Project Christine. (GS1000s)

[sycomoto]

Might be worth getting a vibrating tumbler/polisher and chucking all the bolts, springs, small brackets etc in it for a few hours then electroplating once de-rusted. Nice to see original items staying with the bike and will save you time and money sourcing replacements.

Brian’s taking a load of stuff to put in his works degreaser and ultrasonic cleaners. Other bits will get chemically stripped or vapour blasted. All parts will be painted or plated as original so no plastic coating on this old girl. I want to keep her as original as possible.

 

[barny]

I did the same with removing the engine from my GS850. But fitted it using the engine on a car tyre on its side and put the frame over it. It took 2 men and as you say a lot of swearing to get it out and me and wife 10mins to fit and stand the frame and engine up job done.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I did the same with removing the engine from my GS850. But fitted it using the engine on a car tyre on its side and put the frame over it. It took 2 men and as you say a lot of swearing to get it out and me and wife 10mins to fit and stand the frame and engine up job done.

Aye
That was a trick an old restorer told me
Always put the frame on the engine and not engine in the frame
Works every time
Far simpler

 

[Pluribus]

I’m in, keep the pictures and updates coming.

P

 

[snelly]

Engine to frame for me the last time; saying that my Z1B rolling chassis was behind the sofa in our front room; and it was 44yrs ago;

 

[peepingtom]

superb ! there's one on the cover of classic bike this month. beautiful bikes , good luck

 

[Neil W]

First two times I took the kat motor out ( 80's and 90's) and then replaced it I managed on my own , last time when I rebuilt it with a big bore kit and ported head etc I was in my late 40's and it took 3 of us to get the lump back in the frame. Old school is bloody heavy and I would struggle nowadays

 

[sycomoto]

Today I’ve been stripping the cockpit down. All I can say is 45 year old wiring sucks ass. All the rubber grommets that hold the bulbs in place have pretty much rotted and split so new ones will be needed which means a full day unsoldering the bulb holders then soldering them back once fitted to the new grommets. All part of the fun I guess.lol

 

[sycomoto]

Today I’ve been mostly cleaning the cockpit area on Christine. I know it’s unlikely anyone will ever see behind the clocks or notice the wiring loom but I thought the old girl deserves to look mint in every area. Happy everything now looks new. Just got to wait now for the new glass panel for the top of the clock cluster and the rubber bulb holders.

 

[Doc]

Bloody hell you have your work cut out.

 

[sycomoto]

Bloody hell you have your work cut out.

No shortcuts on this puppy.lol. She deserves to be restored properly and sympathetically. I don’t want a showroom queen but want her to look as she would have looked in 1980. We won’t be going polished to mirror finish with matching number exhausts etc. she will probably have a nice period 4 into 1 ( the standard 4 into 2 sounded shite anyway) pipe for a nice growl.
I’m actually loving this rebuild.lol

 

[shifty]

what a great project !!!
i had a couple of gs1000,s in the early eighties, one was gs1000s, had astralight wheels, gsx1100 swingarm, koni shocks, wiesco 1085 bore kit and the cheapest mod of all that worked a treat was to drop in a exhaust cam from a gs750

 

[sycomoto]

Clocks and clock mount cleaned. New glass and seals for the upper gauges. Now just have to wait for the new bulb holders and rubber grommets to arrive so I can spend a good afternoon soldering and getting everything plugged in. Then that’s one whole chunk done.

 

[barny]

Does this have self cancelling indicators and do they work? My gs850 had one it worked for about 2 months once I got it back on the road then it stopped on one channel. Its a solid state box sealed with plastic so no way in and a new one 10 yrs ago was £150. So I replaced them with a standard relay job done.

 

[sycomoto]

Does this have self cancelling indicators and do they work? My gs850 had one it worked for about 2 months once I got it back on the road then it stopped on one channel. Its a solid state box sealed with plastic so no way in and a new one 10 yrs ago was £150. So I replaced them with a standard relay job done.

Not sure TBH. I read somewhere that they do but they self cancel after only a few blinks. I guess I’ll find out when it’s all back together.lol

 

[Flintlock]

The original 4 into 2 on mine rotted away pretty quick & had a 4 into 1 fitted ( can't remember make now) A better sound and IMHO made the bike look better.

 

[sycomoto]

The original 4 into 2 on mine rotted away pretty quick & had a 4 into 1 fitted ( can't remember make now) A better sound and IMHO made the bike look better.

On the basis a pattern 4 into 2 can cost around £3k I’m going with a nice 4 into 1. Delkavic do one that’s similar to the old Alpha pipes of the 80s for about £450

 

[Neil W]

Norman Hyde was doing a licensed copy of the old Harris 4 into 1 system , cannot get more old skool for a gs1000, also Marving do some systems

 

[Tinytim]

No shortcuts on this puppy.lol. She deserves to be restored properly and sympathetically. I don’t want a showroom queen but want her to look as she would have looked in 1980. We won’t be going polished to mirror finish with matching number exhausts etc. she will probably have a nice period 4 into 1 ( the standard 4 into 2 sounded shite anyway) pipe for a nice growl.
I’m actually loving this rebuild.lol

What sort of budget have you set for this project, not including the price of the bike, if you don't mind me asking

 

[sycomoto]

What sort of budget have you set for this project, not including the price of the bike, if you don't mind me asking

I’m working on about 2k but that’s only cos I’m doing most of the work myself and using equipment mates have got. Things like painting is only costing the price of the paint. Mates vapour blasting machine will be my full time job for a couple of weeks and I’ll be doing some of his work for him. Hopefully the engine won’t require anything more than gaskets and seals. So should all come in on budget.
I’m lucky I found one that under the dirt was a very solid machine.