GS1000 head swap?
- Kitten Tooth
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GS1000 head swap?
02 Feb 2011 15:45
Hello everyone. I was checking out Another thread and there was some talk of GS1000 16 valve Heads being compatable with KZ1000 engines.. Beings i have to do valve lash adjustment on my bike before summer, ill have that all apart anyways. My main concerns are bolt pattern, cam chain, and pistons.. I Just got off the phone with my mechanic and he said that i would need different pistons that had the spots machined out where the valves come down.
I would also need a new cam chain. Do you guys think this project would be possible? Note- i dont have like ANY moneyXD So this would need to be kind of a cheap swap out.
I would also need a new cam chain. Do you guys think this project would be possible? Note- i dont have like ANY moneyXD So this would need to be kind of a cheap swap out.
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000-K LTD
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
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- DFIGPZ
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
02 Feb 2011 16:07
First off a GS1000 suzuki is a 2 valve motor now a GS1100 or GS1150 is a 4 valve motor. and yes it s would be a lot of coin to convert it.
1984 750 Turbo
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- APE Jay
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
02 Feb 2011 23:20
The katana 1000 is a 16 valve. It would be WAY to much work. Absoutly everything is different.
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- trianglelaguna
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 00:25
no
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- Kitten Tooth
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 01:31
mkay, all i needed to know

1981 Kawasaki KZ1000-K LTD
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
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- kawsakiman
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 05:18
if only it was that easy.
someday i will be able to afford my kz habit.
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- PLUMMEN
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 06:27
check with hardrock,he can tell you where to cut it

Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- notaduc
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 14:19
Feel like Im missing why you would want to swap heads? If you want a multi-valve engine, get one.
If you love your kz, then love it for what it is.
If you love your kz, then love it for what it is.
1980 (mostly) KZ1000
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- Kitten Tooth
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 14:57
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! i really do. But i would be SOOOO proud of myself if i could pull this off:) plus i mean, what would this add, like 50HP?
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000-K LTD
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
1983 Suzuki GS300L-D
1982 Suzuki GS300L-Z sold:(
1976 KZ400D3
1973 Z900... I WISH
DO A BARREL ROLL!!
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- PLUMMEN
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 15:09
more like 10-15,$500 per hp is kinda pricy,try nitrous! :laugh: :laugh:
Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- hardr0ck68
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 22:14 - 03 Feb 2011 22:15
PLUMMEN wrote:
Hey man, your right! I am sure if you looked hard enough you could find a head that fits close enough to make it work. Anything can be done with enough time/money/skill (I have the time and the money comes and goes, the skill however is all provided by a friend )
As for the "it's not a KZ anymore" folks, Tell that to those guys running vortec heads they don't strip the kz badges off of their bikes, at least the head I am working with is a Kawasaki!
So far I have $250 invested in parts; but I am still a long ways out. I bet it could be done for less then $1000 sans labor. I won't know how much HP I bought for all this until I get it to a dyno, but its all about giving the finger to people who say it shouldn't be done!
check with hardrock,he can tell you where to cut it
Hey man, your right! I am sure if you looked hard enough you could find a head that fits close enough to make it work. Anything can be done with enough time/money/skill (I have the time and the money comes and goes, the skill however is all provided by a friend )
As for the "it's not a KZ anymore" folks, Tell that to those guys running vortec heads they don't strip the kz badges off of their bikes, at least the head I am working with is a Kawasaki!
So far I have $250 invested in parts; but I am still a long ways out. I bet it could be done for less then $1000 sans labor. I won't know how much HP I bought for all this until I get it to a dyno, but its all about giving the finger to people who say it shouldn't be done!
1977 kz650 c1
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
bought it because I was told it would never run again...I like to prove people wrong.
Last edit: 03 Feb 2011 22:15 by hardr0ck68.
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- turboguzzi
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Re: GS1000 head swap?
03 Feb 2011 22:53
how did that watercooled 16V head story ended?
cant seem to find it
bet engine must be running by now, beating all new comers down the lights....
cant seem to find it
bet engine must be running by now, beating all new comers down the lights....
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