I recently brought home a 1974 CZ 400 that I had stored at my parents farm in Oklahoma. A fellow riding buddy/motor head gave it to me about 25 years ago, and I have decided to bring it back from the dead. It is rough, but I am going to put it back together in all its former racing glory. :o
I hate to be the one to tell you, but............... its missing some very import parts.
Well, I am moving ahead on this project. The piston was stuck big time, but I managed to set it free drilling the entire crown out of the piston, liberal application of penetrating oil, and some "moderate" coaxing with a hammer. Considering what it looks like, all of the major bits are serviceable. I will start posting photos as I start reassembly. My goal is purely achieving functional as last raced, will see how it turns out...
I thought I would be further along with this project, but this weather has kept me and some riding buddies riding local single track most every weekend this winter. If you were wondering I am okay with this kind of delay... 8)
I would be ok with that type of delay also.
So is this to be something of a display bike? or more of a vintage rider at a show type setting?
carry on and good luck with whatever progress you get this winter.
It will be a rider. I don't own anything that I don't ride or drive... ;D
looking forward to seeing this complete
Freshly painted frame ready for the engine... I have a ways to go on the engine yet... :o
Beta red?
Close, supposed to be CZ red...
well if it leaks after its all together...blame it on the red?? :o
admittedly, it is a very nice red.
A little progress, things aren't in to bad of shape overall. A little staining etc., but in all remarkably serviceable. New bearings, crank pin, crank pin bearing and connecting rod. Have an oversized Wisco piston will get the cylinder bored ~0.030" to match. Close to putting the cases together.
Trued up case halves, trans assembled and torqued. Clearances are good, everything spins freely and I need to polish the trans gate to fit and slide smoothly. Its coming together nicely considering what I started with...
looking good!
A little more progress this weekend...
Waiting on the return of my freshly bored cylinder, decided to start rebuilding the shocks. They are first generation emulsion Fox Shox as they are today. I have sourced parts to make them functional once again. Its amazing what you can source on the internet...
Yes...it is amazing what can be sourced. Not always a good thing for the bank account though.
Good to see progress being made on someone's project...wish it could be on my project also. Keep updating gives me recovery material to view.
Chipping away at it. Dry clutch all buttoned up, covers cleaned up, sealed and installed, kick start lever, and brand new shift lever. Working on the wheels, hubs, brakes and the freshly bored cylinder will be back from the machine shop early next week.
looking good
:D envy the progress you are getting to be making.
At the rate it's coming along you think it will be a running rider in June? Just curious...i think you are doing well progress wise.
Not sure. Weather has been ugly lately and working on this is a way to occupy time, stay warm, and I just don't set well... :evil Was riding most weekends up until the last few weeks, just to cold. If it warms up a bit progress will give way to riding... Priorities you know... ;D
I need to send the fork tubes off to be re-chromed and I am waiting on parts to rebuild the shocks. Maybe be ready to light off before the end of summer... I'm in no real hurry.
Yes. Priorities.
Got my 'last ride of season' due to that.
Best thing on a project is being in no hurry.
I do like new shinny parts... New Wisco piston with exhaust bridge lubrication holes drilled and ring installed, freshly bored cylinder installed and torqued, cylinder head installed and torqued. It looks like a two stroke once again... 8)
Received all of the parts I was waiting on to complete the rebuild of the Fox Shox. Complete and ready to ride... well maybe not quite. 8)
And, a photo of what I started with...
Been watching this fuel tank on e-bay for a few months, finally purchased it...
Ready to shred...just add fuel.
Have I said I like that red?
Looking great!