Topic: That's my plan...should I stick to it?

[Tomfl57]

I recently acquired a 1974 CB550.  Have had a rather tired 72 CB500 for a couple years. It is now donating many of it's better parts to the 550, eventually it will become a whole bike again.  I also have a set of engine cases, crank & rods for a 550 and a set of cylinders from a 500.  I need to pull the head off the 550 to repair some seriously damaged exhaust studs.  I was planning to put the 500 head on until it is fixed. 

FIRST QUESTIONS: Can I use the head gasket from my 500 gasket kit to put the head on the 550? Is there any difference between the heads that will complicate my swap?

My long range plan is to use the spare cases, crank & cylinders combined with one of those 605cc kits and the 550 head, trans, clutch, etc.  Put that into the 550.  Then, IF the 550 pistons and rings are OK , use them and the 550 cylinders on the 500 bottom end and turn it into a 550. 

MORE QUESTIONS: 
Does this sound like a reasonable plan, or am I overlooking a simpler approach?
Are the 605 big bore kits on e-bay quality parts?
There are links on this site to some aftermarket cam suppliers.  Anyone have any experience with those cams?  Are they a worthwhile addition or are they too much cam for the street ( or too little to make a difference)?  I'm not looking to build a killer engine, but I would like to make the most of it.
Anything else I should know about this project?

[bryanj]

You have some good and some bad ideas.
(1) 500 and 550 heads are identical so swap away

(2) 550 head gasket for both but not 500 on 550

(3) 605 kit ok for either but top crankcase needs machining to accept sleeves

(4) 550 barrels WILL NOT fit on 500 cases without you machine top case see (3) BUT you could rebore the 500 to take the 550 pistons

(5) In both case you MUST fit new primary chains or watch the chain eat through the oil feed galleries AND you ought to fit new rubber dampers in the primary drive--inside the engine by the starter clutch

(6) DO NOT try mixing and matching transmission bits as whist some parts are identical visually a lot are different AND some have different tooth profiles

[Tomfl57]

Thank you.  Those are the kind of little tidbits of information that I was looking for.

[bryanj]

No problem, email me direct any time i have copies of just about every bit of technical info on the 500/550 and a garage full of NOS and used parts---some will take a crowbar or a heart attack to aquire others are negotiable.