Subject: RE: Eldorado front-end conversion
Author: David Washburn
Date: Jan 6, 2002, 8:52 AM
Post ID: 1709309611
| Halchuk wrote: I looking at converting a 74 Eldorado single drumfront end to a T-3 dual disc front-end. |
Hey Tom, the privileged few who own disk brake Eldos have doubtless
noted the similarities between the disk brake front end and the T series
front end. Here is what you need to do:
Use standard (drum and disk the same) 35 MM Eldo fork tubes. I got mine
from "Forking by Frank".
Acquire a "T" Not "T-3" front end including front wheel axle, etc.
The essential parts that you won't have are:
Axle and spacer -- T series has different fork spacing see Guzziology
for details.
Two top plugs for the fork -- You will have to buy or fabricate these.
Supposedly unobtainable but who knows?
Fender braces -- Supposedly Cal II bits work, I'll believe it when I see
it as the forks are different widths. If it works, great. These would
be a pain to fabricate and chrome and I expect are thin on the ground in
the junkyard.
Fender -- Drill and fill the one you have.
Brakes -- After doing all the hard stuff this is comparatively easy.
You can stick with one disk or go nuts with upgrades. The reason to use
T instead of T3 is that the forklegs have the appropriate lugs for the
fenders and brake calipers. T series were often upgraded to two disks.
I think there was even a factory kit. Here are the relevant parts
pages:
For Disk brake
See:http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/guzzi/v7-850/p95_98.htm
For drum brake
See:http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/guzzi/v7-850/tav12.htm
Of course you can graft on any front end that will fit but I like to use
stock Guzzi parts as much as possible. The Disk brake Eldo was a one
year only bridge between Loop and Tonti frames. It's cool to see what
the Guzzi folk cobbled together to save parts and tooling.
David