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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 16:05:21 GMT
Hi guys, A few days ago i suggested Strangewayz to choose one of his projects to be resurrected from the old site, just because his project threads are f*cking awesome. He chose the Grebrod thread. So here we go...... *deep breath* Went to collect it today & here it is in its full glory Uncut rear guard though
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 16:09:09 GMT
Why did I get it when I should be finishing my EFE project not starting a new one. Simple answer is that to finish my EFE properly it will need decent money spending on finishes (paintwork, powder coating etc) & on an engine to do it justice. Whilst I more than intend to complete the dry build hopefully during the summer I can't see me having the money to finish it & get it on the road this year. But I need something to ride GS belonged to a mate & came at a good price. What to do with it though? Being a EFE lad I've spent a lot of time over the last weeks looking at pictures trying to understand the soul of a GSthou & ignite a passion in me to create something. For example styling wise EFE's & ET's have iconic rear lights & you can almost build a bike just round that, but for me a GSthou rear light doesn't do it. It was all these sort of things I've been getting my head round. I want to build something this unmistakeably a GSThou, that screams attitude, has modern running gear, is a bit different & (whilst not really wanting to use categories) is more fighter than chop / lowrider. The GS count post up in Aircooled is an excellent & here are some really good examples of what people do with them & I would be proud to own any of them. But I didn't want to do a race rep, a classic resto, a subltey modified stocker or create an up todate GS as it might appear today. and this is where my proj will prob get me thrown off OSS
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 16:10:27 GMT
I know where I'm going with this & have a plan, been collecting parts now for a couple of months I have 2 rules which I need to stick to (at least this year). 1) No expensive finishes. 2) No expensive engine tuning. If I break these rules then I might have well not bought this & just spent the money finishing my EFE project. Aiming to have this done in time for the OSS part early July, but I can't really start for 2/3 weeks as I have given my commitment to do some more work on Stevea's Kat frame (arrives tomorrow) & a bit of work on PeteG's ET project, plus a few other things. Still hoping to get it finished before they get theirs on the road
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 16:12:16 GMT
and having said that got it outside the workshop about 6pm tonight & a few hours later it looked like this Having unbolted most of the stuff I'm not going to use & chopped parts of the frame off I don't want. For me what captures the soul of a GSThou identity is in the engine, tank & side panels & that's what I'll be building this around. I promise you won't be dissappointed with this proj
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 16:17:50 GMT
and here we go (OSS moto being don't faff get stuck in ) Joys of 19" wheels & usd forks being shorter, total difference approx 90mm. Some fork slugs will prob be needed. Have a stainless exhaust with a very flat collector which will help me out. Quick grind on the headstock needed. Don't you just love Suzuki's 1979 GS & a 1990's GSXR all I got to do is get a new bearing dust cap made. With top yoke on I can win a bit back on the height by dropping them from this. In the parts bin I had an AP Lockheed adjustable master cylinder & as I will be keeping the standard switchgear as a styling principle it works well with a set of Renthals & risers also in the parts bin ;D Have a SRAD 6" rim & 3 swingarms to choose from, SRAD top braced which will look shite with twin shocks, was thinking about cutting all the welds & getting it re welded the other way up but as the swingarm sides kick in different places they would have to be swapped over as well. Too much work me thinks. A GSXR arm which is really long & a B12 arm which PeteG may have 'spare'. B12 arm fits straight in as I had a set of top hat bushes kicking around, shocks will be mounted further forward than stock as per Yoshi reps & Craigs race bike (although with something a bit different thrown in). Quick mock with shock cable tied at top. I will be playing with the angles of the tank & side panels when I get more time. Front end came without calipers but I had a set of Tokico 6 potters already This is a cut slick which measures 185mm but it will be getting a 200mm tyre but you get the idea. Gurgle Not bad for a few hrs work but that'll be it for a bit as got to go pick up Stevea's Katana frame for more work.
