My XJ on crutches!!???

[DGXSER]

Great progress. The frame looks very nice!!

[Cobia]

Thanks Don,
The 'glossy' paint isn't as glossy as I wanted. I really was looking for a marked difference between the engine and the frame but it's not so dramatic. Thought about wet sanding it and giving it another coat but at this time it's close to becoming a chore and and I don't want it to become a drag. The way I figure it, I staved off further deterioration, and it will probably outlast me. Besides, I certainly won't be hanging my head when I ride it around.
Thanks for the encouragement.

I may still have a surprise up my sleeve, the tank and side covers are burgundy with gold pinstriping.
[IMG][/IMG]
This pic is of when I brough it home before cleaning it and getting it running.
Where I'm going with this is that Duplicolor has a very high temp metallic gold paint (and another metallic gold/copper) color that may work for the exhaust!!!! Imagine that, gold header pipes!!
And also considering painting the fork lowers black as well. I also have a set of gold rims off an MNS that a member was kind enough to give me, But I kind of like the unique swirly spokes on the J, kind of unique in my book. Decisions, decisions!!!

[bikerphil]

The frame looks great, thx for the pics, not to late to build an elusive Midnite Maxim 11 .

[DGXSER]

IF you can find and trade for them, the 81 MNS had the same swirly wheels as your XJ. JAT

[trdriver71]

the white death is here already. Expecting 4 inches of it by morning and had winds gusting to 35 mph today.

I know the feeling got a few inches here now too.

[Cobia]

Well, we had a few inches of rain which kept me from doing any more painting. Yet, I managed to prep and paint the swingarm, final drive, caliper and bracket, rear pegs bracket (perch), etc. All with the intention that when reassembly begins I (we) can not only re-install the engine but also the rear drivetrain in one day. Wish me luck!!!
Pics of the painted parts are coming... bear with.
Phil - You know that this XJ came with a gold trim package, so I'll be using as many of the gold farckles as possible. I guess you can call it my Q&D interpretation of the Maxim MNS. All black engine in semi-gloss and gloss frame with a detail in gold here and there. We'll see how it turns out. Still looking for a robust gold paint that doesn't have to be coated with a clear coat afterward.

[bikerphil]

Let me know if/when you need me to help with the motor/drivetrain installation.

[Cobia]

Further Progress

Thanks to Bikerphil, who has forgotten more than I know about these bikes, on Saturday we were able to mate the engine and the frame. And installed the swingarm and almost installed the FD (more about tha later).
Anyway, this is what we started with:

[IMG][/IMG]

Then we layed the engine over on its right side, on a blanket, and blocked it up with pieces of 2X4 so it was parallel with the ground, basically level. Then we wrapped newspaper around every frame segment that could come in contact with the engine and get scratched in the process.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Then we turned the frame on its side, lowered it over the engine, and fitted it so we could install the lower motor mount bolts. This allowed us to turn the whole assembly upright as a unit. Of course, you need to treat the top of the engine as a seperate unit when you flip it upright.
So, this is what we ended up with after installing the swingarm and the....
well....

[IMG][/IMG]

When it came time to install the FD I couldn't find the spring that lives between the FD and the driveshaft. When I dismantled it I remember the spring falling out and making sure that I stored it properly for when re-assembly came around. 1hr of looking sent us on a wild goose chase to find one...... to no avail - at least we got a bit of a ride in, Phil!! - we then had lunch, secured the bike to the bike lift, and we started installing stuff like the shift lever and such.
Not an hour after Phil left I went into the ziplock that held the swingarm bolt covers so could put them back in, and guess what was sandwiched between them....!?!?!? The fu**ing driveshaft spring!!! I guess that's better than having to go scrounging for one.
So that's where I'm at with this. Haven't been able to paint any more because our temps have dipped into the upper 30's the past couple of nights, and not broken 60 during the day.
Need to clean/sandblast and/or paint the rear mc, shock absorbers, etc. so I can get the rear end finished.
I'll keep you posted as time permits.
The main color scheme is gold on black with a burgundy tank and side covers.

[Cobia]

In the last pic check out Phil's F and my G in the background.

[natemoen]

And the palm beach cop!

[Cobia]

That's my neighbor, a Palm Beach Gardens cop, swat team member too.

[Wildkat]

That is going to be a thing of beauty!

as for the spring... that kind of thing never happens to me.

lol

[DGXSER]

Look at it this way, at least the spring was in the last place you looked for it. I really wonder about folks who don't stop there.

I swa that cop car and figured it was one of those swanky neighborhoods where the cops come looking if two guys on bikes gether in one spot.

[justme1100]

Boy it looks nice, the bike too. I now need to repair my garage furnace, it is 10 deg. here today, so I may start my rebuild. And on a side note, BADGERS RULE!!! and on to the ROSE BOWL!!! GO BUCKY!

[bikerphil]

Cobia, If you still need that front upper motor mount bolt, I got one. You sure it wasn't hiding with the spring?