Well, I bought a 1987 LT500R this past winter from a Craigslist seller only about 6-miles away. The guy was a member on here and 1st time 'Zilla owner. He had bought the rig for $1500 from a guy in Michigan, and then dumped $900-$1100 into it...87.50mm bore / wiseco piston kit / wrist pin bearing from Trojan Motorsports in Monroe Michigan, new gaskets, new wheel bearings, new Maier hood, $600 of new tires, new chain, new sprockets (41T & 13T), 10mm studs, and new FMF powercore silencer. Also came with nerf bars, another jug, head, extra TM38 carb, aluminum grab bar, desert front bumper, roost boost ignition coil, and some a-arm skid plates. I sold the extra top-end stuff for around $200. So...this is a $1300 Zilla (bought my '88 for $1200, so I'm on a roll!).
The fresh '87 top end has a wiseco piston & rings, and has been ported/polished rather nicely. Also has a PWK39 carb and a PTR pipe. BUT...the novice owner has the head installed 180-deg off -- the head stay is in front! LOL Amazing it ran ok. I have not started it since I test rode it b/c I don't know what all is going on inside the engine. No telling what the guy may have missed, forgotten, or messed up.
Carb needs attention since the guy was ''buddy-starting'' it, and had to pull start it when I looked at it. But when it was running...holy mother of God...it was noticeably quicker than my '88. Idle wasn't set either.
And someone had drilled a couple holes in the lower a-arms about 3" from the ball joint to mount the skid plates (morons).
Race-cut fenders have some mediocre graphics that are peeling. Seat is perfect. Polished aluminum wheels all around.
I was working on a Rotax conversion on one of my FL350R buggies, but this Zilla has sat in the corner of my shop long enough. My plans are to turn this into a powerhouse duner with a lot of stuff I've got in my stash, and includes...
Stay tuned!...
D$
The fresh '87 top end has a wiseco piston & rings, and has been ported/polished rather nicely. Also has a PWK39 carb and a PTR pipe. BUT...the novice owner has the head installed 180-deg off -- the head stay is in front! LOL Amazing it ran ok. I have not started it since I test rode it b/c I don't know what all is going on inside the engine. No telling what the guy may have missed, forgotten, or messed up.
Carb needs attention since the guy was ''buddy-starting'' it, and had to pull start it when I looked at it. But when it was running...holy mother of God...it was noticeably quicker than my '88. Idle wasn't set either.
And someone had drilled a couple holes in the lower a-arms about 3" from the ball joint to mount the skid plates (morons).
Race-cut fenders have some mediocre graphics that are peeling. Seat is perfect. Polished aluminum wheels all around.
I was working on a Rotax conversion on one of my FL350R buggies, but this Zilla has sat in the corner of my shop long enough. My plans are to turn this into a powerhouse duner with a lot of stuff I've got in my stash, and includes...
- PWK39 turned out to 40mm (my stash)
- Cool-head with 52cc dome (my stash, need to order o-rings for it)
- New V3 reed cage/intake (bought on eBay for $85 new in April)
- Swap out the a-arms with a spare set (my stash)
- Add headlight w/ chrome brush guard (bought on eBay this winter)
- Add lights/run switch cluster (bought on eBay this winter)
- New clutch pack & springs (my stash)
- Aluminum thrust washers (need to order them)
- Top-end gaskets (my stash)
- Case saver (need to order)
- Add an Armadillo rear skid plate (my stash)
- Replace rear brake pads (my stash)
- Replace fenders with an uncut glossy set of Maiers (my stash)
- Replace bars (Honda East)
- Replace hand grips (Honda East)
- Swap clutch cover and stator cover with my clear-coated set (my stash)
- I've got a SS cover bolt set I may or may not use (my stash)
- Battery, rectifier/regulator install (my stash)
- EGT (my stash)
- Trail Tech Vapor (need to order)
- Z400 extended hubs & paddles (my stash)
- Properly installed a-arm skid plates (my stash)
- Frame skid plate (fab)
- Check all stock wiring & make it perfect
- Closely inspect frame for any cracks, corrosion, etc and repair
- Compression test before & after
- Leakdown check before & after
- Jetted & plug chopped
- Dyno'd and tuned locally
Stay tuned!...
D$