Subject: Re: transitional forms

Author: Darrell Dick

Date: Jun 24, 2002, 12:24 PM

Post ID: 1710488537

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