TOPIC:

Forget the oil leaks for now. They all come from common places around the head, the valve adjustment cams, the head cap, etc. Common stuff (on these first-gen 400 engines) that you have plenty of time to worry about later.

Change the oil and filter, clean the float bowls and jets, get a lawnmower gastank, fill it and add 1/2 cup of seafoam and start it up!

What I mean is, find the functional stuff first....

those pipes are in no way stock on at least the back half but it should still be fun to ride. beauty is in the eye of the beerholder

Tanks, btchalice. I knew they didn't look like anything I'd seen on a KZ. I took a look at kz400.com and, best as I can tell, it's a D3. Looked inside the tank and it us Uuuuuuuugly. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me. With another kid on the way and a job that has me working late and doing the occasional travel, plus my stellar knowledge of the internal combustion engine, I figure I'll have it running in time for my unborn child to get his/her drivers license.

Biquetoast is correct don't worry about the oil leak from the head gasket, that was a very common problem with that engine. Kawasaki had a recall on them and even with the better gaskets many still leaked. The good news is that all they leak is a little oil from the passage that oils the valve train, compression is not affected. They finally fixed it when they redesigned the engine in 78 and went to an external oiling tube. As to your front brake doing nothing, you have a hydraulic disc brake try changing out the old fluid and bleeding the system. Another good source of info for you would be. www.kz400.com/index.html

Congrats, it looks a lot like my 75.

I ended up replacing the brake lines with stainless, lots of wet sanding with brake fluid of the caliper and piston to make them work, cleaning the carbs and buying a new tank.

Right now I'm fighting a crankshaft leak, I found the starter clutch to be a real pain.

George