Yamaha RD400\questions

Ok guys, got a few questions. Getting ready to pick up an RD400. It is in rough shape. Will need engine rebuilt and a total restore! It appears to be black now with a dented up tank. The chrome is all rusted, the seat is ripped up and foam is molded.

Is there a way to find the original paint scheme?
Are engine parts available? I think she's seized up.
Is there a way to fix up a dented tank?
Anything else I should know?

Thanks guys, might be my first restore.

Pretty physced about doing this project, I am doing it to ride the bike.
Any links for parts or other rebuilds would be appreciated.
Thanks Much!

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

http://www.2strokeworld.com/forum/index.php

Before starting I would suggest looking very carefully at the likely costs involved. It sounds like the bike you have is very bad, and may well cost a lot more to do, than what you might pay for a bike in reasonably god running order.

^ what he said!. The RDs are great bikes, and there are a lot of them around. Seems like you can get a very nice one for about $2000 pretty easily, as long as you're not set on getting a Daytona. Buying a ratty RD for $750 will be way more expensive in the not so long run. Then again I'm the kind of guy that has to do everything the hard way, so I always buy the basket cases. They're fun to build, but currently, I must have $4000 into my RD350 that I hope to get $2500 for next spring. That's gonna hurt, I think.

Thanks for the replies guys,
I can pick this bike up for 250. I dont have 2000 to put into a bike right now. Bought a new bike last summer, bought a trials bike early this year. I do have a full shop to work out of and I do have dribs and drabs of petty cash to throw down when needed. I know I'll have more into it than it's worth but I'll give it to my kids someday.
I just wanna make sure I can get what I need as far as parts to bring it back to original.

hell yeah.
that sounds reasonable so long as it has paperwork
or you live in one of those cool loose states.

I love my RD. Haven't ridden it yet
but sure is fun to throw money at.

I haven't had trouble getting any parts
and I've pretty much bought all the weird stuff.

HVCcycle.com
http://www.hvccycle.com/parts-catalog.html
makes it easy

Boats.net
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1976/RD400C/parts.html
makes it cheap

Do some research on the parts for xfits.
Found out I could get a rear MC kit for FJ1100 for 1/3 the $.
Yamaha part # 2YK-W0042-50
FWIW.

Thanks Bloodweiser! I'm gonna try to do it all myself except for the machining. I'll post up a few pics when the Skins game is over!

Well, here it is! I know it's rough but cosmetic can be fixed.

sorry for the double pic!

I picked up a 76 RD last year (with 2 engines) for $300.00 thinking it was a good deal.
So far, I'm at $1,300.00 and that's just to put the motor back together. :huh
these things are money pits you just throw cash at...

Old, neglected motorcycles are always super cheap and easy.

I got my 79 in pretty good shape, but I need to do somethings and well about 2500 more into it I am ready to ride it

Anybody tell me what year and model it might be from those pics? What color the bike might have been new?

Look at the head badge, it will tell with that you get the color, BTW 400's where 76-80

It is a 76 or 77, 75's were 350's and the 78 and 79 had cowls on the back of the seats

Color fir those years was mostly Chappy Red, but there were a few blue ones and green ones those two years also.