Topic: '75 CB400F to make pretty again..finished pics

[thirsty 1]

Nice job on the clean up it looks really nice.  That header looks great. Have you ever used the header paint before? I was thinking about doing that for mine.

[NobleHops]

Super helpful, thanks a ton for the pics and descriptions gents.

[nvr2old]

Nice job on the clean up it looks really nice.  That header looks great. Have you ever used the header paint before? I was thinking about doing that for mine.

To be honest, I'm thinking it won't look that great forever.  I've never seen exhaust paint, no matter how high the temperature rating, not discolor somewhat after awhile, although I have had pretty good luck with VHT black.  We'll see.  The stuff I used is also a VHT product, and unfortunatley I can't take a pic of the can as I used the last of it and threw it away.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice job on the clean up it looks really nice.  That header looks great. Have you ever used the header paint before? I was thinking about doing that for mine.

To be honest, I'm thinking it won't look that great forever.  I've never seen exhaust paint, no matter how high the temperature rating, not discolor somewhat after awhile, although I have had pretty good luck with VHT black.  We'll see.  The stuff I used is also a VHT product, and unfortunatley I can't take a pic of the can as I used the last of it and threw it away.

It's pricier, but ceramic powdercoat holds up and keeps its color.

[thirsty 1]

Nice job on the clean up it looks really nice.  That header looks great. Have you ever used the header paint before? I was thinking about doing that for mine.

To be honest, I'm thinking it won't look that great forever.  I've never seen exhaust paint, no matter how high the temperature rating, not discolor somewhat after awhile, although I have had pretty good luck with VHT black.  We'll see.  The stuff I used is also a VHT product, and unfortunatley I can't take a pic of the can as I used the last of it and threw it away.

It's pricier, but ceramic powdercoat holds up and keeps its color.

What's something like that go for?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I can't remember the exact breakdown, since I also had a bunch of other parts powdercoated, but I think the exhaust was about $100-125. 

[calj737]

My powder coater charges $225 for a 4 pipe header and exhaust to be coated inside and out. If you go with ceramic, make sure you shoot the inside of the pipe. It's where/what matters the most.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My powder coater charges $225 for a 4 pipe header and exhaust to be coated inside and out. If you go with ceramic, make sure you shoot the inside of the pipe. It's where/what matters the most.

My painter sent mine to Embee and they coated inside and out. Not sure if it was more ($150) but it was all priced together.

The only gripe is that the connector (pipe is 2-piece) required some removal of PC so that the pipes could fully join as well as where the header connects to the head.

[thirsty 1]

Thanks. That sounds like a more reasonable price compared to get the things re-chomed.

[nvr2old]

I wonder if just the collector could be ceramic coated.  Also curious as to whether the JB Weld would still be able to be used to fill the holes before the process..?  Hmmm.  If the header pipes on my exhaust wasn't so nice, I would've definitely considered an alternative to spray painting the bottom of the collector.  If they weren't so freakin' expensive for a reproduction or if I could find a nicer one then I have (which an "exhaustive" search has failed to produce) I would just sand blast it and paint it black which would look nice, too I think.  The stock pipes on these 400's are so nice, it's hard to mess with one too much.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I think Embee charges $175-$200 to do a single exhaust.  I think the price is cheaper when you do multiple pieces.

[thirsty 1]

I wonder if just the collector could be ceramic coated.  Also curious as to whether the JB Weld would still be able to be used to fill the holes before the process..?  Hmmm.  If the header pipes on my exhaust wasn't so nice, I would've definitely considered an alternative to spray painting the bottom of the collector.  If they weren't so freakin' expensive for a reproduction or if I could find a nicer one then I have (which an "exhaustive" search has failed to produce) I would just sand blast it and paint it black which would look nice, too I think.  The stock pipes on these 400's are so nice, it's hard to mess with one too much.

I'm not so sure about the JB weld but I have and still use this to repair cylinder blocks that have pitting in them from poor cooling system maintenance.

http://www.belzona.com/en/products/1000/1111.aspx

It's some fantastic stuff. Theres no way that collector would be in the 400f temp range. The prep work is minimal as long as the surface is clean and free from loose debris. It sticks and needs to be flapper wheeled off and then sanded to the appropriate finish.  I wouldn't see why just the collector couldn't be finished.?.

