well you guys don't have me convinced! i have a jack-shaft setup all thought out and i plan on gearing it for speed. i really want to hear your thoughts on chopping up old school metal. yes it is a ratty bike (many repair welds and dents bent forks etc....) <this bike has no hope..... and Mark G i plan on lengthening the bike too. < I want to do something similar to oldsalts's arco build
P.S. if you guys want ill post some pics
Alfalfa
I think it usually wise to give careful thought before severely altering a 40 year old car or mini bike or gun. With that said, I have always taken the position that the owner has the right to do what ever he wants to something that he owns, especially if a lot of originals still exist. The world loses nothing.
If you decide to put the big block in the CAT bear in mind that a steel table, with a lay-out scribed on top, will be [absolutely] necessary to get the frame, after cutting apart, to again be straight and the steering head pointing exactly where it should. Eye-balling it won't work too well. Plumb bob, squares and etc. will have to be employed. I know you can do it, just don't get in a hurry.
I attached Before and After pics of my big block arco. The bike was given to me because it was laying in a field and was hit by a tractor pulling a disc. If it was not badly bent and smashed up I would not have streached it 4 inches and raised it 1-1/2 inches.
By the way, it rides and handled nicely. A very satisfying mini bike. And it's fairly quick/fast as I used a TAV drive.