Frames and engine swap ideas

[Huskerdoo]

I'm kind of curious, has anyone ever tried an 83/84 aircooled engine swap to a mid-late 80's single backbone monoshock frame? Might be kind of cool, a better chassis with a nice, simple air cooled motor

 

[Kartwheel68]

The only problem I see would be the different exhaust outlet, air cooled is on the side, water cooled in center. Otherwise, should be a bolt in.

 

[Boogie]

No never tried it, but, while we're on the subject of swap ideas...

How about building a retro Husky street cruiser from a NEW air cooled bike?

Perhaps use a NEW Royal Enfield and dress it up to look like a 60's or 70's husky. Add Husky guards, tank, exhaust, seat etc etc.
Feel free to start shooting me down in flames in 4, 3, 2, 1....

 

[jimspac]

We are all entitled to our imaginations, but to the original question;

I looked into putting an air cooled 430 into the 1986 400WR that has a rear engine mount issue preventing the 400LC from being assembled. If I were going to go through with it(and just might now that I have an extra frame now) I would weld in a longer downtube to accomodate the exhaust.

 

[auto]

I have a husky 4 stroke frame that has a unsplit front tube that will work,Was going to try that myself.If your interested in buying it pm me

 

[Michel Dufayard]

Something like that ?

 

[Michel Dufayard]

Or that ???

 

[ruwfo]

No need to go thru all that , you can put a single shock swingarm on a dual shock bike.. I had one.. 1982 250WR with a mid
90's single shock set up..all it takes is a little welding for the top shock mounted, every thing else is stock Husky.. here's some pics..
Husky John

 

[fran...k.]

I will make a few comments.

Why not go to a four stroke from the older single cam section. I put an 1988 engine in one (1999, soon after that I think the swingarm pivot got even bigger and might not work too well) but did have to mod the frame at the exhaust and make a custom pipe among other things.

The mono shock does create more stresses at the swing arm pivot than the dual shock set up. The mono shock gives the ankles lots of room compared to almost anything ever so I wouldn't go add a top mount for the dual shock frame as ruwfo mentions above. Though if you like to grab the bike with your ankles or that area of your body this might work out just think out the stresses involved.

From my parts pile It looks like when they went to the 14 mm swingarm bolt for mono shock as opposed to 12 mm bolt the case itself was made somewhat more robust in that area. Not a lot but some so making a new insert is a bit of a step in the wrong direction. At least without some corrective action to this aspect. There may be a bit more evolution in this aspect than I have mentioned or am aware of. Just change the cylinder studs, cylinder, cylinder head off a water cooled one and the rear insert issue goes away. Even the extra cover bolt to keep cracking at the locating pin near the kick starter can be added to an earlier cover.

The pipe will need adapted to the frame and should clear the plastic tank by quite a bit if you don't adapt the aluminum tank and seat it goes with.

I prefer the 1987-1988 seat over the 85-86 and generally the frames are improved. The swingarms have a big aluminum piece connecting the sides but some of them have a smaller piece more forward and I use them where possible. This is probably for all 85-88 I didn't work at a husky shop just got a lot of parts bikes. Perhaps it is wr and ae that have that extra cross piece xc doesn't seem to have it in my parts pile but it isn't every possibility by any means.

fran

 

[fran...k.]

No never tried it, but, while we're on the subject of swap ideas...

How about building a retro Husky street cruiser from a NEW air cooled bike?

Perhaps use a NEW Royal Enfield and dress it up to look like a 60's or 70's husky. Add Husky guards, tank, exhaust, seat etc etc.
Feel free to start shooting me down in flames in 4, 3, 2, 1....

View attachment 28006

Now if we want to divert, For those of us that like long stroke motors take a look at the 250 yamaha v twin cruiser. It does have quite a wide rato transmission. I havn't actually studied one with the intention of stretching a dirt bike (one I had registered at one time) chasis up close and in person.

Fran

 

[Huskerdoo]

View attachment 28020
Or that ???

That's extactly what I was looking at! Looks like the front down tube needs to be modified or swapped? . I know the 83-84 downtubes have an offset to clear the exhaust. Do the single shock 4 stroke frames have an offset? I'm guessing not. I have enough spares to build a 500 engine. Sticking it in a monoshock frame is looking like something I may start here in a month or two, looks real cool!

 

[fran...k.]

I know the 83-84 downtubes have an offset to clear the exhaust. Do the single shock 4 stroke frames have an offset? I'm guessing not.

The four stroke ones do not have that offset however neither does that 1982 and a half silver streak 500. The silver frames do not have that slight curve.

 

[suprize]

While I was dealing with water pump issues, an aircooler looked reeaall good!