Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
- zed1015
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
02 Aug 2023 16:14It's been done before as a last resort but not really recommended although i have had engines in that have had similar done ( 3 stock and 1 OS ) and were running just fine.Thanks for the info! got a question, I can only track down 3 oversized pistons. would it be possible to use 3 over size and 1 standard ? or would this unbalance everything ?
The OS piston would need weight matching to the others at the very least.
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- MrGMoto
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
02 Aug 2023 16:17
okay, thanks, I can get 3 O/S but can't find a fourth so was thinking of doing the 3 O/S and 1 standard or 2 standard and 2 O/S.

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- zed1015
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
02 Aug 2023 16:23What model pistons do you mean , 400,500,550 ? and why can't you use 4 std if you can use 2 .okay, thanks, I can get 3 O/S but can't find a fourth so was thinking of doing the 3 O/S and 1 standard or 2 standard and 2 O/S.![]()
AIR CORRECTOR JETS FOR VM CARBS AND ETHANOL RESISTANT VITON CHOKE PLUNGER SEAL REPLACMENT FOR ALL CLASSIC AND MODERN MOTORCYCLE CARBURETTORS
www.kzrider.com/23-for-sale/611992-air-c...lide-mikunis?start=0
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- Wookie58
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
04 Aug 2023 01:34 - 04 Aug 2023 01:34
It may be worth searching some of the Japanese websites for pistons - due to taxation and insurance brackets 400's where hugely popular in Japan (hence the flood of 400 imports to the UK in the 80's - GSXR's, CBR's, ZXR's etc) "cruzinimage" don't list them but probably worth an email?
1982 KZ1000 Ltd
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/filebase-alias?view=download...d-fault-diagnosis&ca
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/filebase-alias?view=download...d-fault-diagnosis&ca
Last edit: 04 Aug 2023 01:34 by Wookie58.
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- Injected
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
04 Aug 2023 16:12 - 04 Aug 2023 16:13
If your going to all this trouble and can afford the cost used good forged pistons = Wiseco 615cc kit
You get a nice bump in compression and some tougher pistons.
You get a nice bump in compression and some tougher pistons.
1978 KZ650B2 w 1197cc Z1 engine
1977 KZ650B1 w 750cc Spectre engine
1979 KZ650C3 w 831cc Hot Rod engine
1978 KZ650C2 w 762cc DFI project
1977 KZ650C1 stock restoration project
1978 KZ650B2 modified project
1978 KZ650B2 Injected Drag 831cc
1980 Z1 Custom Frame Drag 1327cc
1981 Z50R Honda tow bike
1977 KZ650B1 w 750cc Spectre engine
1979 KZ650C3 w 831cc Hot Rod engine
1978 KZ650C2 w 762cc DFI project
1977 KZ650C1 stock restoration project
1978 KZ650B2 modified project
1978 KZ650B2 Injected Drag 831cc
1980 Z1 Custom Frame Drag 1327cc
1981 Z50R Honda tow bike
Last edit: 04 Aug 2023 16:13 by Injected. Reason: sp
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- Sixten
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
15 Aug 2023 12:54
Instead of starting a new thread I can ask here maybe?
Would it be possible to put a 400 crank in a GPZ550 engine to make it 500cc?
Kr Sixten
Would it be possible to put a 400 crank in a GPZ550 engine to make it 500cc?
Kr Sixten
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- zed1015
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
15 Aug 2023 13:53 - 15 Aug 2023 16:36Yes! but you will still need to shorten the 550 block and use a shorter camchain etc.Instead of starting a new thread I can ask here maybe?
Would it be possible to put a 400 crank in a GPZ550 engine to make it 500cc?
Kr Sixten
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Last edit: 15 Aug 2023 16:36 by zed1015.
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- Sixten
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
16 Aug 2023 04:22 - 16 Aug 2023 04:43
The machining is no problem.
It should be possible to use the 400 cam chain I guess?
Would make a cheap and hopefully powerful and reliable 500cc race engine.
I found this engine en Europe.
www.motorparts-online.com/en/kawasaki/gp...994/engine/201523834
Says it’s 1989-1994 but it looks the same to me. Does anyone know if it’s the same?
It should be possible to use the 400 cam chain I guess?
Would make a cheap and hopefully powerful and reliable 500cc race engine.
I found this engine en Europe.
www.motorparts-online.com/en/kawasaki/gp...994/engine/201523834
Says it’s 1989-1994 but it looks the same to me. Does anyone know if it’s the same?
Last edit: 16 Aug 2023 04:43 by Sixten.
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- zed1015
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
16 Aug 2023 06:57That will do the job for the bottom end.The machining is no problem.
It should be possible to use the 400 cam chain I guess?
Would make a cheap and hopefully powerful and reliable 500cc race engine.
I found this engine en Europe.
www.motorparts-online.com/en/kawasaki/gp...994/engine/201523834
Says it’s 1989-1994 but it looks the same to me. Does anyone know if it’s the same?
They all use a hyvo camchain so which ever combo of parts is used the 400 chain will be needed.
AIR CORRECTOR JETS FOR VM CARBS AND ETHANOL RESISTANT VITON CHOKE PLUNGER SEAL REPLACMENT FOR ALL CLASSIC AND MODERN MOTORCYCLE CARBURETTORS
www.kzrider.com/23-for-sale/611992-air-c...lide-mikunis?start=0
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- Sixten
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
16 Aug 2023 07:52
Thanks for all the advice.
Maybe this can be a winter project for next season.
Maybe this can be a winter project for next season.
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- Sixten
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
31 Aug 2023 07:20
Hi again,
I found a 400 engine. Now I’m looking for a GPZ550 motor to donate pistons, cylinders and head for the 400.
What engine numbers would be the most powerful GPZ550 engine?
I remember reading somewhere earlier that the 84-85 engine had the best pistons/cams/head but I can’t find that now.
I found a 400 engine. Now I’m looking for a GPZ550 motor to donate pistons, cylinders and head for the 400.
What engine numbers would be the most powerful GPZ550 engine?
I remember reading somewhere earlier that the 84-85 engine had the best pistons/cams/head but I can’t find that now.
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- Sixten
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Re: Z550 Cylinders, pistons and head on Z400J bottom end?
07 Sep 2023 13:15
I found that engines starting with ZX550A have the best pistons. Unfortunatly not sold in Sweden. But I found a KZ550D engine that I believe is second best piston and cylinder donor
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