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joeboy1100
Oviraptor
Posts: 10
Reg: Jul 15, 2013 15:32:04 GMT
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Post by joeboy1100 on Aug 6, 2013 16:43:03 GMT
Very nice I like it
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:10:27 GMT
Be aware that the framewidth of the GSX frame will NOT provide room for chainrun to a 200 tyre. So a bit more cutting to do and fit a plate in the lh frameside to be able to make the chain run wider- see other projects on this site. No worries I did this to Stevea's Road to Ruin Kat project & the same will be happening here (There is also bracing inside the frame tubes where the plating is.) But it will be quicker as there's not as much frame left
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:16:07 GMT
Decided to give up on the fitting a 200 tyre into this I found a 210/50ZR17 So 210 it is. I want to explain why. I haven't sold out to the ever increasing rear tyre fad (aka known as the Harley softail brigade ) but I don't include in that some of the trick single sided fat wheelers being built on this site as that's different again. 20 yrs ago I was trying to fit as wide a tyre I could get away with on a 'standard rim' & I want to re capture that crack now. This runs a 6" rim which are easy to get hold of cheaply & the 210 is supposed to go on a 6.25" - 7" rim & that's good enough for me. Using the 210 also makes it harder but to me that makes it more fun. Enough talk, need some pics. First thing to do was get a wider swingarm than the B12 I had borrowed off PeteG, already had an SRAD 750 arm to go with the SRAD 6" rim but as that is top braced I think it will look shite with twin shocks. Enter TLR arm, same width across the wheel spindle as the SRAD but bottom braced & won for £21 from the evil place. The TLR arm measures 232mm at the pivot & with the GS frame being 226mm it won't fit Going to replace the frame bushes with new to use the bigger swingarm spindle so grinding them flush with the insides of the frame to mock up was no big deal. This was a bit though, TLR is beefed up on one side due to I'm sure the suspension system being attatched on that side. Touches the engine & couldn't even knock the 16mm stock GS spindle through without taking a bit off the arm with a file. Need to sort this properly when I do the new bushes, may have to have the swingarm pivot a few mm further back. Bit of tidying, cutting off the suspension linkage brackets roughly. That done, wheel in & on the deck (still wearing 185mm cut slick) I think the arm is a cool choice with the subtle bracing & will work nicely with twin shocks. In a prev pic I showed how much height I had lost out the front by using the USD's but it looks like it will be rideable like this, lots of clearance underneath & I have a flat collector system to use. I'm not bothered about the down slope of the bottom frame rails at this point as the back hasn't been setup correctly & has zero squat due to a mock up special piece of wood. Alongside PeteG's ET project we could see a difference (GS approx -30mm less under the bottom frame tubes than the ET) but it is deceptive in the pics as the concrete floor slopes (I live on a hill). Did a few measurements & looks like the 210 will fit without have to do anywork to the sprocket carrier (ie move the sprocket further out) & if I do the same frame chain cut outs as I did to Stevea's Kat it looks like there will be enough room for the chain as well Need to order the 210 & get it fitted so last pic, short & aggresive looking me thinks.
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:19:03 GMT
would you lot stop fucking about with 200+ section tyres, my little brain still thinks that anything over 140 is wiiide. Jellyfinger look away now... 210 is here I showed it where it's new home was & it seemed happy If I have time will get it fitted tomorrow (working on Stevea's Road to Ruin).
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:21:35 GMT
Got the 210 fitted to the wheel & slotted back in place. This is only a mock up as the TLR arm which uses a bigger diameter swingarm spindle 'slops' about on the GS's 16mm making trying to eye up chain runs like pissing in the wind. That will be the first job that I will do (mod the frame for new bushes to take the TLR spindle) when I start to work on this properly. The 210 gives the aggresive footprint that I was after (& of course will be framed by the lines of the twin shocks from the rear which will make the bike look wider still), what do you think ? Apart from that I must be mad The 210 'should' be fitted to a 6.25" - 7" rim but fitting it on this 6" hasn't ruined the profile by tucking the edges right round, (I've seen more aggresive tyre profiles than this on tyres fitted to correct rim widths) it does a bit but I can live with that. Last one.
