My '79 Special

Abraxxas1127 · Full Member Joined: Jul 01, 2009 Posts: 34

Well heres a few pics of my '79 I picked up a few weeks ago, 7700 miles when I picked it up. Gathering the thoughts and ideas as to what Im going to make it into as of yet but am having a blast riding it until I decide. I had some pics of the day I picked it up, but they were on my phone which has since ended up smashed on the freeway somewhere between work and home Rolling Eyes

Changes I've made so far besides all the general maint/tuneup things are the satin black paint (was a horrible maroon) a pair of dirtbike bars my buddy donated, cut off the stock mufflers and welded up these 2" cherry bomb angled exit shorty glasspacks from Autozone) which sound great lol and rejetted it afterwards, replaced the original tires which Im amazed still held air with all the cracks in them, sanded and polished all the flats on the front wheel and resprayed the satin black, rear wheel next now that I like the results. Sanded and polished the little "Yamaha" cover on the left engine cover to see what the cases will look like when done, fixed the couple oil leaks with help from the vault, thanks!! Smile

Updated the falling apart fuse block with an soldered in ATO style push in box and removed the front fender.

I will update when I start the real work, once I decide exactly what that will be!

jayel · Posted: July 14, 2009, 10:32 am Post subject: Re: My '79 Special

looks damn good right now, I'd say you've made it yours Cool

1ironhead · Posted: July 14, 2009, 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: My '79 Special

Very nice so far....You're off to a much better start then me....and you're in the wind.

1ironhead · Posted: July 14, 2009, 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: My '79 Special

THAN me

bbjsw10 · Full Member Joined: Jul 15, 2009 Posts: 64

I just bought a 78 special last Thursday, I put dirt bike bars on mine already too. Mine is maroon as well. I am thinking about going vintage dual-sport with mine.

Abraxxas1127 · Full Member Joined: Jul 01, 2009 Posts: 34

Thanks a bunch guys! Just ordered new coils and wires for it today, hoping to get rid of my intermittent high rpm miss the rest of the way Smile

Other than that this thing runs sweet now.

I like the vintage dual sport idea, Im leaning toward a swoopy looking hardtail made on my new tubing roller Smile

Rickrod · Posted: July 16, 2009, 11:09 am Post subject: Re: My '79 Special

Like what you did with the bike.
I have a 79 special also.
Did you cut off the cross over pipes?
What main and pilot jets did you end up with?

Thanks in advance
Rick

Abraxxas1127 · Full Member Joined: Jul 01, 2009 Posts: 34

Rickrod wrote:

Like what you did with the bike.
I have a 79 special also.
Did you cut off the cross over pipes?
What main and pilot jets did you end up with?

Thanks in advance
Rick

Thanks! Yes, the crossover on my '79 was actually part of the muffler body, I cut the pipes off about 3/4 of an inch behind the mounting bracket. I ended up with 140 mains, stock pilots which could probably go up 1 size, and the bottom clip position on the needles (so they are as high as the go) and air screws about 2 3/4 turns out. Runs perfect other than a slight high rpm miss which I think is a bad coil, have 2 new ones coming. Plugs are a nice coco tan and she pulls nice all the way thru and cruises smooth as glass.

MountainCop · Posted: July 25, 2009, 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: My '79 Special

Any way that we can hear a clip of the exhaust? I've been toying with doing something very similar with mine. Am I correct in assuming that you are still using the stock carbs?

Thanks in advance, she looks great!

cpt137 · Full Member Joined: Jan 10, 2009 Posts: 97

I'm heading down the same road, what kind of paint did you use and will it hold up to a gas spill?

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