Modern Vespa

Lookin good! Lets see this baby come to life

It's alive! It started, ran and idled then slowly wouldn't idle. Dummy didn't final torque the flywheel nut before starting. Sheared the Woodruff key clean. No damage at all. New key, retimed and upped the idle jet to a 55 from a 45. Runs bitchin now. The stand worked out well. It's cleanup then cocktail time!

Right on! Great job!!!

Remember...video or it didn't happen!

I have a good one but don't know jack shit about how to post it. I couldn't even send it to a buddy with my phone! Phone said it was too big. WTF, it was 32 seconds!

I'm getting better. Screwed up twice and posted it!

I've been there, done that, bought a new woodruff as my reward.

That fuel tank looks suspiciously like it's from a KTM?

Yep, came in handy when I couldn't find my Jazz Racing overflow tank with shutoff valve. It's been one step forward and eight backwards lately.

This is definitely a rite of passage for building motors. Just buy about ten of them in your next order and you won't need another one for at least a few years.

Right on!

I haven't made that particular mistake yet, but plenty of others. The worst had to be putting the autolube together wrong then running a few miles.

I feel like I'm in good company.

Glad the mistake didn't damage your engine and you can continue onward…

Getting ready to paint the frame next but need to spray more primer after some final bodywork. I've been looking for a new primer gun and ran across this one on Amazon. Shot a test pattern today with some high build primer and the 1.8 tip. Pretty smooth to me. I don't think you can go wrong with this gun. It also came with a 1.4 tip.

https://www.amazon.com/BEETRO-Professional-Automotive-Stainless-Regulator/dp/B08ML8FZ99/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mbzJ70aer_khcjePsiy6K1K1AqEN0Ml-l3395f_SQA07YCeg4JAalRonBg5UgPii-liplz9j-QUOmDBQ6idtUtWxkrkrwRNUy4ibFF2vWN_CxnzxDje9cIw2mjKnqdsjErlbfTEPoOTuWBKo9wXAlxA1yxkXEymq_A0n8SFp68sJvMEMfIsxyBMDCigL4a3G9HSg8tI0BRreEwEe4qcqrA.EA0PEQC4qSgZpHm9jP1vb9ssh1slGhumbnZzAk7vrxU&dib_tag=se&keywords=beetro+1.8+spray+gun&qid=1724789881&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Looks decent to me.

I recently used a HF purple gun with a 1.4 tip to spray epoxy and high build. It worked really well even with only normal reducing. First time it worked that well. The secret: turning up the pressure as high as it would go…then adjusting fan size and volume. Bigger tip is better though.

I had a paint question for you. Yesterday, I tried to buy paint for my bus project (PPG/Omni). For years I have been able to get it in 2k acrylic enamel or acrylic urethane with the factory color code. I prefer urethane. They didn't seem to want to help me. They looked at me like I had 2 heads when I mentioned single stage.

Apparently you can't get urethane anymore or at least not in that color. Since I've already started painting, I need to stick to the same color. When I did my 200, they matched a sample of the OG color to a current Subaru color. No problem, because it was very close and I painted the whole bike. Orange is trickier.

Wondering what other options there are. A local guy said he could match it for me in Defleet paint.

There are also places online that sell what looks to be 1k polyurethane mixed in factory colors. Wondering if it's any good.

Any ideas for options? I would love to order online. Trips to the chain-owned paint store are always a tedious ass ache even when they can actually make my paint.

Thanks!

What paint code did you want? I can check with our guy. We get Omni single stage all the time. Maybe the guy out by you was just oblivious.

Thanks!

The explanation I was given was that the old formulation of this color contained trace amounts of lead and the regulations have changed. Struck me as funny because Americans are at greater risk of ingesting lead from bullets, which are much easier to get.

Anyhow, here is what I have for color codes. Thanks so much for the help.

Well, no word from SIP but these Cuppini trim pieces appear to be stainless. Started fitting them. They are a great way to find out if your legshield needs more bodywork. Coming along nicely. Right side done and the left needs just a little more.

Finished the bodywork on the frame. Trial fit some pieces and they appear to be lining up. The part that bugs me is the previous damage to the left legshield. I can't get it to stretch anymore for the trim to touch. Other than that, the cowls will have black rubber for final mounting. Installing the engine tomorrow then it's ready for final primer unless something else happens. 🤷🏼

If it bugs you, make a template from the good side and it should tell you where it's out. At this point, I might be inclined to do some cheating.

No need for the template, I can see where the frame has to stretch. It just doesn't want to bump anymore. I think the trim can close a little more to tighten up the gap but I'm done fighting it.

Fit a new tube for the engine mount rubbers. I prenotched the washer to give it a little more purchase. The tool worked pretty good. One more hurdle finished.

i too had to come up with a tool to squeeze the bushings to set the washers.

It fits! Engine hasn't been in this frame since 2008. The exhaust had no interference and the center stand had plenty of room. I was worried about that. Today has given me a positive attitude about getting this done. Making everything straight and fitting right is worse than doing the floor rails. 😂 The rear shock from SIP is looking really good. The fan shroud had to be straightened and now it can be painted silver.

Yo Andy, thanks for putting up with my phone calls and requests for pics of your GS. You've made this project much easier for me, especially in the fine details.

Definitely a milestone to get the engine back in its frame! You might play it safe and remove the coil spring from the shock and cycle the suspension to make sure that you have enough clearances for everything? Since the Vape CDI isn't stock, that could be a possible suspect area.

Thanks whodat! I checked travel and everything was good. I realized my mistake of not checking travel WITH the cowl on after reading your post. 😵‍💫 The Vape cdi is smaller than the stock coil and has plenty of side clearance but sits higher on the case. Don't want that ramming into the cowl. I really don't like the SIP bracket and will be fabbing my own. One step forward, two backward. I did manage to relocate my battery box closer to the side for more storage room in the left cowl.

It's just coming from past experiences dealing with frame and cowl clearance issues with Vape brackets and SIP shocks. If you're going to make you're own CDI bracket, i'd fab it up similar to a stock P series bracket that utilizes the rubber vibration isolator bushings. Aluminum is nice, but it will have a much shorter life than a stainless or a steel version.

Their bracket blows. One, it's vertical and two, they ovalized the holes for the rubber grommets. I'll come up with something better. At least it stayed on for the run up.

Looking good.

You wide frame resto guys have my respect.

Thank you, I'm losing what little sanity I have left.

That's not just a Wideframe Thing. The quality of your work is next level, though. I'm also really looking forward to seeing this thing running, both here and next spring in person at ROM.

Thanks Chandler! Really looking forward to seeing everyone at ROM. No rain! 🤣

Yeah, they really should just rename the damn thing to "Rains of March." Of course, I keep showing up, so it can't be that bad.

Sanity is over rated.

Just saw this. Guessing this is the same kit as that chart. Does look like T5/p200 performance. Impressive.

I have one on order ; will not be surprised if it comes to a reality in 2025.

That was a pretty good video. He even rode up an incline to see how it did in 4th. I'll definitely be getting one when they get released to the masses. Would be nice to have it dialed for ROM next March.

Finally got the legshield trim to fit the frame and floor runners. Bodywork seems in check. Blasted some primer on today. Will start block sanding and checking for boo boos.

I think bodywork is a drag but worth the effort. I'm rewarding myself with this steak today for getting through the worst part.