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:27:03 GMT
Rainy end to the week did me no favours not having a garage so decided to get stuck in with the pressure washer. Firstly removed all the electrics, the GS started to give up a few of its secrets as found more than a few nasty looking connections & evidence that some had been getting a bit warm. Hanging. Covered the engine in degreaser & whilst that did it's job I started an experiment on the frame tubes. Want to end up with a bare metal finish & clear coat it but trying to avoid a blasted finished. Paint stripper, razor blade & emery gave me the finish I was after. Haven't done all the bare metal like that only the part above where the carbs would be nearest the camera. Might look better from a distance. But still hanging, least most of the grease is off but corrosion has taken its toll on the engine. Engine out & the frames ready to strip all the paint off prior to fab. Engine on the bench. Hmmm.
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:31:18 GMT
Been spending most of my spare time on PeteG's ET proj but few bits to show you. Winnings from the Evil Place. Bored out slide carbs, said to have been on a Pip Higham tuned GSThou, picture alongside stock for comparison. Looks like close or on the limit of what can be done. Is it just me, I think these 'old' carbs look lovely compared to more modern stuff. This will do nicely. Been doing a bit late in the evenings after work on frame prep, starting with the headstock removing the last bit of stock lugs. Hard work in places as this is one rusty fucker, no danger of this turning into a Classic Mechanics resto though Getting there but not fast at half hour a time Will need to play around with different grades of emery to get the finish I want, remember this will be clear coated & I don't want it (too) shiney. Going to coat it after bracing / frame mods as hoping to capture some of the heat paterning from the welds. Might not work but if the coating stops the atmosphere getting to the metal it could. Also good opportunity to visually examine the stock welds for cracks. In my opinion I would say from what I've seen so far the stock welds on this are of a better quality than were on Stevea's Kat which had some shocking pigeon shite in places.
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 17:38:13 GMT
you aint seen nothing yet, SW was just getting started. The awesomeness further in this thread is mind blowing. Anyway it takes a lot of time to copy all this stuff. I only copy SW's posts, no replies from other members. But it really helps that all the pics are in a Photobucket album.
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 19:21:13 GMT
Looks like a bitch getting that clean or paint an rust!!!! If you cant media blast it would the pressure cleaner after a coat of nitromores be easier? Using paint stripper & a razor blade, seems to works well. On the rust its a combo of emery & a few dremel tools, bit of swearing & a good sound track to get lost in
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Post by captain chaos on Aug 6, 2013 19:23:07 GMT
At last I feel that I made some proper progress on this today as opposed to a quick grind & mock something in place loosely. The first thing I have to do is fit the TLR arm into the GS frame, GS swingarm spindle is 16mm where as the TLR arm has a 25mm hollow spindle, big difference. Also you can see in the picture below that the TLR arm is beefed up on one side which hits the back of the engine casings even using the 16mm spindle (with the 25mm bore of the arm slopping about on it). With the arm as it is I can't even start to look at chain runs or where the new top shock mounts will be. So what have a done ? I decided early on the I wanted to use the 25mm spindle so the old swingarm bushes in the frame will need removing & new one making up but with the center of the spindle moved backwards so that the TLR will clear the engine casings. I worked into the small hours the other evening measuring everything & thinking up a tool to use as a jig for swapping swingarm spindles & relocating their position. Went to see Super Larry with the drawings today & he's hoping to have all the parts made by next weekend so that I will be able to get stuck into this properly I will have all the frame work done in time for the OSS party start of July but what might stop me finishing it (in time) is lack of money for the engine overhaul, have to see how things go. If I can't ride it up I'll sure as hell throw it in the back of the Chevy & take it up in that ;D Could bring the EFE proj up as well in that case
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