Author Topic: XL350 valve retainers  (Read 7205 times)

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Offline 80-85 husky

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2013, 02:23:29 pm »
cheers, seems like a BSA build for a 1500 dollar bike when its done... beggining to wonder what im doing!

Offline FourstrokeForever

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #16 on: March 22, 2013, 04:36:31 pm »
Building a big bore 420 from the old 350 motor will cost you plenty, that is for certain. I just built one so now my "cheap" pre78 racer isn't so cheap. Putting in a needle bearing cam is a must do I reckon. Have a look at most early XL heads and you will be hard pressed to find one that isn't flogged out on the cam end faces. It cost me around $700 to do my head. That's just for the machining which involved welding the the relief slot, (a common cause of head gasket failure), surface grinding, tunnel boring for the roller cam, refacing the rockers and bigger valve seats for the inlet.
Cam, Valve Springs, alloy retainers, slotted cam chain wheel, HD cam chain and big bore head gasket all came from XL-Int. I can highly recommend them as I had no problems with the service at all. Emails were replied to promptly and all questions answered. I had stainless valves made in QLD which again was no drama. I already had a big bore kit which I got with a heap of parts a few years back but expect to pay at least $450-$500 plus. You need to speed up the clutch gears as well to have any hope of the STD gearbox holding together. Clutch gears cost $400.
I was lucky enough to find a 1977 XL350 with only 1700 ks on it and clean oil in it so the big end and gearbox are all good to go.
I've made a 1 3/4 tail pipe but still need to get the header section made. No doubt another $150 bucks at least.
All up the motor build alone is around 3K.
Now I just hope that the build of the bike is worth it in that it handles well and does everything it should.
I will find out at HBBB!
Arrogance.....A way of life for the those that having nothing further to learn.

Offline TT5 Matt

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #17 on: March 22, 2013, 06:13:26 pm »
i remember reading on this site that they were using vl /dore pistons out of the rb30 nissan motor for xl420 motor,they have valve relieves that should match up with the xl head as well

Offline 80-85 husky

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #18 on: March 22, 2013, 08:54:37 pm »
Next question please..... whats a 350 worth? i see they are not that common? this is a total basket case motor has been disassembled for years in the back of a van (sounds half ok? i thought so... untill i saw the "van" ...no doors, or windows on the van!!) yeah so real oxidised mess..$200 im not sure i can even start to think of the reality of that rebuild..... i'm a pull it to bits, clean it and bolt it back together with a spit shine rebuilder... might pass it over....

Offline euro bikes

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #19 on: November 25, 2013, 08:09:21 pm »
I just bought two 77mods 350XL engines for $150.00  ,don't know what they are like yet ,one is sitting in my 1976 HUSKY frame  while i think what to do with them.

Offline FourstrokeForever

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Re: XL350 valve retainers
« Reply #20 on: November 29, 2013, 09:57:00 am »
I just bought two 77mods 350XL engines for $150.00  ,don't know what they are like yet ,one is sitting in my 1976 HUSKY frame  while i think what to do with them.

Build yourself a Hybrid with the Husky frame and Honda motor.... Trust me, you will have fun. The Honda donk is a real ripper of a motor once it's been tweaked. Plenty of torque and an amazing top end.
My XL420 is a fantastic bike to ride. The surprising thing is that it required bugger all fettling once the build was done. It was great straight off of the work bench....apart from brakes! I did stiffen the suspension up a bit but that's all I've had to do apart from filter cleaning and oil changes!
Take it on buddy  ;D
Arrogance.....A way of life for the those that having nothing further to learn.