BLUF: Is there a fiche type site for vintage bikes with the detail/resolution to identify parts? Are used OEM parts for these bikes (mainly gas tank, exhaust, misc brackets, airboxes, light, gauges, etc.) all that sought after? Is it worth my cleaning these things up and posting for sale to offset the costs (I know I won't get much, basically some of the key items that I got with the bike are for a different model).
Okay, folks I can't thank you enough for the responses - and I am sorry for the radio silence. I commute about 200 miles a day for my work and while it is my choice, I am starting to question the value of working for the fed.
More importantly I am sorry for taking a picture like that and posting it so it is so tough damn tough to view.
With the motor in, I had hope that I might get this thing together for a trip to Jennings in in mid February. Unfortunately, I have to be realistic and realize that it'll probably be closer to May before I can get it to a trackday for a test and then get to a few local WERA events to flush it out in a race scenario.
First things first, I'm ordered the Dyna ignition, I know that there are a lot of options, but that seems the most reliable. The plan is to have the motor running (if it will run) over the next two weekends. That seems like a critical path item so I want to see if the motor is solid. I've also found that a few key parts that came with the bike appear to be CB550/750 parts. For example the pipes and tank appear to be from another model. The pipes because they are marked CB550 and the tank because the petcock and mounting tabs do not appear to be the CB350 stock based on parts available from places like DimeCity, David Silver, and Common-Motor. Not sure if you guys use these three places but they seem solid to me.
I can make the two sets of pipes work for the initial firing but I'll likely pick up a set of the Mac 4 into 1. How likely is it that I can sell the pipes and tank to use to offset the cost of replacements? For instance is there a wiki type reference site where I can take a good look at the tank mounting latch (where the rubber mounts) to see if there is really a difference between what I have and what I need - maybe I received the wrong rubber mount)? I am using the type of petcock as the initial indicator that i have the wrong tank. That all said, the tank I have is in pretty good shape, I've cleaned it up and I'd use it if the suggestion is that year/model doesn't really matter. Bottom line, for me, on a race bike, I'll put a bolt through the tank tab so the mounting rubber is sort of a moot point. As mentioned earlier I'm struggling with this almost romance with these old machines and I feel bad about cutting, modifying, and taking away from the original. I've got buddies that are getting me out of that though.
Based on the advice above I am going to do flat stock braces with a tube braced through to hold a simple bracket for rear-sets in place of the saddles - while I like to kid myself, I don't have a machine shop and have to make do with the basics. This isn't critical path yet though so I just wanted to let you guys know that i am paying attention to the advice.
