KZ400 project (rusted exhaust pipes)

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this question belongs in "body work" (here) or in "engine"...

Anyway, I'm moving onto my exhaust pipes now (in addition to some other tasks).

Below is a pic.

There both in pretty sorry shape (but one is worse than the other).

Can i assume that i should just:

- wire brush the HECK out off them
- steel wool
- paint? (with some hi degree paint - i just read about that today)

?

i can prob salvage one (and keep it chromelike), but i doubt that real rusted one can be saved...

advice?

pitfalls?

thanks...

- prime

how about aftermarket exhuast?

I just saw a 440 exhaust in much better shape than yours go for ~$30 + ~$30 shipping on eBay. There's also brand-new Mac exhausts on there for $224 shipped, or you can get 'em new from DK for $250. AFAIK, all years of KZ400 & KZ440 exhaust should interchange. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)

HTH,
-Kit

anybody surounded by that many women cant possibly be wrong!:woohoo:

Hi there....

well, buying new "pipes" is not really in the cards fro me....

bought this project bike on the "cheap" and want to/need to keep costs as low as possible....

i might look into the ebay thing (~60 total), but that would be the max i could spend....

well, thanks anyway.....


- prime

Heh. Right there with you. Did I mention that the $30 bid on those eBay pipes was about double my bid? I'm between jobs at the moment, so the budget for this is damn near nil. Oh well, at least I have time to work on it...

Cheers,
-Kit

Have you ever tried (do you know of) that Hi-temp paint deal???

i saw one post where the pipes were painted gray-ish....

not bad (better than RUST), but chrome would still be prefered...

oh... and yeah... i really HATE ebay! i mean, to loose out for 25 cents really seems insane!

i avoid using ebay when ever i can (ony gets me angry!)...




i don't often use those little face icons (but could not help myself this time!)...

the only thing i can tell you is if you plan on restoring your 400 on a budget get used to ebay.......
if not you will pay the normal aftermarket,oem and nos prices.
be thankfull for ebay because without it you,i and the few other 400 owners would have a helluva time finding parts.
kz400 parts are few and far between even looking at nos or reprod.
alot of people will say a kz400 isnt worth putting alot of money into because of resale value and hp,IMO any project you care about is worth putting money,time and sweat into
ebay is the best place to find deals period.
as far as finishes go, as you tear down your bike you will find alot of parts look like crap but can be reused, if they were my pipes i would go with a high temp ceramic based paint(most likely the grey-ish paint you saw) for the headers and a semi flat for the mufflers(touch of contrast)
take a long hard look at your bike and think of the style your looking for and then decide what you want to do be it paint the pipes for now and save for a nos or oem

hey there...

thanks for the advice....

re: ebay

of course, if it were not for that resource i'm not sure HOW i could have tracked down, oh, let's see...

the replacement:
- center stand (i so much needed!)
- chain gaurd (needed as well)
- that KZ305 carb set i wanted to "practice" on
- etc...

i know.... ebay is certainly worth the time (it just gets a bit frustrating some times...)


so, as for "restoring"...

i'm basically more interested in getting the bike presentable/road wothy....

i bought it on a lark and am using it (the best i can) to learn the ins/outs of bike maintainence/upkeep....

when it is all said and done, i'll try my best to sale it, but if not, no biggie....

the skills i learn along the way, will be well worth it (i.e., that is why i'd rather not dump too much into new pipes if i the old ones still work)...

i was considering that paint though....

thanks...

- prime

I just did my 80' 550 pipes. I sanded it with course grit and then finished it with a fine(water) paper and went with a high gloss high heat black engine paint. Looks like new. Tip.....go with multiple coats, but wait a good while between coats and use light coats to avoid running.
good luck

mdavis wrote:

I just did my 80' 550 pipes. I sanded it with course grit and then finished it with a fine(water) paper and went with a high gloss high heat black engine paint. Looks like new. Tip.....go with multiple coats, but wait a good while between coats and use light coats to avoid running.
good luck

its actually better to wait 10-15 minutes then recoat
(flash time) the paint will then cure as more of a single layer and you dont have to wait so long.
if you let the coats cure seperatly you have individual layers and it wont be as strong and takes alot longer.
when i spray i can usually get 5-6 coats on within an hour.