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Hey guys and gals,
As I have been eluding to in my posts, I was tasked at XSSE 2015 by Brent Hoovestol to get Godzilla back in shape. Here's the back story....in case you're bored and want something to read!
I bought him in '83 from a fellow sailor while stationed in Japan, he had bought it 2 years earlier, it's an 81SH, but never registered it, just parked it on base and fired it up once a month and rode it around the yard a bit. After 2 years, he's ready to transfer back to the states, but has 2 kids, wife, and he wasn't a very big guy, was used to his Honda 500, thought he'd hurt/kill himself back in the USA, so he sold it to me for the same price he paid, ~$3,200, it had 17 miles on it! I brought it back to the USA....funny how it was MADE in the USA, then shipped to JAPAN for the Navy Exchange system, and then got shipped back to the USA!
I rode it for some 8 years, '84 to '92 until the 1st and 2nd gear malady reared it's ugly head. The Odometer broke at ~900 miles, just kept using the tripometer for fuel refills. Due to my ignorance I dumped the OEM exhausts for a black Mac 4-1 system trying to get more performance and sound. Fell on hard financial times shortly after getting out of the Navy in '86, car broke badly, no $$ to fix, had to ride/commute for work on the bike 70 miles a day 365 for 1.5 years. The first month I got into a cage encounter that destroyed the front end/forks and such, and that's when I put the 4" longer front forks on it wanting a little more of a chopper style. Unbeknownst to me, the frame got bent directly back at the steering neck, so it reduced the trail from 6" to 2", really quickened/lightened up the steering. I attributed it to the longer forks....again my ignorance showing...and the dealer bike shop that performed the repairs also didn't notice the frame bend! As stated, rode it for 8 years till it broke. Parked it, covered it with tarp...no garage.
Sat outside for 8 years, rusted, corroded, rotted.
Finally got back on financial feet, new house with garage, and then my father passed in 2000, kinda hit me that life is indeed too short. So...threw the bike in the garage and with SWMBO's blessing went to rebuild it. Cylinders had gotten rusted and so that's why I did the 1179 Wiseco Big Bore job, but did the rest myself, including engine tear down, rebuild, new forks, seat, bars, tires, paint, etc. Dropped about $2500 into it but got it road worthy in 2001, just rode locally that first year to get used to riding again after being off for 8 years. The next I started attending XS11.com Rallies along the east coast. Rode the bike the first few years, but with advancing age and back/neck surgeries, and the worrysome wife, I built a single trailer to allow to continue attending the Rallies and not be so wore out just getting to them, as well as my yearly trek from SE Va. all the way to Enterprise, Ala. to visit my mom, and then back up to Northern Ga. for the XSSE event.
I've done a variety of other MODS in the past 16 years, ie. XJ tank, homebuilt forward controls, diamond plate saddle bags/trunk, Spin-On Oil Filter Adapter, HID headlight Mod, LED light conversion, custom paint job, Automotive mini race ALT mod, Digital/electronic speedo/tach cluster, dual piston caliper front brake mod, DynaTek Coils, manual CCT mod. But he's now looking quite worn and in need of a good refreshing. Couldn't do it during this past winter, no spare money and garage isn't climate controlled. Just received a decent Bonu$ for 30 years at work, so I've started accumulating the parts needed for this re-rebuld.
Here's the "SHORT" list of what I plan on doing over the next few months hoping to be done in time for XSSE 2016. This list is open to amendment !
1.) Swap bent frame for good one, swap wire harness/check/clean
2.) Weld additional braces to strengthen/stiffen frame, paint.
3.) Replace engine mounts with Polyurethane
4.) Replace cam chain, check/set valve clearances
5.) Replace leaking crankshaft seals
6.) Freshen up engine appearance/clean/polish/paint/new SS bolts.
7.) Replace Steering head bearings/races in new frame
8.) Mod swingarm to allow more room for the 140/90-16 tires I like to run without rubbing
9.) Replace front and rear wheel bearings/seals
10.) Freshen up wheels, polish/paint, and replace valve stems
11.) Redesign or remove forward controls
12.) Replace driver foot pegs with XV1100 type
13.) Repaint tank/fenders/side covers.
14.) Install new aftermarket petcocks/adapter plates.
15.) Replace old carb intake mounts/new oval filters
16.) Install Barnett clutch springs/remove extra steel plate
17.) Rebuild rear MC/Caliper, new pads
18.) Recondition handlebar switches/replace clutch/throttle cables
19.) Mount New Single seat, reposition saddlebags/trunk not so rearward.
20.) Replace HID headlight with LED type/add LED aux DRL lighting
21.) Replace Mirrors, clutch/brake levers, rubber covers
22.) Possibly build/add 2nd fork brace to upper tubes
23.) Possibly build new exhaust system?
Have already ordered some $300.00 worth of parts, more to acquire. Cleaned out space in the garage to allow room to work.
Photos and updates to follow as I progress.
