Topic: My 1972 CB450 resto/custom project

[ianmont]

Alright, I started with a 1972 CB450 that I bought for $150 from a guy's ex-chicken barn. It had been customized with wonderful extended forks, and lovely handlebars. UGH!

So far I've rebuilt the engine with a big bore kit, had the valves refaced, ported and polished the head and a new cam chain. I decided to go for a different look by powdercoating the rims and hubs black, it think it looks great! The tank and other cosmetics will hopefully be painted Candy Gold in the next couple of weeks and then its a whole lot of polishing and painting to get it looking great.

Ian

[dagersh]

Ian,

Looking great!  I like the dark rims and hubs, gives it an old school English look. 

I am also doing a '72 450, backdating the bodywork to a '68 K1.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=35057.0

Any pics of the ported and polished head work?

Keep at it with pics!

Michael G

[ianmont]

Hey Michael, I've read your post about the 450 you're working on, good job so far, I'm sure it'll turn out beautiful!
 As for pics of the porting and polishing, sadly I don't have any. It's quite easy to do and can make a huge difference when modding the engine with a big bore kit, and valve work. I would have liked to do other engine work like different cams, titanium valves and keepers, probably get rid of the torsion bars and go for springs but I'm trying to do this resto on the cheap! I think I've got maybe a $1000 into it so far with all the parts, powdercoating and machining. I'm also trying to keep the bike as light as possible, no center stand, no turns signals or horn and any extra piece I can take off that's not needed.

Good luck with your bike and keep the pics coming!
BTW, where did you get the blaster and what type of compressor are you running it on?

Regards, Ian

[Simpson]

Hey, maybe im seeing the picture wrong but it looks like PO put a CB750 K0 duck tail seat on the bike. If so, they are worth some money these days even in bad shape on ebay. Good luck , you got a fine start.

[hoodellyhoo]

Hey, maybe im seeing the picture wrong but it looks like PO put a CB750 K0 duck tail seat on the bike. If so, they are worth some money these days even in bad shape on ebay. Good luck , you got a fine start.

That's just what I thought. Looks like the seat kicks up in the back like a duckbill.

[ianmont]

Funny story about the seat. When I picked the bike up the PO assured me that it had a seat but it wasn't on the bike. There was tons of bikes and parts everywhere in this old barn and what do I see in the rafters, the ducktail 750 seat! So I said, hey, that looks like the right seat up there, I'll take that one! The guy didn't even have a clue! So I put it up on ebay and ended up getting $350 for it, enough to cover the original cost of the bike and help out with some of the resto!

Ian

[Simpson]

Funny story about the seat. When I picked the bike up the PO assured me that it had a seat but it wasn't on the bike. There was tons of bikes and parts everywhere in this old barn and what do I see in the rafters, the ducktail 750 seat! So I said, hey, that looks like the right seat up there, I'll take that one! The guy didn't even have a clue! So I put it up on ebay and ended up getting $350 for it, enough to cover the original cost of the bike and help out with some of the resto!

Ian

I stand by my original post then...  

[dagersh]

Ian,

That's a great story about the seat. 

My blasting cabinet is called the Skatblaster, and I got it from TP Tools.  It has a Soda Dedicated take off on the side, and a regular hopper inside the unit itself.  I cannot even begin to sing this units praises enough.  The soda works wonders, and I use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in the 25 lb bags from Sam's Club.  I have also used fine glass bead in the internal hopper, and that works great as well, especially on rusty, nasty parts.  I did learn an important lesson about not being lazy, and no leaving your glass bead supply in the internal hopper while using the soda.  The spent soda, accumulates quickly, and its impossible to separate from the glass bead.  The mixing does not really matter as the glass bead is much coarser than the soda, its just that your visibility gets bad as the waste accumulates in the internal hopper, and it takes longer for everything to settle down.  So, if you are using a system like this, empty the spent soda before using the glass bead.  When you are done with the glass bead, empty the hopper and store it away for the next use in a closed container for its protection.

My compressor is a HC 80 Gallon, 2-stage that I got from Lowe's, but it is sold under Lowe's own brand.  I cannot remember the name (not Kobalt, though).  Home Depot has the same exact unit marketed under Husky.  Its a very good compressor, and so far I have yet to have any issues with.  I just make sure to keep the oil clean.  Eventually, I will install a better pipe system for the air, as right now it's just a 50' line coming off the compressor/regulator/water trap.  Occasionally, it will blow some condensation through, but as of right now, not too much.

Michael