My "New" 350X Motor

[wonderboy]

I've been in the process of rebuilding this motor for what seems like forever. All the case / cylinder / head parts have been powder coated satin black, all hardware has been re-zinc plated, 10.25 compression piston, mild port work, and lots of time. The reason it is taking so long is that I don't plan ahead very well. The last thing I need are the new dowels that hold the rocker shafts in the head. Then I'll be all set to button this up.

I figured I'd post pictures now since it is almost done and people like pictures...

[pismorat]

That's beautiful looking! How'd you do the cases and all? I'm trying to finish my '85 250R motor rebuild and would love it to look half as good as yours when I'm finished.

[wonderboy]

Thanks for the compliment. I took all the case parts / cylinder / head parts to a powder coater who did all the work. I had to have all bearings and seals removed from all parts. In reality, there were two bearings I couldn't get out: the deeper of the two clutch arm needle bearings and the kick starter needle bearing, but they survived the process just fine. The powder coater blasted all the parts and powdered them.

Once all the parts were back, I washed them in the kitchen sink with hot soapy water and blew them dry with the air hose. Then all bearing (new crank bearings) and new seals were installed, and reassembly began.

Regarding the hardware: I have a friend who is into street rods who was going to have some plating work done. I gave him two motors worth of hardware and he got it zinc plated for me for $20. I did have to clean everything up first (degreased and beadblasted heads) , but it wasn't too hard and the price was right.

[Darius1502]

Frank, that is absolutely amazing! Never seen anything so crisp and beautiful!!

[dirtwheels]

That motor is shaping out to be top notch! It's this type of attention to detail that separates great work from good work.

[Dirtweed]

Very nice and a nice incentive for me. I'm going to do the same to my '82 250R motor this winter.

[6speedthumper]

Turns me on!

[Jason125m]

Very nice work Frank, great job.

[rdonald1979]

I'll second that on the getting turned on over this type of stuff. Beautiful work man.

[hublake]

Frank,
That motor sure looks nice. I can see with all the time you have been spending on it, I can see why I will never get a Big Red poster. lol

Hublake

[wonderboy]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I've probably gotten a little carried away considering this will be the replacement motor for my rider.

Hublake: Winter is coming... I don't think this motor is going to take up another entire winter. I haven't forgotten!

Another general question for the masses:
I slathered my cam up with Honda moly 60. It isn't new and I'm putting the same cam back in with the original rockers, so there is no break-in issue I'm worried about. However, I am concerned about a fresh fire on the motor without a primed oil pump so I figured the moly was a good insurance plan until the oil system got oil to the top end. But I just read on another site that the moly is back for the clutch discs. I did read on another that it is no problem. So I'm wondering what I should do. I do have a tube of that reddish engine assembly lube to coat the cam and rockers. I wonder if I should clean the moly off of the cam and just use the assembly lube. Looking for opinions here.

[6speedthumper]

I use Federal-Mogul assembly lube on the cam and journals, then, with EVERY 4 stroke I build, I pour a half a quart of oil into the head through the intake valve cover (it's canted at the perfect angle) before starting. Have not had a wiped lobe, scored journal, or "stick clutch" to date.

[M.Pargiello]

Looking good Frank!!