86 350x to build or not to build?

[6speedthumper]

I know how both of you feel. My X was nothing more then a burnt up engine with oil cooler in a frame with forks. All rusted out. Picked up a near complete 86 roller for $100. That was the best and only real break I got for this whole build. I gave $225 for the engine and a 87 200x chassis. Fast forward to 8 months later, and I've replaced all the bearings and seals, stripped/gusseted and painted the frame and swinger. Did the 3rd gen R front end. New brakes, including a rebuilt rear caliper (was $90, ugh). New tires, chain/sprockets, had the flex hoses replaced in the cooler lines, etc... LOTS AND LOTS OF PARTS AND MONEY. Then, I've also spent roughly $2000 on engine work/exhaust/carb; which included a Powroll big bore, crank rebuild, porting, custom ground cam, etc... No matter how much planning and numbers crunching you do getting started on a wheeler, it is always too low. lol

[Lee atc]

yeh im thinking just gonna clean this one up a bit and put it together quick.. try and keep cost down and have a rider to beat around...

[Dirtcrasher]

I know how both of you feel. My X was nothing more then a burnt up engine with oil cooler in a frame with forks. All rusted out. Picked up a near complete 86 roller for $100. That was the best and only real break I got for this whole build. I gave $225 for the engine and a 87 200x chassis. Fast forward to 8 months later, and I've replaced all the bearings and seals, stripped/gusseted and painted the frame and swinger. Did the 3rd gen R front end. New brakes, including a rebuilt rear caliper (was $90, ugh). New tires, chain/sprockets, had the flex hoses replaced in the cooler lines, etc... LOTS AND LOTS OF PARTS AND MONEY. Then, I've also spent roughly $2000 on engine work/exhaust/carb; which included a Powroll big bore, crank rebuild, porting, custom ground cam, etc... No matter how much planning and numbers crunching you do getting started on a wheeler, it is always too low. lol

And when it's done it is yours free and clear and you can keep it looking fairly new!! It is possible, yet hard to find a good runner these days without many problems overlooked; Build it your way, keep the gas inline filter changed, the A/B box filter clean and oiled and run some good oil in there. Then, you know how it stands mechanically.

I feel the need to strip my "riding" trikes down about every 3 years just to freshen it up and examine everything. Generally, I build the whole trike and then toss in a crate motor with mods. So, if you take care of a crate or freshly built motor, nothing will be lost. And plan on MANY years of time before it needs anything! Maybe tires, chain and sprockets, general maintenance and greasing it all up. Stay out of mud and water, it's not so easy to "just fix it"; Many trikes esp. the shaft drives don't get enough attention until the rear end is all junk and many crucial parts to rebuild something are discontinued......

The only ones that bug me are the ones that do a whole restoration and in weeks, it is up for sale. Then it's there loss and your good fortune!!

[Lee atc]

i never sell machines ,just extra parts now and again. i have a horrible tendancy to hord threewheelers lol......

[Lee atc]

finally put in alittle work, thought id show some of the progress.

[Buck Snort]

Looks great! Makes me want to get going on mine. We are in the middle of getting ready to sell our house, so my time and mostly money seems to be getting used up. But when the house sells I will be TELLING the wife it is 350X quality time. ( yeah right lol).

[oscarmayer]

i only got 1 thing to say...




!!!!!