T.C.
As I have been eluding to in my posts, I was tasked at XSSE 2015 by Brent Hoovestol to get Godzilla back in shape. Here's the back story....in case you're bored and want something to read!
I bought him in '83 from a fellow sailor while stationed in Japan, he had bought it 2 years earlier, it's an 81SH, but never registered it, just parked it on base and fired it up once a month and rode it around the yard a bit. After 2 years, he's ready to transfer back to the states, but has 2 kids, wife, and he wasn't a very big guy, was used to his Honda 500, thought he'd hurt/kill himself back in the USA, so he sold it to me for the same price he paid, ~$3,200, it had 17 miles on it! I brought it back to the USA....funny how it was MADE in the USA, then shipped to JAPAN for the Navy Exchange system, and then got shipped back to the USA!
I rode it for some 8 years, '84 to '92 until the 1st and 2nd gear malady reared it's ugly head. The Odometer broke at ~900 miles, just kept using the tripometer for fuel refills. Due to my ignorance I dumped the OEM exhausts for a black Mac 4-1 system trying to get more performance and sound. Fell on hard financial times shortly after getting out of the Navy in '86, car broke badly, no $$ to fix, had to ride/commute for work on the bike 70 miles a day 365 for 1.5 years. The first month I got into a cage encounter that destroyed the front end/forks and such, and that's when I put the 4" longer front forks on it wanting a little more of a chopper style. Unbeknownst to me, the frame got bent directly back at the steering neck, so it reduced the trail from 6" to 2", really quickened/lightened up the steering. I attributed it to the longer forks....again my ignorance showing...and the dealer bike shop that performed the repairs also didn't notice the frame bend! As stated, rode it for 8 years till it broke. Parked it, covered it with tarp...no garage.
Sat outside for 8 years, rusted, corroded, rotted. Finally got back on financial feet, new house with garage, and then my father passed in 2000, kinda hit me that life is indeed too short. So...threw the bike in the garage and with SWMBO's blessing went to rebuild it. Cylinders had gotten rusted and so that's why I did the 1179 Wiseco Big Bore job, but did the rest myself, including engine tear down, rebuild, new forks, seat, bars, tires, paint, etc. Dropped about $2500 into it but got it road worthy in 2001, just rode locally that first year to get used to riding again after being off for 8 years. The next I started attending XS11.com Rallies along the east coast. Rode the bike the first few years, but with advancing age and back/neck surgeries, and the worrysome wife, I built a single trailer to allow to continue attending the Rallies and not be so wore out just getting to them, as well as my yearly trek from SE Va. all the way to Enterprise, Ala. to visit my mom, and then back up to Northern Ga. for the XSSE event.
I've done a variety of other MODS in the past 16 years, ie. XJ tank, homebuilt forward controls, diamond plate saddle bags/trunk, Spin-On Oil Filter Adapter, HID headlight Mod, LED light conversion, custom paint job, Automotive mini race ALT mod, Digital/electronic speedo/tach cluster, dual piston caliper front brake mod, DynaTek Coils, manual CCT mod. But he's now looking quite worn and in need of a good refreshing. Couldn't do it during this past winter, no spare money and garage isn't climate controlled. Just received a decent Bonu$ for 30 years at work, so I've started accumulating the parts needed for this re-rebuld.
Here's the "SHORT" list of what I plan on doing over the next few months hoping to be done in time for XSSE 2016. This list is open to amendment !
1.) Swap bent frame for good one, swap wire harness/check/clean
2.) Weld additional braces to strengthen/stiffen frame, paint.
3.) Replace engine mounts with Polyurethane
4.) Replace cam chain, check/set valve clearances
5.) Replace leaking crankshaft seals
6.) Freshen up engine appearance/clean/polish/paint/new SS bolts.
7.) Replace Steering head bearings/races in new frame
8.) Mod swingarm to allow more room for the 140/90-16 tires I like to run without rubbing
9.) Replace front and rear wheel bearings/seals
10.) Freshen up wheels, polish/paint, and replace valve stems
11.) Redesign or remove forward controls
12.) Replace driver foot pegs with XV1100 type
13.) Repaint tank/fenders/side covers.
14.) Install new aftermarket petcocks/adapter plates.
15.) Replace old carb intake mounts/new oval filters
16.) Install Barnett clutch springs/remove extra steel plate
17.) Rebuild rear MC/Caliper, new pads
18.) Recondition handlebar switches/replace clutch/throttle cables
19.) Mount New Single seat, reposition saddlebags/trunk not so rearward.
20.) Replace HID headlight with LED type/add LED aux DRL lighting
21.) Replace Mirrors, clutch/brake levers, rubber covers
22.) Possibly build/add 2nd fork brace to upper tubes
23.) Possibly build new exhaust system?
Have already ordered some $300.00 worth of parts, more to acquire. Cleaned out space in the garage to allow room to work.
Photos and updates to follow as I progress.
T.C.
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