Topic: Just a kid building a cafe cb550

[SharkAttack]

Hey everyone! I've just been creepin around the site for a few months now, and am finally getting serious on my bike. In september I got my bike(s). I picked up a full 1975 CB550 off of my dad for cheap, and it came with almost a whole second bike minus a frame (which i might even have that in a corner of the garage somewhere...). I really wanted to build a bike for a few years, and had some cash laying around so I bought it. I've rode dirtbikes since I was 10 (18 now) and felt like it was time for a streetbike. I got it as a barn rat. It was full of corn and seed from the mice, and it was covered in grease and dirt. Go figure right? After I did the basic cleaning, I got the motor out, and it sat as just a rolling frame for a while. After the first month, I had major ankle surgery and had to take a break. Once January hit, I got the bug again. I set up a table in our basement, and went to work on the carbs. Currently, the status of the bike is:
Rolling frame on a lift in the garage,
2 motors in the garage (just deciding which to use)
carbs completely torn down in the basement, waiting on jets to put back together,
1 of the two motors is torn down, and I have all new gaskets for it so thats next
clubmans
drag pipes
way too many extra parts.


I had a few questions on my project that I hoped people on here could answer.

My first question is: I plan on doing pods, and I was wondering how many steps up on jets should I go to compensate? My neighbor and dad (both avid builders) said just go 2 up and call it a day. I just wanted to check.

also, i want to get the frame down to a non rolling frame (take off the forks, and swingarm just to get it really clean and paint the frame matte black. Will i need anything to put the swingarm back on like bearings or something? Like i said this is my first project, and i have no clue. Cars are my thing, so swingarms aren't in my knowledge base yet.

a 4-2 or 4-1 exhaust is what i eventually want to go to, and i have chrome drag pipes as is. Are my pipes worth anything if i tried to sell them or trade them could I get a more traditional exhaust without spending too much extra?

i have a stock seat in really good shape too, and want to go to a cafe seat. Is mine worth anything for being in good shape? I'm on kind of a budget, but willing to sell some of my spare stuff to fund everything else.

is there anything I need to know about these bikes in general? Noob speaking here. Any general knowledge is excellent. Any help is excellent. Actually, any posts responding to this massive post would be excellent. Also, if you have any of the items that i listed above or will need eventually, let me know if you feel like trading. I have literally a second bike in the garage. like wheels forks engine carbs everything. Thanks for any help!

[CBGhia]

1 do a little research on pods.  There may be a great alternative here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=79491.0

2.  Swing arm bushing are a good idea.  You could use the old ones, but it would be best to replace them.

3.  You could sell the pipes here on on ebay if they are in good shape.  Someone might want them for a bobber project.

4.  Stock seat could be worth a few bucks if in nice shape, so again post it here or on ebay. 

5.  If you have 2 engines and one is from a late 76 or later, use the rocker covers from it,  it will have extra bracing for the rocker shafts and keep it from wallowing out the holes for the shaft (if any of that made sense). Use the carbs from the 75.  Just keep reading the forums and you will find answers to things you didn't even know to ask.

[ksmith0034]

Post up a few pics of what you are wrenching and you will get a lot more response.  Most of us here folks caint read veri good, so we just like to look at th' purty piktures.