[thirsty 1]

I think Embee charges $175-$200 to do a single exhaust.  I think the price is cheaper when you do multiple pieces.

I checked for the site but it's down.

http://www.embeeperformance.com/

This one right?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I think Embee charges $175-$200 to do a single exhaust.  I think the price is cheaper when you do multiple pieces.

I checked for the site but it's down.

http://www.embeeperformance.com/

This one right?

Correct-o-mundo.  Go Hawks!

[nvr2old]

 Had to work 6 days this week, so I only had today to mess around on the 400. I did get the right side cover repaired, though, and that's a good step in the right direction.

These side covers are so easy to take on and off..I don't know how these get broken so badly.. Sorry 'bout the crappy quality of the pic.





Love the guerrilla tape holding it together..it did it's job pretty well.



V'd all the breaks out with a Dremel tool, then applied 2-part epoxy. This is basically the identical material the cover is made of so it works really well.



A little sanding with 40 grit to get it shaped..



I also filled the inset on the side cover. You can see the outline. For the life of me I don't know why Honda had it that way, so I filled it in and reshaped it.



Repaired the back, too. I don't want it to look like it's been repaired on either side. Epoxied the cracks then put a skim coat of plastic filler over it.



Applied a skim coat over the outside repairs and sanded and shaped it. Not bad.



Light coat of primer to see what it looks like. I'm pretty satisfied.





It'll need to be primed and block sanded a couple of times, then it should look like it's never been repaired. On to the front fender..



_____________

[MoMo]

Nice work on the covers, they are available from, I think, Z1 Enterprises for something like 80 with shipping included. I bought a set a year or so ago, decent quality....Larry

[nvr2old]

Nice work on the covers, they are available from, I think, Z1 Enterprises for something like 80 with shipping included. I bought a set a year or so ago, decent quality....Larry

Thanks, Larry.  David Silver have them for $53, also.  I'm on a real tight budget with this bike and have more time then money.  I'm trying to get it finished for $2,000 including the price of the bike, and I'm lookin' good at this point.  Fixing these parts is as much therapy for me as anything.  It's just a nice way to spend a few hours of solitude out in the garage.

[MoMo]

$2000 including your 200 hours of time .   I have been very fortunate with all the 400 fours I bought in that the most I ever paid was 600, usually don't have much more than 500 into them in parts when I'm finished.  Sell for 2500 when done, subtract all my time and I'm in the hole when I sell .  But it is therapy....Larry

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sun and age makes those covers brittle.  Really great repair job!

[Just4fun]

you have serious skills, fun to watching your project


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[nvr2old]

you have serious skills, fun to watching your project


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Thanks very much.  It comes from many years of not having the money to buy new parts..    Actually, though, I enjoy refinishing parts.  It's a challenge to make them look as good or in some cases better then the factory did.  Wait till you see the final paint..

[nvr2old]

Got the front fender done and ready for primer. Of course the speedometer cable guide was on the wrong side so it had to switched to the other side. It had a shoulder around the guide..



I ground it off and patched the hole.



Also filled the unnecessary original mounting holes.





A little plastic filler and it's good to go.







I used the brake line holder from this fender but had to re-shape it to work with this setup..doesn't look too bad.

I'll definitely find a nice button cap fastener for it.



Had to see what it looked like mounted.





Cool. Throw it on the ready for primer pile and move on to the tail section..



__________________

[Mugen_Stumpo]

i like it

[Stev-o]

i like it

+1

[nvr2old]

Finally got some progress on the 400. Hard to tell in the pics, but this was a ton of work to get the tail to this point. Strengthened up the seat pan with a few more layers of glass, and I filled the shoulder where the Ducati seat snapped on around the hump.



I also got the "ears" made to mount it in the back. It covers the frame ends and gives a place for the turn signals to mount.

The stock seat hinges will have blisters over them, hopefully the next update will include those when it comes down to the finish work.



Finally got my tail light from China. It took 6 weeks.. Cut the opening.



Also sprung for some new gas shocks. Love these babies.



These have beefier springs, so of course they interfered with the stock chain guard. I made another one out of some aluminum stock. Simple, but I like it.







Doesn't look much like a 400F from the rear anymore..



The light fits this tail beautifully.



On to the finish work. All the 'glass work is done and roughed in. The tank will be a breeze. I'm doing that last. Should have all the body work done and ready for primer in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the continued interest.