1983 Gpz550 Rebuild

So it started simple enough. I had an itch to do a large scale rebuild down to the frame, and had been browzing the local Craigslist ads. I had seen a few Gpz550's on the forums and really like the looks( I was a former ZRX owner).
I found an ad for an '83 Gpz550 that "needs work but all the body work was there" What he didn't say in the ad was the body work was all there...in the yard somewhere. So I went to look at it and it didn't look too bad. The bike was mostly complete, not all rusty like some you see....but maybe more than I wanted to get into for $325. So I told him it was too much work and decided to leave. "Well, would you give me $200?" It had a carbon fiber Muzzy worth that much I thought. Worse case I could part it on Ebay. So I bought it. The owner never transfered the title so I had to get the title from the previous owner, a buddy of his. So this is what it looked liked when it came home:

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WTF? That looks like an 80 750 LTD to me and a nice one at that.

For some reason it changed my thumbnails..it looks fine in the "preview"..if you click the link the pics are there. This forum works a little different than others I've used. I'm still trying to figure it out.

Okay now that I can see it I'd have to say ya done good. That's a steal for $200, low miles and no obvious corrosion to deal with. Fix a few things, slap some paint on it and you can make yourself a nice chunk of change. Or keep it and ride it they are nice, fun, little screamers.

The owner tried his hand at tank repair. That didn't go so well for him.
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At this point I didn't even know if it would run, but some jumper cables and some carb spray, and it tried to run!

Luckily when I started this project in February, there were a few Gpz's on Ebay. I found a new tank and cut off the Muzzy. I cleaned up the carbs out, but jetting is still way off without a jet kit.
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My covers and tail finally showed up, and I got the jet kit installed.

My plan is to get the bike complete and work out any bugs before i invest in the expense of a total rebuild.
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I found an N.O.S. bezel on Ebay for $49 and cleaned up the gauges.
From this:
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To this:
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Too bad the speedo didn't actually work!! I found a broken speedo cable and replaced it with a new one....but that didn't help the speedo any. Grinding and popping still, I tore it apart again and found a bent speedo frame from going down and a stripped gear.

Some more parts showed up! Some cheap pods filters for now, and a headlight.
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I found a new exhaust on Ebay for $199.00 and got it installed. I needed to get the half moons and collars, because the old exhaust had that built in. Installed a fresh set up cheap tires to get through the build. I

saved the old exhaust head pipes in case someone wanted to do a custom exhaust build. **hint, hint **

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Fast forward to how is sits today. Lot of new parts. Found an NOS speedo and paid $140 for it, but it didn't work either!! I'm now running a KP/H speedo someone in Canada swapped me for some extra sidecovers. New handlebar tubes,grips,levers,windscreen and mirrors.

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MRA still has new windscreens available too!!!!

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I plan to be a little better with pictures when i tear it down to the frame. So far i probably have more in it than I could have bought a clean one for, but alot of stuff was bought with money i made off Ebay selling other stuff I had laying around.
It rides and drives really nice and I feel confident now in taking the time and money to redo it right.

Almost forgot....I picked this little item up off of Ebay and sanded it up to this condition.

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