Happy to come aboard! New member, 73 Z1 project....

Appears you have a real mix matched parts lot. You have some from a later Kz1000, possible an LTD. Also I see performance parts, Dyna ignition and copper head caskets. The head looks like a kz1000 and the cam cover is definitely not Z1. I’m not dogging you I’m mentioning it so you are aware of what you have so you get correct replacement parts. You mentioned the goal is not factory correct. Appears you have enough to put together a running bike. My guess is someone put a 70mm (Kz1000) upper on a 66mm (Z1 900) engine, that was a popular period correct performance mod. If you know the cylinders are in need of at least a hone, measure the bore. I’d bet it’s at least if not bigger than 70mm. All good and acceptable for your goal. Please don’t assume you can order all parts based on it being a 1973Z1. Good bones to start with and extra parts. You did good... Ask lots of questions, HardRockMiner knows the Z1 inside and out. Your in good hands here. Have fun.

Went back any looked again. This is the correct Z1 cam cover.



I don’t see the triple trees. Or a battery box. Might be missing them in the pile. A couple other observations. The bolt pattern on the lower case makes it a later Z1A or B (1974 - 75)

Use as much Kawasaki gaskets as you can. Do yourself a big favor and don not reuse these carb holders. Get a good set, not the $40 ones off evilbay. Quality new ones will save your butt trying to get the engine tuned.

Mikaw wrote: Appears you have a real mix matched parts lot. You have some from a later Kz1000, possible an LTD. Also I see performance parts, Dyna ignition and copper head caskets. The head looks like a kz1000 and the cam cover is definitely not Z1. I’m not dogging you I’m mentioning it so you are aware of what you have so you get correct replacement parts. You mentioned the goal is not factory correct. Appears you have enough to put together a running bike. My guess is someone put a 70mm (Kz1000) upper on a 66mm (Z1 900) engine, that was a popular period correct performance mod. If you know the cylinders are in need of at least a hone, measure the bore. I’d bet it’s at least if not bigger than 70mm. All good and acceptable for your goal. Please don’t assume you can order all parts based on it being a 1973Z1. Good bones to start with and extra parts. You did good... Ask lots of questions, HardRockMiner knows the Z1 inside and out. Your in good hands here. Have fun.

Yep it’s a mix match of parts for sure and a lot of them are not original Z1.
The cylinders measure 66 mm the pistons he gave me with it measure 68.4 wrist pins are not the same.
I think they just got mixed in with the parts, probably for another bike make model.
Getting a running bike together is the goal. Will worry about all that period correct stuff later.
The guy that I got it from had enough parts to put together one complete bike and probably half of another. He had kz1000’s and Ltd. I think they were about five or six frames, various tanks fairings, swing arms, wheels, jugs, etc. He had an all original KZ 1000 turbo there great looking bike.

By the way, on the gaskets, there are about five complete sets of gaskets, about six or eight head gaskets, split and one piece.

Mikaw wrote: Use as much Kawasaki gaskets as you can. Do yourself a big favor and don not reuse these carb holders. Get a good set, not the $40 ones off evilbay. Quality new ones will save your butt trying to get the engine tuned.

You’re talking about the rubbers with the vacuum port? He gave me about eight of those, new old stock, Red and white Kawasaki labels, Still in plastic. They are still very pliable, like new.

Yes the rubber with vacuum ports. Good score on the NOS.

What do the carb bowls look like. If they have one large bowl drain screw they are 73 correct.

Please don’t be offended, I’m only pointing out not Z1 parts to save you headaches ordering parts.

Lots of brain cells and beer needed at this stage prior to spending any more cash .
Example See if you can find rings , wrist pins and retainers to match your Yoshi pistons.
trial fit as much as you can and make a list of needs. Clean , measure and organize is the word of the day
Ask Lots of questions
Best Wishes
Dave

merf1a wrote: measure 68.4 wrist pins are not the same.
He had an all original KZ 1000 turbo there great looking bike.

Dave, you the seller?

Mikaw wrote: Yes the rubber with vacuum ports. Good score on the NOS.

What do the carb bowls look like. If they have one large bowl drain screw they are 73 correct.

Please don’t be offended, I’m only pointing out not Z1 parts to save you headaches ordering parts.

There in lies another issue. He gave me three sets of carbs. Two later sets (smaller bore) and one of the early sets. The set in the picture on the bench has a cut out gusset on the inlet side of the carburetor facing the airbox. I assume those are early carbs. Now, he could not find any carb bowls in his shop (Only two carburetor bowls were found for the later carb sets). I’ve got to call him back this week. He told me to get a list together, of anything that we might’ve left out, and he would look for it.

These are the later VM26SS carbs, used on the 1976-77 Kz900 and some 1977-78 Kz1000.

They look more complete and will use the same carb holder boots (rubber with vacuum ports)

Very early carbs had no gusset on the inlet side. They are quite rare and worth a lot of money if you have a set. $2kto $3k.

All of the Z1 and the first half of the Z1A carbs had two springs on the throttle return, and also had nuts on the bottom of the bowls that allowed a main jet change with the carbs on the bike. Late Z1A and all Z1B carbs had a single spring on the throttle and a drain screw on the side of the bowl. Two faced left and two faced right as viewed from the operators perch.

The reason I asked about the engine S/N is because of what Mikaw noted on the cases in one of his replies. Kawasaki made changes to Z1 cases from the beginning right until they switched to the KZ1000 series. The change Mikaw pointed out was made around the middle of the Z1A series.

Sounds like your 66 mm cylinders are stock 900 cc. I think you have a few options on what to do here but you will need to know if the current bores are still within spec. I see you have an original manual, which is a great asset for a rebuild but it doesn't always fully explain how things go back together. Kawasaki made some great training videos for their mechanics and you can find them on this site or on Youtube.

You have a great treasure trove of stuff there. And a great winter project...maybe two winters! Have fun with your Dad!