Topic: Cb 400 frame

[Marnew]

Hi everyone,
Just picked up a 400-4 which has been sat for the last 20 years in a mates shed
He lost the log book years ago in a house move, he tried to get a new one from dvla but the last number on the frame is unreadable and they say they can't issue a new one,
With a lot of work i intended to make it into a cafe racer and wondered if there is another frame that The engine would fit ?, there seems to be a few 350/550 ones about but not many 400s
any help would be much appreciated

Martin

[FuZZie]

It should fit right in a 350/4 as well as most of the other parts, you should look around in the build treads pretty sure it's been done.

[carnivorous chicken]

A 400F engine will fit right into a 350F frame. The 350F production run was fewer, AFAIK, however, making them technically rarer. They were less sought after than 400Fs, however that has started to change in the past couple of years. Regardless, if you find a 350F frame you can make the swap.

There are a few other mods/things you'll have to do as well, depending on what exhaust you'll run. Stock 400F exhaust will require 400F pegs and brake lever and shifter linkage. More importantly, the tube to mount the brake lever is slightly different -- IIRC to put a 400F engine in a 350F frame you'll need to cut off a little of the tube from inside of the frame and then use it on the outside so that the brake lever mounts correctly. Might have this back arsewards though, but I think that's right. I did a long write up of this, either here or on DTT, if you feel like looking it up.