73 Z1 mutt/mixed breed Build

Result, lot cheaper than pulling the frame 

Not out of the woods yet. Put my other triple tree on and still have the same problem. Look at the relationship between the bottom clamps of the triple tree and the level, still think the heads twisted. May have to change this to a 76 mutt build. I'm going to order some new fork tubes and see if that does anything but I really doubt it. I have a 76 frame I can move over to and and see what kind of shape it's in. I'm working on a head job right now for the '73 engine replacing valve guides and cutting seats etc. Does anyone know where to buy a APE VGK900 valve guides individually? I bought a reamer off of Amazon.... Yeah I know... And didn't test it before I used it on one of the valve guides, it was listed as a 7 mm reamer and turns out it was 7.02 mm. Now I need to replace one new valve guide and of course get the correct reamer

 

Coyote wrote:

Does anyone know where to buy a APE VGK900 valve guides individually? I bought a reamer off of Amazon.... Yeah I know... And didn't test it before I used it on one of the valve guides, it was listed as a 7 mm reamer and turns out it was 7.02 mm. Now I need to replace one new valve guide and of course get the correct reamer

  

What type of reamer are you using ?
Those APE guides are Aluminium bronze and cannot be reamed with a HSS reamer.
You must either size them with a carbide hone, solid carbide reamer or an expanding diamond reamer as available from Goodson tools.
I have never seen any of these available from Amazon.
 

The wrong one , just ordered a Performance CBN solid carbide reamer 7.00mm.

Coyote wrote:

Not out of the woods yet. Put my other triple tree on and still have the same problem. Look at the relationship between the bottom clamps of the triple tree and the level, still think the heads twisted. May have to change this to a 76 mutt build. I'm going to order some new fork tubes and see if that does anything but I really doubt it. I have a 76 frame I can move over to and and see what kind of shape it's in. I'm working on a head job right now for the '73 engine replacing valve guides and cutting seats etc. Does anyone know where to buy a APE VGK900 valve guides individually? I bought a reamer off of Amazon.... Yeah I know... And didn't test it before I used it on one of the valve guides, it was listed as a 7 mm reamer and turns out it was 7.02 mm. Now I need to replace one new valve guide and of course get the correct reamer

 

Well that sucks 

A few more observations I've made that I wanted to share. The two heads I was considering using are in the first picture. The one on the left is a 73 head. The one on the right is a 79 head. I was leaning towards the 79 since the fins were in better shape and I do know there are differences in the valve spring setup and the what appear to be EGR passages but the stock 73 valve cover should still work. Then I found the cracks highlighted in the 2nd picture. Now I've moved back to the 73 head. Does anybody have any experience with repairing broken fins? The cracks in the '79 head render it junk I'm assuming, and was wondering if I cut the fins off of it and had them attached to the 73, is that even possible?

Picture 2&3

 

The cracks can be repaired by "Stitch welding" (a process used a lot in the vintage car world where replacements just aren't an option) but I have no idea of cost

I kinda figured it could be repaired in a sho nuff pinch, but would probably have better luck finding another. Any ideas on repairing the fins?

I have seen some fin repairs using other fins that were invisible.

Find a car engine builder the spicificly works on aluminum heads. They will be able to either build up weld on the broken fins then you shape as necessary or could weld on sections of donor fin. 

All the welders I have used preferred to build up the fin rather than weld on a piece from another head. But I"m sure there have been others who have welded in donor fins