79 GL1000 restoration time.

[blweigel2]

I have been frequently directed to this forum over the last few years, when google searches led me here with results to a question I had about different issues regarding an old wing. I didn't think of becoming a member until several months ago my gl1000 in the garage ended up becoming bunk mates with a younger sister, one that's had a much less privileged last few decades.

I have a beautiful 77 gl1000 that is my regular rider, and I will have a hard time topping the job done on restoration of that one. The guy that did it has been restoring old naked wings almost as long as I've been riding. Needless to say he got me hooked and I'm already 2 deep, so far..
My newest addition is a 79 gl1000 with fairing, trunk, and bags. I have stripped the fairing and bags, but have yet to remove trunk mount, I'm in need of a seat grab bar to replace the trunk mount once removed. I have spent countless hours on the internet looking for all the parts that are missing and lights and turn signals that were removed long ago when fairing and accessories added.

The PO was quite fond of rigging things the cheapest way possible. I have been removing wiring mess all over, his electronic fuel pump hanging out the side with zip ties, beer bottle caps glued on the carbs, etc.
I ordered a factory fuel pump to go back on, new radiator side panels (old ones are destroyed), and that's where I'm running into dilemmas.
I love the look of original, but when it comes to budget, is it worth the money for original head light mounting tabs(that are rusty at Best from ebay), a used headlight bowl (and rusty too), and old turn signals, and get things rechromed etc for probably 3-4 times more. Or to just get a nice new headlight and turn signals that look good on the bike and forget if it's original?
On that note my biggest dislike of the 79 over the 77 is the king/queen seat. I can't find even a used standard low profile seat on ebay(was hoping to find one to recover) so I may uncover the king seat, shave foam and recover this one.
Love the Corbin saddle but there's that budget getting in the way again.
I haven't tried to run the new bike yet, PO used to ride it so I know it runs. But want to run thru it first and check things one by one and clean them out. I know the carbs need synced, and may end up buying randaaks kit/video and rebuilding myself. I don't have much knowledge of the inner workings of gl1000 carbs. My 77 was done by a guy that is a carb guru, he only does classic hondas, and on the last one he rebuilt it hadn't run in 20 years, he put the carbs back on, and first press of the starter it fired up. I'm abit intimidated after seeing his work and the years of experience he has that I don't. But I'm several states away now so the internet will have to be a good enough guide.

All in all very excited to start this restore. I will post pictures asap! I am glad to have found a forum like this with all you seasoned"wing guys" to pick at some brains if I run into any walls along the way.

[flyin900]

Welcome to the forum lots of good info here both from the members and the Tech section. Check the for sale section or place a wanted ad for a stock seat, as they do pop up from time to time. As you already noted you could shave the king queen beast and just purchase a new skin to recover your remolded foam for a much more cost effective solution.

So did he use budget suds caps on the carbs or imported ones?

[Sugs]

Welcome to the site!

[blweigel2]

He used four different import beer bottle caps on the carbs actually ha.

[blweigel2]

Well getting into this project and the surprises are popping up, nothing too drastic yet luckily.
Slowly undoing the PO's crap job of anything he touched while owning it. Got about half of the extea wiring traced down, and cleaned up/removed. Ripped out electronic fuel pump, and all the zip ties, home made cap for tach gear, and the 1/2 inch!! fuel hoses he had crammed in there and squished on with rusty (not stainless steel) clamps. Replaced with a fuel pump that belongs on there, but waiting on fuel line to replace them all, as well as a Napa 3011 fuel filter so I can see thru it from now on. Got lucky, the tank isn't rusty inside so won't be too bad cleaning that up.
Haven't tried to start it yet. Before I test engine need to change timing belts, which are missing bolts on covers also.

The carbs have orange epoxy or sealant of some kind on top with beer bottle caps attached to them. I got one of them off, and the plastic cap on the carb is split. Weather that's the reason for the "beer cap fix" or the result of removing, I don't know. But now I need to fix all four, as they are all destroyed under beer caps. I saw on this forum or goldwing docs, cant remember which but I bookmarked luckily, someone sells new ones or refurbished them, so another part to add to the Xmas list.

[blweigel2]

On a side note, after seeing how expensive certain factory parts are turning up to be on eBay or whatnot, I decided to look for a whole parts bike. But instead found an older gl1000, a 75, and am picking it up not as a parts bike anymore, it will be my "factory specimen" to restore. Love the look of 75-77 so will keep it original. As for the subject of this thread, my 79 restoration, I will go original as the budget allows me to. I have kept all my previous restorations of old bikes as close to original as possible, but I have been there, done that, so on the 79 i will be customizing things that can be done cheaper than Oem and put a little spin on it. Nothing crazy, as I love this model bike the way Honda built her.