Topic: CB350f NEW project / questions...

[Steamboy]

Let's start with I'm a complete rookie here, but am excited to build my first bike.

Got this '73 for a steal and have just started going through it. The exhaust is the one big let down. At first I thought it has a nice 4-1 pipe but when I looked more closely, it's a piece. Might be off a 750? Pipes are reduced right at the head, both bottom pipes are crushed 1/2 shut on the bottom bends, and then after the collector its just a piece of pipe pounded on. Due to the filth, looks to have been run this way alittle.

Question is...(I know-buy a new system-BUT I have access to fixing the crushed bends making it work for now)
What to use for a CHEAP muffler? Will the larger pipes/collector be OK if it goes into a proper size muffler for back pressure?
I have access to a 400-450 ATV muffler. Would the flow be even somewhat close enough? I also have stock CB550 singles, but 2 are completely rusted out.

My goal is to just get it by till I know everything else is good on it and it drives. Then, over the winter I can dump $ into it.

[Lars]

Who not visit a salvage yard and find something there? Should be possible to find a 4-1 muffler - if not the ones you have can be welded just for to test the bike.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

chunk of pipe, old car muffler, open header, used Harley OEM muffler someone will give you, it doesn't matter, these engines are way forgiving on backpressure and flow. You can sort out the finer points of tuning the carbs to match your final exhaust choice later. The intake side seems more sensitive to pods and such but even that is mild compared to newer engines.

[flybox1]

to get it by until winter, fix it best you can, rough it up with a wire brush and coat it with VHT.

done.

[flybox1]

Hey, are your fork ears and covers silver, and if so is it a repaint over another color?

[Steamboy]

Yeah looks like they were painted dark silver over the stock red perhaps?

Got one gauge done, now on to the tach...





Tear down, inspect, lube, clean, sanded faces off, printed new ones I designed, housing shot with Stainless Epoxy paint.
Oh yeah made it "go fast" too...



Original tach the way I got them, rough sanded, crappy paint job and cracked faces... blech!

[faux fiddy]

Wow , that gauge looks really nice!

Looks like yet another on the way to proving you can polish a turd.

Or would that be steam clean?

[faux fiddy]

Hey, just a bit of humourous ribbing, don't take it personal.  Any one here will agree that there is something beautiful about a bike like that, and that seeing it as that takes a special type of person with ambition, ingenuity and creativity.

You are definitely at the right place and I don't want you to think you aren't.  Hundreds of us would drag that one home in a heartbeat.

Without those very worthwhile human  attributes all you get is a newish  plastic Ninja, same as every other Ninja, one after another after another until it makes you friggin' sick to see another one of the bazzillions.

Best luck with your project, it looks like you have a real eye for detail and It will surely make many here very happy to see that thing exactly like you want it to be.

[faux fiddy]

Who not visit a salvage yard and find something there? Should be possible to find a 4-1 muffler - if not the ones you have can be welded just for to test the bike.

+

Look for an fz 600 or cans to something similar. I'm going to use a set of those past my stock headers, as a four into two with a crossover pipe, kind of heavy, but cost me nothing. The collectors slip right over the stock  cb350f  headers. Might shorten the fz stuff about four inches, but they will work fine with a little work.