KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
11 Jun 2025 14:54 - 11 Jun 2025 14:55
Now that I have a stock 650 out in my garage I measured from the coil mount tab on the frame to the top of the back portion of the cam cover. Comparing that to the 650 with the Z1 engine swap the Z1 cam cover is 1 inch closer to the frame tab. No wonder the plug wires off the coil towers were so cramped on that Z1!
I plan to fabricate a shallow mount block out of 6061 to mount the coils about 1" forward so the plug wire ends can drop into the middle of the cam cover instead of right up against the back edge.
There is room to drop it slightly and go more forward.
I plan to fabricate a shallow mount block out of 6061 to mount the coils about 1" forward so the plug wire ends can drop into the middle of the cam cover instead of right up against the back edge.
There is room to drop it slightly and go more forward.
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: 11 Jun 2025 14:55 by Injected. Reason: info
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
11 Jun 2025 15:27
Nearly there
I have to say I think there may of been a little “blue sky thinking” that with a project of this magnitude you would have been able to “add gas, once round the block tune and head off to the swop meet

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
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
11 Jun 2025 17:34I have been going to this June swap meet for 15 years now and there have been several times I was "just two weeks off" from bring a new bike there.
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
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
11 Jun 2025 17:47
Would it be possible to re-drill the coil mount holes so that the coils could rotate 90 degrees so that the wires come out the sides rather than the bottom?
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough
www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough
www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 06:05 - 12 Jun 2025 06:39The tank "wraps" around the coil and there is no room to put it inboard because of the cam cover idler tower. The coil placement on a 650 frame is not great, on a 900/1000 its better.Would it be possible to re-drill the coil mount holes so that the coils could rotate 90 degrees so that the wires come out the sides rather than the bottom?
I tried reversing the coil so the wires came out to the front, but it was just as bad if not worse because the wires were cut to work on the back side only when they were on a 650.
It would be better if I had 90 degree end terminals on the wires coming off the coil, but I don't want to redo all the ends. The other issue with the wires coming out to the side is that they would interfere with the spark plug boots.
It works as is but it kinks the wire too much for my liking.
I might also look into putting some heat shielding around the bottom of the coils and the bottom of the gas tank where it crosses the cam cover. Like I mention before there is 1" less air gap under the tank than on a stock 650

I am not sure if the coil needs heat shielding but the bottom of the gas tank may need it more.
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: 12 Jun 2025 06:39 by Injected. Reason: info
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 10:40
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
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 10:47
Have a safe ride and get lots of spares from the swap meet😁😁
KZ650B1 frame number 225
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- Nessism
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 10:49Bummer! (just kidding)
I'm watching this thread, hanging on every new post. Pulling for you to get this monster on the road ASAP! Good luck with that! And thanks for all the details and photos. Great entertainment for guys like me.
Ed
Carb O-ring Kits : www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/61807...-o-ring-kits?start=0
www.kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/618026-new-owner-things-to-know
1981 KZ750E2
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/604901...z750e-project-thread
Carb O-ring Kits : www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/61807...-o-ring-kits?start=0
www.kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/618026-new-owner-things-to-know
1981 KZ750E2
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/604901...z750e-project-thread
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 10:53
Cool bike. I'll keep eyes peeled.
1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 11:38Sounds like your planning to be there.Cool bike. I'll keep eyes peeled.
I am always camped out at the blue X on this map, just up from the Kawi Triple guys.
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
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
12 Jun 2025 14:18
Weather permitting I plan to be there for a few hours Saturday morning. Its a nice ride over for me. Always good to see the bikes. New bikes old bikes. Always interesting. Been going a long time. Never know what you'll see.
Old guy, black jacket with KZR patch on one sleeve.
Old guy, black jacket with KZR patch on one sleeve.
1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
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Re: KZ650 Sleeper Build (KZ1000 engine transplant)
Yesterday 17:12OK, I will keep a eye out, and please say hello if I am around camp... most of the time I will be in the shade with a beer if I am not walking around.Weather permitting I plan to be there for a few hours Saturday morning. Its a nice ride over for me. Always good to see the bikes. New bikes old bikes. Always interesting. Been going a long time. Never know what you'll see.
Old guy, black jacket with KZR patch on one sleeve.
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
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