HOOD CONFUSION

[dr1979-340]

Did Kawasaki use left-over 1979 340 Drifter hoods on the 1980 440 Drifter.

Picture 1 is a 1979 340 Drifter hood.  Notice the direction of the vents on top of the hood.

Picture 2 is a 1979 340 Drifter hood on a 1980 440 Drifter.  The vents are different.

I don't know the history on this 440.  The 1980 hoods were a lot different though.  Has anyone heard of two different hoods made for the 1979 340 Drifter?

[5kaws]

That could be 78 and 79 difference
The 80 kaw drifter had  the light blue on the side like this one

[dr1979-340]

I've just never seen one with the vents going the other way.

Yes, agreed.  the 1980 was different.  I just think they have a 1979 340 hood on it.

The sled is definitely a 1980 440 Drifter.  See pic of engine.

[dr1979-340]

Here's another variation on a 1979 340 Drifter hood.  This vent in the back sure looks to be OEM.

[5kaws]

From what I remember some of the vents where options back then.
Perhaps someone placed them differently ?
I've seen some with on vents before also. 

[Tory944]

Ya, I think some of those vents were for the cold air vent kit.  I have a few 79's and they both have vents in different spots.

[dr1979-340]

Thanks for the feedback.  It still is not the correct decals for the 1980.  That's minor.  It appears to be in fair shape.  I'll know more when I pick it up on Saturday.

[BornagianKawi]

These are dealer templates for vent location. Drifter Hood Right and Left rear wall. Template#39166-3594. Drifter Hood Top Right and Left Template#39166-3593.

[5kaws]

I think that's a 79
This is my 80 drifter 440 back of hood.

[Tory944]

This might clear things up on the Drifter hood vents...

     I purchased a 79' 440 Drifter Fan from the Kawasaki (Nebraska warehouse) a few years back.  The sled was never registered as all the sleds at the warehouse were strictly for promotional, advertising and testing purposes.  This 79' had only 100 miles logged on the odometer.  There were vents installed above your knees on this 79' but you could see that there were decals there at one point (as 5kaw showed in his photo).  The tunnel was also marked "DES" for "destroy" as the sled was a test sled from Kawasaki and not to be sold tom the public (even though I ended up with it).  LOL  The vents were clearly installed through Kawasaki ...   not by a high school kid with a dull hack saw and a tube of GOOP.

  Also, I have a 79' Invader from the warehouse that sported an Interceptor snow flap!  Not the typical "K' flap you see on all the Invaders.  Original rivets and bumber though. Another "DES" sled.

[Tory944]

Here is the "DES" 79' Drifter from the warehouse...   check out the vents...

[dr1979-340]

All good stuff!!  I've still never seen a '79 340 or 440 hood with the top vents facing that direction.  Maybe I have something rare??  I can't wait to go pick it up Saturday!!

[Tory944]

Ya, I see what you mean about the top vent "direction".  I'll take a look at my other Drifter hoods and see if any match yours...

[dr1979-340]

Yeah, Tory that was the first thing I noticed.  I've only been at this for 10 months, but have looked at a lot of pictures of Drifters and that's the only I've seen with those top vents that direction.  Like I said before, I'll have to examine it closely when I get it.

[5kaws]

That's the only hood I've ever seen with the vents like that.
I have seen tons of drifters and never have had vents turned  like that.
It may be a 1980 kaw but the hood is the wrong color and stickers are wrong to be an 1980.
80s Kawasakis had my color scheme like my drifter. 78/79 had that color and decal scheme  Like yours   
I have a  80 kaw invader 340 that looks like my  80 drifter. 
But my 79 invaders have that color and stickers scheme like yours.
and the 1981 kaws had the darker color paint and diff color stickers. 
 I may be wrong about the one you are getting , excuse me if I am