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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 16 Aug 2011 02:36 #469316

  • Redox6022
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I am desperately searching for an air box for my 81 GPz550. I've been looking on Ebay and they seem to have every other air box in existence other than mine. So I have two questions to ask this forum:

650ed gave me list of other kz's that had the same airbox:

KZ550-A1 (1980)
KZ550-A2 (1981)
KZ550-A3 (1982)
KZ550-C1 (LTD) (1980)
KZ550-C2 (LTD) (1981)
KZ550-C3 (LTD) (1982)
KZ550-C4 (LTD) (1983)
KZ550-D1 (GPz) (1981)

Had one hit from craigslist, he gave me a quote then never returned my call.

If anyone has one, I will pay you over market value and shipping. I DO NOT want to put pods on then have to jet a carb. I know nothing about them. I seriously know more about late 80's British fuel injection (Lucas :blink:) than I do about them. I also don't want to put more stress on a 30 year old engine by dumping more fuel and air into the combustion chamber, possibly shortening the life of my engine.

Second question:

Can I put an air box on from a different kz model? I've seen certain kz750's and kz1100's that have similar shapes as my air box, but I don't know the diameter of the tubes coming out of them. Has anyone ever retrofitted a different air box on to another bike? From what I can gather, my carb intake ports are 39mm. I can make the thing fit if I need to.


If this guy ever gets back to me, everything will be great, I would have found an obscure early 80's part within two days.... I've done bigger magic in my life trying to restore an 83 Mercedes 240D and an 89 Jaguar XJ40.


I'm begging here lol. Thanks for listening.
1981 GPz550

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Last edit: by Redox6022.

. 16 Aug 2011 10:43 #469351

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 16 Aug 2011 11:19 #469358

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bummer. just gotta watch...but you are ....for sure on e-bay one WILL surface, you can also do a parts yard search and post in one of those parts finders...i did this on a hard to find 84 550 tank...and got calls with stupid offers and a few decent tanks/prices....at the time there were none on e-bay
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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 16 Aug 2011 15:58 #469407

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1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 16 Aug 2011 20:06 #469452

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Airboxes from other 550's (Than the A, C, D models) won't just bolt in, so I doubt airboxes from other size bikes will work, and if they did, you'd be back to rejetting anyway.

They will come up on ebay. I remember last year, for awhile, there was a bunch of them. It's usually when someone parts out a bike.

11010-1103 or 11010-1104 (Canadian version) are the part numbers. The Canadian version likely does not have the cutout for the air hose to the air-injection system, but that is a minor difference.

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Last edit: by loudhvx.

Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 16 Aug 2011 20:22 #469453

  • Redox6022
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The Kawasaki.com website is great with their detailed parts scheme. I did verify which year kz fits mine. I didn't know about the online salvage yards, will check them out tonight. Thanks for that.
1981 GPz550

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 17 Aug 2011 10:36 #469523

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Found one on motolane.com!!! Mfolks, I owe you a beer or three.
1981 GPz550

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 17 Aug 2011 16:03 #469562

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Glad I could help!
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 19 Aug 2011 18:50 #470119

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So I get the airbox in next week. Are you able to install it on the carbs without removing them?
1981 GPz550

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 19 Aug 2011 19:58 #470133

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Get new rubber ducting(boots) too, as new ones make the airbox installation much easier.
Soak the boots in very hot water with a little fabric softener to make them pliable. If they start to get stiff, use a hair dryer to make them soft again.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 19 Aug 2011 21:25 #470156

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Having to put the box into its cubby hole in the frame section, yes I believe removing the carbs will be the best bet. Did you get the mounting hardware? Two little L brackets, the hose that goes down to the breather, etc?
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
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Air box nightmare 1981 GPz550 20 Aug 2011 13:44 #470318

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Yes, as Motorhead said, the airbox can only be installed with the carbs off. The back of the airbox has two slots for two small L brackets to hold it to the battery box. That's the only thing that supports the back of the airbox. The front of the airbox is supported by the short tube that goes from the crankcase breather to the port on the bottom of the box. That tube is what makes it more difficult to move the airbox around when installing the carbs.

You have to slide the airbox as far back as possible, (the L brackets have slots to allow for this). Then slide the carbs in from one side or the other between the manifolds and the airbox boots. I angle the nose of the carbs down below the intake manifolds as I line up the airbox boots. Then in one massive pull, you pull the carbs back into the airbox boots, make sure they are all on, and pull the carbs as far into the airbox as possible. Some of the boots will lip into the carbs, you have to prevent that or it will be difficult to get them right later. Then while still pulling back, I tip the nose of the carbs up into the intake manifolds. Then wiggle them in by pushing forward. I use a tiny bit of antiseize on the engine side of the carbs to help them slip in better, and it makes it easier to take out later (but only a thin layer smeared on).

Make sure the carbs go all the way in to the manifolds. The rubber casting has a rib that fits into the groove in the carb casting. Make sure it goes all the way in so the rib sits in the groove. When the carbs are seated all the way in, the rack's casting lip will partially obscure the hose clamps on the intake manifolds. (You still can get to the clamp screws underneath.)

The airbox boots all have an offset. You have to make sure all of the offsets are in the right position or the boots will not seal to the airhorns. Make sure the spring clamps are all on, obviously, because you can't put them on after the carbs are in place.

The hotter it is outside, the better. You won't know the true joys of the airbox unitl you try to install the carbs when it's 45 degrees F outside. :angry:

There are photos etc for the TK-22 carbs in my signature.

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Last edit: by loudhvx.
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