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VIN number - age of bike..

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by a100man, Jan 20, 2020.

  1. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    Hi All

    I have a new project in mind - it involves fitting a water cooled motor into a 550 frame and adding a mono-shock rear end. I have a spare frame with VIN 4V8 000790, so I'm guessing quite early. If its 40 years old it can be registered in UK as 'Historic' which means no annual checks and no annual road tax.. :)
    Can anyone age it?

    Cheers
     
  2. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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  3. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    Which bike is donor for the water cooled motor?
     
  4. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    4V800 = 1981 XJ550
    when short vin is put in this link
    https://dissingermotostorage.z13.web.core.windows.net/

    from way down on the tech topic modle id and vin
    COUNTRY: EUROPE

    MODEL NAME: XJ550
    STREET NAME: 1981 XJ550
    MODEL ID CODE: 4V8
    FRAME ID: 4V8
    SERIAL NUMBER STARTS AT: 000101
    NOTE: styling and features the same as North American XJ550 Seca model, has dual front disc brakes, no fairing, and an oil cooler.
     
  5. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    Well I think the Japanese market FZ400* motor will bolt right in, BUT before I buy one I need to see what service parts are available
    In particular new rings. I have some doubt that I could get them without sacrificing a limb or two.
     
  6. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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  7. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    I suspect you are right as the FZ400 and FZ600 were used in the same basic frame.
    That frame did not have downtubes running between 1/2 and 3/4 pipes though. Make sure the 400 has same exhaust spacing.
    You're going to want the 400's TCI box also as I suspect the redline is much higher.
    That would be a cool project but I think the 600 air would still spank the 400 water.
    A lot of trouble for a slower bike.
     
  8. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    Hi Simmy

    I think the 400 puts out about the same horses a the 550 (528) motor but is more revvy (12k vs 10k redline IIRC) - good point about the exhausts - didn't think of that aspect. I suppose the motivation is just to make something a bit different but with something of the looks of the classic RD350LCs we had here. Those now sell for well over 5k GBP or 6k5 USD. Ultimately whether I have the time/and inclination remains to be seen - got a divorce to contend with first ..:mad:
     
  9. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    View of FZ400 exhaust side - different?

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    That looks like the same spacing. You can sure see the XJ lineage.
    top speed on my 88 FZ600 is stated as 208 kph
    top speed on the 88 FZR400 is 198 kph.
    85 FZ400 would be slightly less than the FZR.

    I think if you could find a wrecked 400 then you could salvage whatever is needed, carbs, TCI, plumbing etc.
    Do you see many 400's in the UK?
     
  11. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    Hi - I never saw a 400 on the road, there aren't that many in UK as they would have been a 'grey' import, many more FZ600s Strangely I think I have a 400 Tacho on my Radian 600 powered 550 it needed to be electronic and I manged to shoe-horn it into the 550 'cowl'. I've got my eye on a 400 motor - it would be nice to make a compression check on it first though - it just intrigued me that there was such an early water cooled 16-valve motor in the lineage.

    I found the tacho thread...!

    https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/electronic-tacho-in-a-550.94297/
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2020
  12. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    600 about 8 hp more than the 400
     

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