'79 xs400 "The Next Build"

[w00dst0ck]

Intro: I build cool shit, & my inspiration is usually beer I usually build everything by hand, because I'm cheap and it's what makes building bikes/cars fun. I usually sell everything when I'm done building it too Still have everything except the Honda right now.

'79 Kz650 Bobber. Stretched 5". Reworked frame. Hand made seat (to include the leather work). Battery box etc..

'73 Cb350 Cafe - Hand made seat/hump, all wiring hidden inside. Electric ignition.

'31 Model A - It would literally take me all day to list what is done to it

And my just finished '89 Volvo 245 - LSX/6 speed. About a 7 month build. I think it might be the first in the world (the few others are 2 doors &/or automatics). 100% built by myself and some buddies

Anyway, Picked this xs400 up this morning. The guy I bought it from poured a bunch of time and money into it, but was in over his head. Needless to say I got a really good deal on the bike. Complete, was running when he pulled it apart. 3k original miles. Has probably twice what I paid in brand new cafe parts from DCC. Unloaded it and about 5 mins later I started welding on the rear hoop it came with.

Will be making progress pretty quick with this one. Going to pull the motor out and have the frame powdercoated once I finish welding on the new shock mounts. I'm even tossing around the idea of a mono shock. Need to play with some ideas in the next few days.

 

[drewpy]

cool shit there

check out the milvin mods bike with the mono shock under the engine. like to see that again

 

[volcomskater77]

damn your on the right track. your model a is similar to what I would like on day, with less Z, channel and keep the trunk. im drooling over your top, is that a 2 inch chop? always liked a little more metal before the turn in the window frames unlike the guys doin the 6 inch chop where the C pillar just look like a C lol. ill be following this, if its anything like your last 2 builds were in for a treat.

 

[w00dst0ck]

damn your on the right track. your model a is similar to what I would like on day, with less Z, channel and keep the trunk. im drooling over your top, is that a 2 inch chop? always liked a little more metal before the turn in the window frames unlike the guys doin the 6 inch chop where the C pillar just look like a C lol. ill be following this, if its anything like your last 2 builds were in for a treat.

It was originally a 4 door sedan, so it never had a trunk. I wish it did, I love the coupe's. It's a 1965 .40 327 with dual 4160 Holley's, and a big cam. Had a metal roof on it, I just cut it off last spring. Rebuilding the cage inside, then it will get a snap on canvas top.


I still need the go through the xs400 and lay everything out. Unfortunately my small shop is a mess right now with another lsx build about to start. Anyway, I've been working around the house all day since it's nice. I'll probably work on the bike a little more tonight, and most of tomorrow. Once I get started, It's really hard for me to stop working lol.

One more of the Volvo. I bought it last year to DD. Fell in love with it and had a built 5.3 on a stand in my garage. One day I pulled out the measuring tape, a few days later I drove it home and within a few hours we had the old drivetrain out and the new motor in.

 

[w00dst0ck]

Finished burning on the rear hoop. Cut off all the side cover tabs. These side covers are probably the nicest I have ever seen.

Anyway, grabbed a mono shock out of the pile to see what it would look like. The one I will end up using if I do this is off a gsxr750, just grabbed this one for mock up. I know it's been done before, I love the look and design. The PO cut off the factory upper shock mounts, so either way I need to weld some new ones on. Just trying to decide if I should do the factory setup, or build some mounts for a mono setup under the seat?

What it would look like, the shock would end up angled slightly towards the front.

Also cut the front fender to make a little stubby. Need to finish grinding on it tomorrow. Ideally, I want it to hug the tire a little more, so I'll probably plug and re-drill the mount holes.

 

[willem]

awesome!

Especially that '31 Model A is amazing

curious about how the XS is goin to pan out, keep us posted

 

[xschris]

Looks good so far

 

[Vigo The Carpathian]

Terrific so far. From the looks of it, it seems you don't waste any time with your builds. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

 

[w00dst0ck]

Messed around with a pile of newer mono shocks yesterday and there just isn't room to do what I want due to most of them having an adjustable damper cylinder. So, I'm going to run the stock dual shocks under the seat. Should be a lot less headache, as they are already the correct spring rate etc.. Picked up the tubing today to start the bracing. Need to get it bent tomorrow then I can start mocking them up.

 

[w00dst0ck]

So I spent most of an entire day playing around with a pile of mono shocks and the welder. Granted, I wasn't using any sort of linkage, but the few ways I would have liked to run one would take a while to build. I want to get this thing on the road, so I just burned on some shock mounts near the factory location.

Also, some speed hole love. I prefer spoke wheels any day, but having front and rear discs will be nice. Makes mag wheels look killer.

Ground down all the factory tabs on the swingarm, including the ugly factory welds on the U shaped gusset.

Waiting on some parts, going to finish welding then I'll powdercoat the frame. Not 100% sure on my seat plan yet.

 

[volcomskater77]

nice. I was thinging about doing the same thing for shock mounts on my 125, what size/wall thickness square tubing did you use?

 

[w00dst0ck]

They are universal shock mounts from DCC. Came with the bike. Looks like 1/4" to me.

 

[w00dst0ck]

And some more speed holes! Turned out great, I didn't measure anything. Just put the holes where I wanted and drilled. Rotated with 3 different cordless drills because I didn't feel like lifting it up to my drills press.

 

[w00dst0ck]

Burned on the other shock mount yesterday evening. Now I'm wondering if my hoop is too far back (too long)? I started making the actual seat portion of it yesterday. But I think I'm going to make it out of thin sheet metal instead of this wood.

 

[bcware]

FYI the gap on the plates holding the front axle on should face rearward (opposite how they are in this photo).

 

[w00dst0ck]

FYI the gap on the plates holding the front axle on should face rearward (opposite how they are in this photo).

Yeah, I just mounted it quickly to roll it around. Still has to come back off to get painted/balanced.

 

[Exposed]

on this bike here what did you end up doing with the chain? I'm looking to do something similar except I only want to extend it a couple inches in terms of a new chain where would I get one and how would I know what size to get?