Converting 2003 Classic to a Drifter '99

[OR Seedman]

Sounds like you have it under control....

[drifter-paul]

Excellent idea - the "T board" and having the bike higher .

I tag all electrical connectors (and still take photos) .

I'll  start with removing exhausts , draining radiator and moving / removing , shaft-drive disconnect then connector bolts , unbolt lower right frame section, lower the engine, THEN remove manifold & other attached hoses .

Will take Photos as I go .

Thanks ,
"was having a little Seniors 'lack of confidence' moment , but am back on track now"

[OR Seedman]

It's not really hard to do...but you definitely have to split the frame on the right side to slide the motor out after removing all the carrier bolts and disconnecting the driveshaft (make sure you don't loose the little pressure pin in the driveshaft when you disconnect it).  you then just basically drop the motor down a couple of inches and roll/slide it out the right side.  I used a frame jack on rollers that the motor easily balanced on, but I did have the bike raised up by putting several 1 inch thick wide boards under both the front and rear wheels to give me more room.  I then stabilized the bike with tie-downs on the front handle bars to a big board with S hooks to attach to and that was set up like a "T" by being attached to the boards under the front wheel.   This kept the bike in place while I wiggled the old motor out and the new one in.  take lots of pictures while working on it to make sure all your connections are correct when putting it back in.... 

[drifter-paul]

Thanks OR Seedman ,

That's very definitive .

I stripped it to the bare frame (had frame sand blasted and repainted , along with all black bits over a decade ago) . So, I wasn't looking at doing it the quickest way then .

I stripped from the top down , but saw a photo here of someone who had removed the 4 bolts from the manifold or the regulator and lowered the engine . The tank was off , but I can't remember how much more they had taken off up top .

Guess I will have to find out , just like to do the shortest way when possible .

I may be able to get a J1 engine with 61,000K (38000 miles) , so that will be the way to go - given your input .

Thanks heaps

[OR Seedman]

there are some real frame differences between the two....for instance the way the saddle bags mount to the frame is completely different between them.  Just swapping the rear swingarm won't solve that issue....Wiring harness are different too...and the way the fuel connect from the tank to the injector manifold it completely different...lots of little issues would be cropping up.  I suggest, as others have, just swapping the motors.  Not really very hard to do...as long as you have a rolling floor jack for a motorcycle, one person can do it.

[drifter-paul]

Hoping it might be easier than taking the engine out of both . Clymer says remove everything including the horns ..

[Bucko]

Why not just swap the motor from the classic into the Drifter frame?

[drifter-paul]

My '99 Drifter has done the big end .
I am looking at a 2003 Classic, and swapping the Drifter parts , fenders , tank , solo seat .
I found a thread on this in the forum , but can't locate it again .
Not in Mods .
Anyone able to supply the thread ?
Thanks heaps .
P.S.
I'm thinking of using the '99 swingarm to retain the fender mount points & swapping the '99 front forks into the Classic for the same reason .