Topic: 350/4 questions

[bucky katt]

i might have a chance to get a 73 350/4 for cheap. if it turns out to not being good for nothing but parts, and it can be made to run, are there any hop up parts for the 4 cylinder 350? i might could chop it or something like that, but it's really rough. i can get it, with title for 75. it;s all there, the motor turns but it's all rough as wiping with a corncob. i'd fix it up and sell it since i'd look like a monkey humping a footcall if itried to ride it  



it's a 1975, not 73. i just got a titled 350/4 with a free turning motor for 50 dollars. it's all there, right down to the hondaline luggage rack and back rest. i'll be heading out to Sumter monay afternoon to pick it up.

wrong again it IS a 73.

[fmctm1sw]

I haven't really seen a lot for the 350F as far as that goes.  I figure you saw the 400F engine thread that's running now as well.  All there with a title?  Definitely worth looking into either way. 

[camelman]

I've had a few different bikes ranging up to 750cc, and I have to say I love my 350F.  Getting more performance out of the engine would be nice, but it costs too many dollars for each horsepower you scare up.  Instead, I am focusing on handling.  Bronze swingarm bushings, tapered steering head bearings, good tires (Avon Road Riders), forks from a 400F or 360T with new oil, rebuild/replace the rear shocks and go with lighter weight springs designed for my body weight (c'mon, like you are going to get up any hills with a passenger on the back of this bike), and maybe lighter rims down the road.  My bike is very fun to ride with the tires, swing-arm bushings, and steering head bearings.  I'm really looking forward to the other mods.
As far as power goes, I will probably mill the head down by 0.010", lap the valves, deshroud the valves if necessary, and do some minor porting/cleaning with the exhaust and intake ports, match up the carb boots to the head, and paint it a "go fast" color.  That will open up a bit of power, but not much.  I doubt I will go with pod filters, although the Kerker 4-1 I found will probably get bolted on after the head work.

That is all I'm interested in.  It just doesn't seem worth it to dump loads of money into a 350cc engine to make more power.  Smooth engine operation and lighter components are always worth it, but there just isn't much HP available on these without a lot of cash.

Camelman

[bucky katt]

i've been thinking about doing a street legal, race bike style, with the cr750 style fairing and seat. i'm going to do something outrageous with it is all i know at this point. hell i could part it out and make a bunch of money that way if i wanted to if the bike wasnt co complete and original i would be parting it out, but it's too nice to do that to it.

[bucky katt]

i've been surfing around and it looks like parts, except for oem, are pretty scarce. is this going to be a case of me having to adapt parts from other honda cb's? i'm going to go hog wild with this one. and i'm going to try to make as many of the parts as i can.

[schwebel]

If you are going OEM, some parts maybe a little hard to find,but most are not. The only real major part that is major $$$ and rare is the OEM exhaust. But if you are going CR750 racebike sysle that really wouln't matter. You can use some parts here and there from other bikes. For example, I have CB500 silencers on mine, CB500 Controls, A 400f Engine, and a Rear Wheel from a CB450 twin.

[kslrr]

I've been chatting with the guys at TTR400 about my 350.  For around $1,100 they will port, polish, install new bronze guides, SS valves (400 size), racing springs, Titanium retainers and supply matched carb boots.

I want to do this and then get Falicon Knife Edge rods, forged pistons, copper gasket, etc. and the little 350 would be good for 14,000rpm and 140 mph.  Is it worth $2,000 plus to do this?  I don't know but 14,000rpm through my custom 4-1 pipes would sound awesome.

[bucky katt]

If you are going OEM, some parts maybe a little hard to find,but most are not. The only real major part that is major $$$ and rare is the OEM exhaust. But if you are going CR750 racebike sysle that really wouln't matter. You can use some parts here and there from other bikes. For example, I have CB500 silencers on mine, CB500 Controls, A 400f Engine, and a Rear Wheel from a CB450 twin.

ok i was curious if the 400, 500, 550 exhaust would work or not , now i know

[camelman]

Hold on with the exhaust.  The 350F and 400F headers are interchangeable, but I don't think the 500 or 550 are.  You could use the silencers from them, but I think you would be sorely disappointed if you bought 500 or 550 headers and tried to bolt them up.

Check out ttr400.com for some performance parts, or the 400fourstore.  You could also do a rebore.  The rebore will open up a bit of power by bringing the cylinders back to parallel (per comments by hondaman), and with a 1mm overbore you could get another 4.3% displacement (not much, but if you are going for parallel cylinders, then go all the way).

Most of the parts are readily available.  Pistons were an issue for a while, but you can get pistons for about $300 shipped from cmsnl.com.  Make sure you order an extra set of rings though, unless you are a pro at installing pistons.  Also, be ready to shell out $60/hole to have the jug bored out.

I'd suggest putting together a budget, then we can all chime in millions and millions of perfectly worthless worthwhile suggestions.

Camelman

[bucky katt]

thanks very much for sending me to ttr400. looks like i'm going to have some fun with this 350. i'm going to do all the stuff on it that i was reluctant to do to my daily rider k4 750. high compression, big cam, ported head.

[bucky katt]

some questions before i start looking at possible mods on project Bucky Cycle, are there large bore pistons for the 350, or can i use the 466cc pistons from a 400/4? who, if anyone, does a cam for these bikes and is it like the relation between a 550 and 650 cb in that i can use the cam from one of the larger small fours like the 500 or 550 cam? i'm likely asking some dumbass questions but the only honda i've ever really worked on is the 750k i ride now. this IS going to have the look AND personality of a vintage road racer with the fairings, tank, seat and maybe a paint scheme in a vintage honda racing livery. just last week when i was finally done with the 750 i swore i didnt want to turn a wrench for anything but oil changes and tune-ups. these are the cell phone pics the previous owner sent me.it's ugly but all there. i already have the first of many lists made 

[Kevin400F]

Scout around for a 400F engine as your basis.  It has a 6-speed transmission and improved clutch mechanism.  Bore the 400F cylinder block out for one of the relatively common 460 kits, slip in a slightly hotter cam and you'll really have something.

[camelman]

+1

Kevin400F knows his stuff.  If you are okay with not keeping the engine stock, then a 400F engine is the way to go.  LOADS more power, and the 6-speed trans is an amazing improvement over the 350F.  I had a 400F that didn't run all that well, but would still walk away from my 350f that is well tuned.

Camelman

[bucky katt]

sounds like, after i do the cosmetics i'll start hunting for a 400 motor. until i do find one, i'll have some fun with what is in there. i have a set of clubman bars that i had on the 750k until i got tired of smashing the gas tank when i turned.