from my parents house, to both of mine after that.
The original frame, as I recieved it, had the spine tube chopped and lowered
about 3" at the rear. (Paul aka Custom Guzzi now is using that frame for
Elvira). It now has a stock frame. The 5spd trans appears to be from a T
bike, as the speedo drive comes out in the wrong spot for the loop battery
tray (hence the hole in the tray and the unusual battery position. The stock
carbs were attached to custom made stainless steel straight intake manifolds
(to clear the lowered frame rail and new battery position). It had a HD tank
with flames hand painted on it, forward foot pegs but retained stock pegs
and controls (made for very painful use of stock pegs, made knees go into
armpits). HD tombstone taillight, no turnsignals. Gave manifolds, gas tank
and a set of modified side covers to Paul to use with the frame. Everything
else pretty much stock.
Put in Gillardoni Nikasil jugs/pistons, new bearings and seals. New wiring
harness, voltage regulator. I bought a set of stock manifolds. Powder coated
the frame, crash bars, and all the sheetmetal pieces. Put the engine
together in winter '02-03, put everthing else back together summer/fall 03.
Took it to Daytona and rode it around with my friends, found that the clutch
still slipped. Also broke one of the petcock bungs on the tank Paul had
given to me and I have sealed with POR15 and rattle can painted. Got a "new"
tank from Stans BMW in Gainesville the day we arrived in FL for our week in
Daytona.
Currently, I have to figure out why my clutch is slipping (read replace
clutch friction plates, maybe go with RAM), finish the cosmetic restoration
of the gas tank, find a set of sidecovers, maybe a stock taillight assembly,
turnsignals, tires, spokes on front wheel (rusting).
I also have aquired a 1977 KZ1000 LTD from a friend, but can't unload it due
to some legal things she is dealing with (can't get me a clear title)
I have 1.5 Honda CT70 (trail bike), one full bike and one with almost
everything but an engine/trans.
I used to have a 1965 Buick Skylark 2dr hardtop, but with wife and 2 kids,
it had to go. Also used to own a 1981 Honda CB750 (bike I bought when I
though I had killed the Goose), but had to sell it to pay rent and was not
riding it much anymore.
For several months I owned a 1972 Triumph 650 Chopper with a springer front
end, an engine with numbers that indicated it was from about 1968, Lucas
electronic ignition, custom wiring (yeah, right!). Engine was supposed to
have a bore and stroke kit (a friend who weighed about 120 pounds could not
kick it over)
Anyway, gotta go! wife says I am spending too much time on the computer and
not enough with her...
Matt in MI