looks awesome! and think you'll be surprised how much a well restored old bike is worth but not about the money.... great to own, keep and say - i done that!
Nice job Carl, it'll be like going alligator wrestling when you take that one out for a spin. Had one back in the early eighties and had to be one of the ones with dodgy cam bearings drove me mad the constant tapping, i see from your pics that the cam bearings have not been re-stamped so yours will be fine. I still have quite a few valve shims for these old girls should you need any.
Just had a read through this thread and you've done a cracking job mate! Could I ask how you cleaned up the engine and what paint you ended up using on it please?
I used a rotary wire brush on the engine case and a Drimel on the cooling fins, patience and time thereafter. I purchased a special barrel paint and used it for the whole engine, this paint is designed to release heat and coat the finns with a thin coat. Very easy to use too I have to say the engine looks good I hope it runs ok, if not its out and start again.
Thanks Carl, I've got my FZ engine to strip and paint as it looks like someone used Dulux gloss on it and it's all peeling! It should be out of the bike next week so I can get cracking.
Cracking Job mate- £1600's not the end of the world for all the satisfaction you get from doing it yourself.
Back in the 80s I painted the barrels and cylinder head or my GS750 with special engine spray paint. I followed the instructions meticulously I even put the barrels and head in the oven to cure the paint on. When the engine was started up I slowly allowed the engine to heat up, by allowing the engine to run a minute or two at a time. All that and it still bubbled. I swore a bit that day..
