Frankenbikes?

[exquized1]

Ok So now that I have 3 bikes 2 w/titles. How do I go about combining a 79 titled special with an 81 special. I have been out in the garage for 2 days now and have got almost nowhere. Tried to take the rear fender and grab bar from the 81 and add them to the 79 but nothing is even close. Man I wished I had some mechanical skills any what so ever would be nice. the 81 was almost complete but the 79 is missing a whole bunch of parts. Between the two I should have all the parts to get one running. maybe I should cut the neck off of the 79 and weld it to the 81 frame ( ok maybe not no skill there either) Help I'm at wits end.

[CatatonicBug]

The '79 is really bad choice to try to combine with other years. It is very unique in a lot of aspects.

[DGXSER]

If the 81 is so close to complete, what is missing or wrong with it? The front ends of the two should be the same IIRC. The seat/grab bar areas and the side covers are all different on the 79 model from the 80 or 81 models (those two are very similar).

More detail of whats right and wrong with each would be helpful to figure out your best path to a complete bike.

[exquized1]

Ok the 81 special John bought from a guy down the road from me. All he wanted off the bike was the speghetti pipes. It was missing a few key items like the gas tank, carbs, and now exhaust and no title or key. That was 2 years ago. During one rally I was hosting Brent rode his special up from georgia and broke down on the way. So we harvested the u-joint and boot off the 81. This past year Dan's clutch lever broke so thats gone too. But no big deal. I picked up a xj tank from a member in Fl. The Carbs I got from Timman, and the exhaust I got from Dan.

The 79 I bought in Chicago for 50 dollars it has a clear title but almost everything that could be sold was. Missing tank, seat, all gauges, headlight and bucket, Tci box, rear fender, carbs, break lines, not sure what else but thats what I found so far.

It would be easier to get the 81 together but in Il getting a title for the 81 is almost impossible. The old owner of the 81 is a county cop but is not willing to help me out. He said he sold it as a parts bike and thats all.

[exquized1]

here is the 2 pics



The 81 special



79 special

[DGXSER]

OK, here is my best recollection of what will swap.

formt he 81

the gas tank, carbs, and now exhaust

Should direct swap.

we harvested the u-joint and boot off the 81.

Should direct swap

Dan's clutch lever broke so thats gone too.

Should direct swap.

I picked up a xj tank from a member in Fl.

Can be made to fit but takes some work and modifications.

The Carbs I got from Timman, and the exhaust I got from Dan.

direct swap out from any year as long as the exhaust is for a special as well.

The 79 I bought in Chicago for 50 dollars it has a clear title but almost everything that could be sold was. Missing tank,

Direct swap, but again the XJ tank will take some work

seat

is not a direct swap, I think some say they can be made to work but you should be able to find a swap though,

all gauges, headlight and bucket,

Should be a direct swap

Tci box,

Can be swapped but also need to switch out the timing setup from the 81 as the 81 had no mech advance they built it into the TCI. The pichup coils can stay but you the rest of it needs to swap out.

rear fender

will not swap, different mounting of rear tail light and such. Should be able to find an 79 rear fender and lights and all. Try listing on parts wanted. this is one of those things the bobber guys tend to toss off first thing so maybe there are a few available.

carbs, break lines,[

Should be a direct swap IIRC.

It would be easier to get the 81 together but in Il getting a title for the 81 is almost impossible.

Understood. Hope this description helps you out some.

[Ivan]

There is a title service from Maine that will register your bike and send you plates for a year. Then you can register it in your home state next year. I think it costs $150. A friend at work uses it a bunch.

[jetmechmarty]

Move to Georgia. Then, you won't need no steenkin' title!

[exquized1]

Ok so here is the plan. I'm going to rebuild the 81 and look for a way to get a clear title. Than I will start looking for all the parts for the 79. I know this is a big dollar project but in the end I will have 3 titled Xs specials. Maybe out of 3 I can have 1 running at all times. (well thats the plan)

[DGXSER]

If it were me, I'd go through the title issue first.