77 650-B1 to 79 650-D3 Frame Swap Project

I have a 77 650 B1 which I bought from my brother in Tennessee a few years back. To make a long story short my brother died shortly after I acquired the bike.

I tried to title the bike in Florida and the vin doesn't match the Tennessee Title...so I have had title problems the whole time I have had it. Since it is sentimental to me I did not do the ebay part it out thing, instead I kept hunting for a frame that had the proper paper.

A member here (kawsakiman) is hooking me up with a 79 650C4 frame that I will have in a few weeks.

From what I have been reading the 79 has bearings in the swing arm and the 77 has bushings. What else should I look at to do this swap. My 77 is a complete runner and the 79 is frame without swingarm. I am assuming the bodywork will go right on, is this true? Will this swap work without hidden surprises?

It all should work as long as C4 is for a custom and not the SR.

Mark

Will the B1 swingarm fit the C4 frame? If so will I bush it or bearing it?

Just swap your swingarm in as long as the bushings are ok.
You will need to probably use the B1 swingarm bolt as it may be a different diametre than the C4(3?). The C4 uses a sleeve over the swingarm bolt that the B1 does not use.
A 79 C model should be a C3.

the bike was a 79 kz650c. it had the regular tank and was a triple disc bike.
my brother in law grabbed the forks and swingarm, rims etc. for his 650.
the vin starts out with kz650c023xxx. i may be wrong but i think it will work for what he is trying to do.

the kicker is he don't have to pay for shipping. my cousin moved to coco beach a couple years ago but he is comming up here next week to go hunting.
he said no problem to throw the frame in the back of his truck and deliver it to florida for him.
sometimes i guess the stars do align.

well here is a picture of the frame. maybe some other member has more insight for kawickrice.

Well The stars do align sometimes I guess. kawsakiman I can't thank you enough for what you are doing for me. It even has a blinker mounted and looks to have the harness too.

My project begins and this will bring some big grins to my face since it will be legal. I rode my 650 for about 4 years with a Z1 tag on it and never got caught now I don't have to worry

Thanks kawasakiman I feel like a school kid that just saw my first tit.

Should have no problems swapping everything over looking at the pics. One thing I'd suggest is clean the frame up and paint it with some appliance enamel (black of course) since you're starting with a bare frame anyway. That stuff is damn near as durable as powder coating, has a great gloss to it. Also, swap in the tapered roller style steering head bearings since you've got it torn down that far. Also gives you a chance to paint the triple trees with the enamel. You'll have to swap the rear brake actuator since you're putting a B swinger on the C frame, but that's no big chore. Other than that just give your electrical a thorough once over, cleaning, and dielectric grease on all the connectors. Might even take the time to pull the wiring out of the bars and make sure you don't have any bad spots getting ready to create a short for you.

Here is a pic of what the condition of my 650 is in. I am actually embarrassed that I let it get like this. It was a daily driver for a few years and I have ridden it to Daytona Bike week a couple of years a couple of 800 mile round trips to Georgia with daily commuting in between.

My 900 was in worse condition when I started on her a few years ago so I know what I am up against and I look forward to the project.

I parked the 650 when the 900 was roadworthy and as you can see I did not even come close to storeing her the correct way. Believe it or not when I get the carbs cleaned up she will fire on the first kick.

You have heard the saying out of sight out of mind. This is the classic example. It was stored with a cover but still outside and you can tell. (I swear it wasn't this bad when I covered her up).

Since I have two bikes that right now are daily riders a Z1900 and my GS1100. I hop on which ever one appeals to me at the time. One is set up for touring and has a fairing and the other is for hell raising. So in a few months I will have three to choose from.

Keeping two old bikes running is a job that never ends and now I add one more to the mix, I must have a sickness or something.

I will try to document the project and take plenty of pics and post them as I make some progress, but that will come in time. I am looking forward to this I think

When my 650 project is done this will be my next project.

There will be at least a few minor differences, but I don't know of any showstoppers. For example, the footpeg mounts on the B1 and C1 are each attached with a single bolt, but later bikes used diffrerent mounts with 2 bolts. Ed

Will a rear drum mag from a 440 LTD fit the 650B as far as the cush drive and brake drum diameter goes? Also what about the bearing for the axle?

If not which model rear drum would be a direct bolt on for the 650B?

550 LTD I believe.
Herk knows IIRC.