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Project 73 Suzuki GT380

Discussion in 'Other Projects - Other Bikes (non 250's)' started by kiffsta, Sep 7, 2019.

  1. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    First load of chrome is back , very happy with the finish , in fact I am so excited a little bit of pee came out

    This lot cost me $500 from Wizard Chrome in Narangba

    74A08A0B-2114-4D0C-8437-A84C1E985AAA.jpeg 70B3A91C-54DB-4155-A5EF-6CDBAFE05038.jpeg 5FC19255-770E-4286-BB3C-C78534E041B6.jpeg
     
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  2. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Looks the goods. About what I have payed for similar work.
     
  3. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    Well , i hope you didn't dribble / pee on the new chrome job !.;)
     
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  4. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Tracked down a set of correct gauges , I actually sold these when I first got a heap of gt380 parts in , turns out the buyer has a later model so we did a swap for a set with the gear indicator

    I wasn’t happy with my cases so I sandblasted them and vapour blasted them again, much better now

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  5. Damian_74

    Damian_74 Well-Known Member

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  6. T M Fulcher

    T M Fulcher Active Member

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    An awesome rebuild man, how much did all that chroming cost? over here in NZ this process is hugely costly.
     
  7. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    That first lot was $500

    I have been talking to chromer about my indicators , he said it is touch and go if he can do them as they are plastic , he would have to coat them in copper , then chrome them ,he said it is expensive so I ordered some reproductions from the UK

    $200 for a set of 4 , here in 5 days , the quality is spot on

    1A17F049-DDFA-46B8-9EF7-C790BD790B15.jpeg CDCBE8DE-EB1C-4610-AB09-E5BF52277BA7.jpeg
     
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  8. T M Fulcher

    T M Fulcher Active Member

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    Very nice.
     
  9. gj74a

    gj74a Active Member

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    This is going to be a very nice GT380.
     
  10. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Bit bloody happy with this lot


    Wheels are coming back on Friday :) then assemble can begin i
    F82F35BE-EA81-4469-822B-E2F122B623F2.jpeg 3E61F03C-5D75-4653-B3A0-EEF20DD55821.jpeg
     
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  11. T M Fulcher

    T M Fulcher Active Member

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    Great project, these were an awesome reliable bike when two strokes ruled the planet, hey just looking back to the photos of your new indicators, did you receive them with broken lenses ?
     
  12. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Wheels are back, tyres are on and they look trick

    2BD2BB4B-01FF-4008-91BC-88EE3D38477F.jpeg 59D62CB0-BAC3-43B4-A0F0-237BBC217EAA.jpeg
     
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  14. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Back wheel is on , also put a few shiny bits on , just cleaning up the front disk before the front wheel goes on

    D4D5DFC9-352E-4658-A846-A2A4EAC2E69B.jpeg A6F24A94-0FC6-4E63-9563-517A9F5BEDA2.jpeg
     
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  15. T M Fulcher

    T M Fulcher Active Member

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    Looking better than new already
     
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  16. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    114EF739-BC90-4DE8-9C0B-5F81BB61CF5E.jpeg She is now a roller once again

    D215D72F-9FE4-489E-A7EB-E28EC535A145.jpeg

    Phil set about cleaning the gauges up , they are 46 years old and when he pulled them apart they were clean and tidy, bulbs were checked and they all work , so a healthy application of back to black saw the outer casing come up tops. Quick paint job on the mount and they are good to go

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    Before the clean up
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  17. T M Fulcher

    T M Fulcher Active Member

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    I can't believe they are the original gauges, the bike must have been kept most of its life out of the sun,
    Thanks for the info of the product you have used to restore them.
     
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  18. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Crank cane back today , new bearings and seals , time to get the motor together
     
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  19. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    8803B595-466B-4DED-81A1-153FA8AAF88B.jpeg Made a start on the engine rebuild , but the phone kept running and interrupting me , might try for Saturday when it’s quiet
     
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    Last edited: Jan 25, 2020
  20. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    well, I have made an oops

    When the bike arrived, it came with a box of spares including the side covers , I just assumed they were part of the bike so I sent them off for paint, turns out the side covers and mounting system differ between models. I had checked my frame number and believed it to be a 1974 with a earlier 73 engine, carbs etc hence why I picked the orange 73 paint scheme. Closer inspection revealed that I definitely have a 73 frame which is good as it matches the engine but bad because I have to spend more money on parts and paint . I have a correct set of side covers for 73 GT380 but they are in a poor state with lots of repairs required , I did find some reproduction ones in Japan, about $300 delivered.


    So I cast the net a bit wider to see what I could find. Turns out a customer of mine had one cover and was happy to donate it to the cause, but the other was proving a bit harder to locate. I used the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club VJMC parts facebook group and a member in Bendigo had one, cost me $100 delivered, so now I have a pair of the correct covers for a 73 gt380 , now to break the new to my painter that I need 2 covers painted up. I also have to track down some mounting hardware for them which all NLA from Suzuki, I have seen some on the Japanese auctions .

    The good news I that I found a buyer for my painted covers, so I can try and claw back some of the costs of my error.


    gt380_sidecover_painted.jpg

    gt380_sidecover_correct.jpg gt380_sidecover.jpg

    I have booked some time next Saturday with a mechanic who is ex Yamaha Race team mechanic, I have done lots of vapour blasting for him and he has offered to guide me on assembling my motor to make sure everything is 100% and he is going to assemble a 2nd GT380 motor for a customer who is building a 1976 model.
     
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    Last edited: Feb 2, 2020

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