the 79 Honda CBX turbo project is finished, with one exception. I am waiting on a Mikuni HSR 42 flat slide carb that I ordered a month ago from Terry Kizer at Mr. Turbo in the U.S., and which seems to have disappeared into the maw of Canada Customs, never to be seen again...... :
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Going to order another one Monday and deal with the shipping claim on the first one.
everything is finished, motor is fully back together, all valve clearances set, made silicon hose manifolds for all the turbo manifolds, and Earles braided hoses with all Aeroquip fittings for all the oil and vacuum lines, including the boost gauge and the mechanical oil pressure gauge. Learned quite a lot about hot rod stuff in the process, and turbo installs.
Metmachex swing arm was a bit of a challenge to fit, wound up having some custom bits made, but it all worked out in the end, even got the stock chain guard installed (has to have a chain guard to pass provincial inspection to get a plate) by "modifying" it with a hack saw and a Dremel
the front end is lifted directly from an 82 CBX, slightly larger diameter fork tubes, slightly better brakes, but still period looking. Adapted the 79 front wheel to fit the 82 forks, as well as the 79 front fender.
the entire bike has been gone through carefully and thoroughly, every last nut and bolt, I even rebuilt the turbo myself with a new plain bearing and new carbon seal, after I bead blasted it thoroughly.
did lots of heat containment, hot side of the turbo is wrapped in a "turbo blanket" intended for a Garret T3 that I made fit with some trimming and stitching with stainless steel safety wire, battery is wrapped in several layers of heat block, lots of heat block material under the seat and tank to keep my gentleman bits untoasted. Also used the ever controversial heat wrap tape on the exhaust piping to keep temps down, this heat wrap is made from basalt fiber, actual crushed lava rock supposedly. Should hopefully keep me from burning myself, since I have started this build I have seen video of a similar turbo CBX running, bloody exhaust was glowing purple red, way to close to the riders parts.....
brand new charging system, complete, too hard to get at the alternator stator etc., don't want any charging surprises that would require the turbo to come back out to get at the charging bits.
"finished" is a bold claim, and nothing is really finished until the carb arrives, the bike is running, then the fettling begins, but assembly is certainly finished now, including making and installing an intake manifold, running the fuel line, vaccum line, and dual throttle cables for the Mikuni flat slide I am waiting on. Hopefully when the carb arrives I can just install it and fire the bike..
8)
left the bike with its "in period" air brush "art" so far, still undecided on a paint job. Way too much time and money in this build already, frankly, not overly inclined to pay for paint even if I paint it myself, at least not until after it is running and if it proves mechanically sound....
Paul LeClair
Sweet Paul, I'd love to have a fang on that sucker!