84/5 2nd gen T3 front end swap?

[i58829]

Is anyone here is running an 86/7 front end on their 1st gen T3 that gets trail ridden? I was wondering what you did with the radiator, are there any bike tanks with the exhaust on the correct side that have scoops and would clear a twin radiator setup? Do the stock 85 brakes mount up to the 86 forks, if not can a bracket be made to make it work? Any ideas/confirmed info or pics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, TC...

Also Billy thanks for the help i can't explain it but if i put test in the title then edit the post it works, otherwise i keep getting the same error.

[i58829]

Anyone? Here's a few pics for what i have in mind. 86 t3 front end set up on the shelf, 86 350x wheel w/front max on the way, banshee shock, champion +2 swinger, 20x11x10 Razr's, some new bearings all around. And with any luck some sort of tank that will allow twin rads and a number plate. I'd also like to dig up some red plastics, and a red liquid R fender for the front but we'll see what happens, if the green front fenders are ordered i'll keep it green...

[ScottZJ]

Well if you still wanted a center mount rad, you could find a smaller unit from another bike and place it in the center of the 86-87 forks. Brackets would need to be fabbed to work with it. Anything is possible if you had some minor fab skills and the tools.

[nd4speed]

it has been done and posted on this site. keep searching although i would just recommend keeping it stock.

[i58829]

I couldn't find anything for a tank, i know the front swap is doable. I was just wondering about the radiator setup. I'll check into it a little more later today...

I'm an idiot i found the 84 kx one now, but only one shroud? That doesn't seem like it will leave enough room to twin rads or is one between the pipe and the frame on the bike?

[dcreel]

If you figure out a way to do this I will probably follow your lead. I have thought of this as well. As long as it doesn't end up looking like all cobbled together mess.

[i58829]

If you figure out a way to do this I will probably follow your lead. I have thought of this as well. As long as it doesn't end up looking like all cobbled together mess.

Well thats why i'd like to figure out a way to use a tank with twin scoops and fab up some sort of dual rad setup. I work at a machine shop so i have access to everything to make brackets or whatever i just want to something that works. And i dont want to make a hack job out of it if i can avoid it...

[oldskool83]

one guy used a kx500 tank, last gen style and had rads mounted o nthe sides. looked nice. i say do it right or dont do it at all.

[cr480r]

one guy used a kx500 tank, last gen style and had rads mounted o nthe sides. looked nice. i say do it right or dont do it at all.

he also had a kx500 engine and a kx500 pipe...

Well thats why i'd like to figure out a way to use a tank with twin scoops and fab up some sort of dual rad setup. I work at a machine shop so i have access to everything to make brackets or whatever i just want to something that works. And i dont want to make a hack job out of it if i can avoid it...

dont even try to move the radiators to the frame with the stock engine unless you can build a custom pipe or plan to run a out of frame pipe. The pipe is reason people dont do it... its on the wrong side and its routed way to high. People have tried raising the tank and radiators to clear the stock pipe and it looks like chit.

[i58829]

dont even try to move the radiators to the frame with the stock engine unless you can build a custom pipe or plan to run a out of frame pipe. The pipe is reason people dont do it... its on the wrong side and its routed way to high. People have tried raising the tank and radiators to clear the stock pipe and it looks like chit.

So i'm looking at using some sort of a vented number plate over the stock radiator with some custom mounts and i'll be good to go? That's fine by me, are any of the old school number plates wide enough to cover the radiator?

Thanks again guys, TC...

[i58829]

DCREEL Where did you get that bad boy? How many hundreds of dollars will one cost me?

[i58829]

Ok i hate to keep bumping the post, but this isn't going to be nearly as bad as i thought. The 86 front end when you measure the forks outside to oustide is 13.375", and the radiator that's stock on an 85 is 11.625" so although the fork tubes will be in the way slightly i'm thinking if i just make brackets/spacers off the mounts on the 86 triples and move the radiator forward around 1/2" i should be good to go. And if i can find a vented number plate to delete the guard it wont be too much of an eyesore...

[Tecate250]

You could use the rad relocator to move the rad to connect difectly to the water pump. Ive thought of this many times. But the 1984-5 Tecate has a certain lure to it with that rad and big ol tire up front.. i58829 are you from Newfound land?

[dcreel]

I have had that Tecate for 22 years now. It came with the UFO airbox, steering stabilizer, and the Westcoast swingarm. I picked up an 85 a year ago and now have the Works shock with reservoir on it now. Klemm Research KX Grand National cylinder, 38mm Mikuni bored out to 41mm. The pipe is a large old school pipe with Klemm Research silencer.

DCREEL Where did you get that bad boy? How many hundreds of dollars will one cost me?

[i58829]

dcreel very cool, i guess if you pick that stuff up back when it was available you can have a very nice machine without paying insane prices.

Not to make light of all of the rare aftermarket goodies but i was referring to what appears to be a DC plastics # plate. I was on there site and sent an email/called but didn't hear back from them yet. Are they still available?


and tecate250 i'm in central Pennsylvania...