I've got a few posts on the subject (VJMC Meet, etc.) before returning to build thread type entries.
I've got a sheet typed up with most of the mods and the suppliers. The problem with such a sheet is that its hard to give greater weight to one supplier over another. I'll take this chance to do so.
Mike Rieck (MRieck) (I think he still reads this thread) was instrumental in getting this project back on the tracks. I had all the top end parts done years ago by a machinist who came highly recommended (even Big Jay knew and approved of him) But the parts sat on the shelf for years, collecting surface rust on the sleeves, etc. Also, the machinist wasn't actually a CB750 guy, and was taking his cues from me. Things like guides, guide seals, materials, valves etc, he let me choose. Then he died.
So by the time I got it nailed together, there were lots of potential weak spots. Sure enough, it leaked and rattled and smoked like an insect fogger. I was sick.
After reading about Mike's exploits for years here, I decided to turn the whole top end over to him. He re sleeved it, bored and honed, reported the head, opening it up here and there more so than already, installed guides, seals, valves of his liking, 1.5mm oversize, cleaned and painted, and shipped it all back safe and sound. Then came my barrage of followup assembly questions which he fielded.
It passed the preliminary tests, starting in the shop, little smoke, no unexplained leaks, all cinched up in time. But in total, about 2.5 miles and 20 minutes run time.
So we load it up to go to VJMC in Spring Mill Park. Not much proving necessary, it just has to sit and look pretty. Till some wiseacre wants to hear it run. I give him my excuses: hey this things not very impressive. The pipe makes it real quiet, and it hasn't been broken in yet. Still...
So I had to tell the people sitting on the park bench, 5 feet behind, they may want to move. I'm going to start it up and I don't know how loud or smoky it might be. They said go ahead.
It'd been over 24 hours since last started. Just the slightest amount of choke, touch the button and it fired right up. I pushed the choke open, held the idle up with the throttle, for 15 secs, and it settled down into a peaceful, quiet idle. A couple of blips on the throttle proved it was smoke free, and a few, more aggressive blips on the quick throttle provided the rush we all wanted and I shut it off.
Mike guaranteed it wouldn't smoke. So he shouldn't be paying off this time.
