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

[NobleHops]

This is an excellent project - so much hand craftsmanship and the unique parts really set it apart. Have enjoyed following this, appreciate you posting and educating us how you went about things.

[nvr2old]

Thanks very much, I feel the same way about yours.  It's been fun watching the progress and comparing the similarities and differences in what will be two very nice 400F's when they're done.

[thirsty 1]

Nice job !!

[tweakin]

Looks great Larry!  Did you make the chain guard?

[nvr2old]

Looks great Larry!  Did you make the chain guard?

Yeah.  It only took a couple of hrs. of cutting, bending, drilling, sanding and polishing.  1" aluminum stock from Home Depot.. 

[Stev-o]

Looks great Larry!  Did you make the chain guard?

Yeah.  It only took a couple of hrs. of cutting, bending, drilling, sanding and polishing.  1" aluminum stock from Home Depot.. 

Great job on that.  Really like how the the tail light fits in the seat back, truly custom. 
Looking forward to seeing the meticulous paint!

[nvr2old]

Thanks Stev-o.  Painting these parts is what I'm looking forward to, also.  I'm thinking maybe I'll go with a pseudo CBX stripe to go with the stock Varnish Blue.  Black stripe on the raised portion of the top of the tank bordered with 1/8" gold and red pin stripes to match the tank and side cover decals.  I'm thinking of carrying that stripe onto the top of tail and front fender, too...we'll see.  I don't want to stray too far away from the stock paint job too much.  I really want this bike to look like a "what if Honda had made an "R" version of one of these" kinda thing.

[Stev-o]

Love the Varnish Blue on the 400F's. Any problem matching that color?

FYI - Dirtbike Don is selling Honda paint kits again.

[nvr2old]

Already have the paint, but thanks for the tip.  Should be a perfect match.  I really like the blue, too.

[nvr2old]

Spent another Sunday in the garage locked away for 8 hrs... I wanted to get this tail section finished and ready for primer next weekend.

A ton of itchy, tedious sanding..but the results are always worth the effort. I changed the stock lines from this Ducati tail a bit. It swoops a little more now.





It would have been so much easier to cut the stock factory seat hinges off, but I really want to leave them on, so these blisters are a necessary evil. They won't show much after the seat is on. I kinda like the curves, though..



I reinforced the 'glass inside along all the edges. It's hell for strong now.





Tail light looks killer..





All of the edges have been rolled and sanded smooth.



I'm really liking the look of this tail section..






On to the gas tank. Pull a few dents, smooth out a couple of dings..should be the easiest part of all.

[Just4fun]

Larry,

Your attention to detail is awesome.  Looking at the seat and knowing the quality of paint you spray, how do you protect the paint and fiberglass when you bolt through. 

Many fiberglass seats I have seen have cracking at the mount points.  I know you have reinforced your seat to eliminate that problem.  I always wondered the right way to mount through a seat like yours to protect the paint because weight on the seat puts pressure on the threads, do you use a rubber grommet or ? to protect the seat?

Thanks


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[nvr2old]

Larry,

Your attention to detail is awesome.  Looking at the seat and knowing the quality of paint you spray, how do you protect the paint and fiberglass when you bolt through. 

Many fiberglass seats I have seen have cracking at the mount points.  I know you have reinforced your seat to eliminate that problem.  I always wondered the right way to mount through a seat like yours to protect the paint because weight on the seat puts pressure on the threads, do you use a rubber grommet or ? to protect the seat?

Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

You're absolutely correct about the cracking around mounting points.  That's the reason I made sure those areas were reinforced especially at the rear mounts and the seat pan.  I also made the mounting holes just the size of the bolts I'll use so the tail doesn't move.  Moving around, flexing, and thin fiberglass is what makes them crack.  This one is solid as a rock at every mounting point and it sits right on the frame under the seat pan.  I'll probably use a thin rubber strip (strips of inner tube, possibly) under the seat pan where it sits on the frame, and rubber washer and a metal washer between the rear mounting points just to cushion it against the new paint when it's tightened up.

[nvr2old]

This will probably be the last update for awhile until I can get going on the paint. All the body work is done, parts are just about ready for primer. Just a little more hand sanding to do.

I learned long ago never to throw anything away that looks like a bracket. I don't even know what this came off. I had two of them and was digging around for something to make a license plate hanger out of and came across them in a box-o-stuff.



With a little bending, a couple of holes drilled in the back of the tail light housing to connect them, and a piece of 1" aluminum strap..viola..



Wished it was a 1/4" longer, but it should work. Clean, simple.



Got the tail light mounted and the turn signals, too. Had to recess the turn signal posts into the fiberglass to get them to sit 90 degrees to the frame. Deeper on the front end, otherwise they were bent in and looked weird.





Pulled the dents from the front of the tank until they were just a little low and skim coated them with filler. Fixed a few dings here and there and it's ready to prime. Still need to sand the underside by hand.





Got some cheapo bar ends off eBay. They actually work pretty well after "modifying them" so they'd spread open enough inside the bars to tighten down..






Overall I'm pretty happy with the results. Can't WAIT to paint it. This next week I'm gonna focus on the seat.

[tweakin]

That looks great Larry!  Excellent work as usual.

[nvr2old]

Thanks, tweakin..gettin' close...  Should be done by the end of next month if all goes according to plan.

[grcamna2]

Nice prep work on the tank nvr2old.

[nvr2old]

Nice prep work on the tank nvr2old.

Appreciate the compliment.  It took a really hard whack to that side of the tank.  The dents were the perfect outline of the fork tube and the triple clamp.  Must've broken the fork stops, but someone did a nice repair.  It's not a problem now.  The tank was fun to do.  It's nice and straight now.

[nvr2old]

Not a ton-o-progress, but I did get everything primed today. It gives me a better idea of how all the parts work together. Wasn't sure how the newer front fender and the Ducati tail would really look with the stock tank and side covers until it's all one color.





I'm thinking the tail looks to droop a bit, so I'm hoping I'll be able to visually correct that with the paint scheme I have in mind..we'll see..



I'm pretty stoked about the tail section overall though. It hasn't even been block sanded yet and it's looking nice and straight already..



Just sprayed them a few hours ago, so I'll let them cure for a few days then start on them with some block sanding. One more prime, then they'll be ready for color. Can't wait..

[Stev-o]

Looks good!

[RainsongCB750F]

This is a beautiful build. I can't wait to see it complete. Keep up the good work

Sam

[nvr2old]

Thanks, guys.  I'm anxious to get it done, too.  The paint should really bring it all together. 

[grcamna2]

Nice Work  Did you ever do body work as a profession ?

[nvr2old]

Yeah, I did, check the link at the bottom of my post..thanks for the interest.

[grcamna2]

Nice Work  Did you ever do body work as a profession ?

Larry,
I looked at that link and after reading this thread I have to agree that "prep is everything" 

[nvr2old]

Nice Work  Did you ever do body work as a profession ?

Larry,
I looked at that link and after reading this thread I have to agree that "prep is everything" 

You're absolutely correct.  The paint shows off the prep work.  If it's done right, it can look spectacular.  If the prep sucks, no amount of shine or pretty color can hide it.