Author Topic: 1981 Invader Project  (Read 13363 times)

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mswyka

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1981 Invader Project
« on: May 28, 2019, 07:32:46 PM »
I think that by now I have comments and questions about this sled in a couple of threads.  But, since it is now in the garage for a summer rebuild I am thinking that it deserves its own dedicated thread, so here goes. 

This 81 Invader came to our home late last year.  Although the former owner said that they "rode it last year and it just needs a carburetor adjustment", it was not difficult to tell that this sled had been unloved for several years.

4,100 +/- miles on the odometer tells me that this sled has been run, and likely run pretty hard.  Mis-matched bolts and missing parts tell me that the sled has been apart and put back together at least once.

Attached are photos of A:  How she looked when she first came home - well, maybe how she looked after being powerwashed.
  B:  The suspension after rebuilding,  C:  The track that I hope to install when all is said and done, and D:  Its current state in the garage.  Well, actually the belly pan and instrument panel are now removed.

Interesting development this evening.  When the engine came out I couldn't get the temp probe out of the thermostat housing.  So I just took the thermostat housing off.  Tonight I put some heat to the thermostat housing and was surprised to see the temp gauge respond.  This is going to be interesting if that gauge can be saved.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

Interceptor398

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2019, 07:39:21 PM »
This will be fun!

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2019, 06:52:11 AM »
Here are a couple more photos of the chassis up on saw horses, evidence of needed repair to the front support arm, and the dash panel with the thermostat housing attached.

I am open to clever ideas to remove the temperature probe from the thermostat housing without breaking probe.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

rminier

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2019, 11:35:31 AM »
 That rear skid looks awesome. Nice work.   8)
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.

rminier

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2019, 12:03:27 PM »
 I'm amazed how much longer the heat exchanger is on the '81 compared to my '79's.
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2019, 05:20:12 PM »
I'm amazed how much longer the heat exchanger is on the '81 compared to my '79's.

I  know our 340s have short heat exchangers, but I had thought all of the 440s were the longer version.  I will have to pay more attention to the chassis that we have in the machine shed.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

gixxer6

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2019, 10:40:32 AM »
Looks like a great project!  Nice work on that skid, they can be the most challenging part of a restore. 

I would suggest using a cutoff wheel to CAREFULLY slice the housing perpendicular to the threads on either side to loosen the nut.  A working OEM temp gauge is hard to come by, but the housings are a dime-a-dozen...

Also, if you are in the market for a good one-piece dash panel let me know, I believe I still have one or two real nice ones for sale. 

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2019, 04:51:12 PM »
Looks like a great project!  Nice work on that skid, they can be the most challenging part of a restore. 

I would suggest using a cutoff wheel to CAREFULLY slice the housing perpendicular to the threads on either side to loosen the nut.  A working OEM temp gauge is hard to come by, but the housings are a dime-a-dozen...

Also, if you are in the market for a good one-piece dash panel let me know, I believe I still have one or two real nice ones for sale.

Great minds think alike.  I too was thinking of cutting off the housing.

I will think about the dash panel.  Partly I am thinking of conscripting my kids to 3D print me some new ones.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2019, 06:52:27 PM »
Success.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

neworiginal

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2019, 07:57:33 AM »
Looking forward to following and learning from this thread. That is a sharp looking sled. May have to find one myself after I finish my current projects.
1979 Invader 440, 1980 Invader 340, 1985 Yamaha XLV, 1980 Ski-Doo Citation SS

gixxer6

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2019, 01:28:09 PM »
Glad you got it apart!  Let me know if you need a new housing, I have a box full of them. 

We have a couple 3d printers at work, but unfortunately they are no where near big enough to print a dash panel.  I do still have my template for making aluminum dash panels...

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2019, 03:58:14 PM »
Glad you got it apart! 

I am very grateful that it came apart.  It was a bit more brittle than I expected.  Fortunately we too have a crate of engine parts.  The effect of way too many bad cranks.

Working on these sleds has given me a firm appreciation for anti-seize.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2019, 04:03:53 PM »
In a separate thread we discussed the track and the studs.  I have pulled the photos into this post along with a comparison between the studs that I have been running and the studs in the new track.  The studs that I have been running measure 1.17 overall and are sold as 7/8" studs.  The studs on the new track are 1.42 overall.  In the bulkhead I have measured 2" of clearance between the bulkhead and the drive sprockets.  I still need to get a set of tunnel protectors and check my clearance against them.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

mswyka

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #13 on: June 04, 2019, 07:14:37 PM »
A little clean up of the belly pan.  The pressure washer was on loan.  It came back late Sunday and gave us an opportunity to do a little cleaning.  There are about a dozen blemishes that need to be cleaned up before paint.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

Interceptor398

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Re: 1981 Invader Project
« Reply #14 on: June 04, 2019, 07:20:31 PM »
It is a little better than the one on my 81.  I did manage to squirrel away a couple NOS pans for some day down the road.