Tank swap, what works

Calpantera · October 13, 2012, 06:40:26 PM

I have searched and have not found what I was looking for. I have a 93 and need a new tank, what other years fit directly and what other years kind of fit? I have a line on a 2002 tank but I am not sure it will fit OK. Pics of swaps would be great.

weedahoe · October 13, 2012, 08:23:10 PM

The newer tanks fit but you need the seat that goes with it.

Calpantera · October 14, 2012, 02:14:40 PM

Quote from: weedahoe on October 13, 2012, 08:23:10 PM
The newer tanks fit but you need the seat that goes with it.

Newer being what years? I have heard you an use an 02 tank with the older seat but it rides up on the tank more.

weedahoe · October 14, 2012, 02:44:38 PM

the 04+ are what I know more of

adidasguy · October 14, 2012, 02:52:57 PM

2001+ are all the same. The larger tanks started in 2001.
There have been threads on putting newer tanks ('01+) on older frames (89-00). Someone might remember where they are.

GSnoober · October 14, 2012, 03:14:26 PM

To answer your question as simply as possible, all 1989 - 2000 GS5's are basically the same, with some minor differences (for example, front brake was changed ~1996, IIRC). 2001 + 2002 are the oddballs which look more like the 2004+ models without the fairing and oil cooler, to name two obvious differences. The 2000+ tank and seat differ from the '89 - '00 models, matching the later 2004+ bikes and some electrical parts were also changed then (2001 + 2002), which can make it more difficult to find the correct parts for those two years.

That being said, all '89 - '00 seats and tanks are identical; if you want to make the swap, you'll need both a seat and a tank from 2001+ or it will look wonky.

OK, so adidas replied while I was typing this... If you want to see a classic example of the 1st generation GS with a 2nd generation tank and seat, check out the photos in this thread:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=39576.0

Incredible work; dgyver modded the h@ll out if it, and someday I want to build my own version of it...

average · October 15, 2012, 10:05:07 AM

Quote from: Calpantera on October 14, 2012, 02:14:40 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on October 13, 2012, 08:23:10 PM
The newer tanks fit but you need the seat that goes with it.

Newer being what years? I have heard you an use an 02 tank with the older seat but it rides up on the tank more.

Yes, you can. Not really a big deal but since i was doing the entire F swap a few years ago i went with the seat too.

Calpantera · October 15, 2012, 10:57:05 AM

Quote from: average on October 15, 2012, 10:05:07 AM
Quote from: Calpantera on October 14, 2012, 02:14:40 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on October 13, 2012, 08:23:10 PM
The newer tanks fit but you need the seat that goes with it.

Newer being what years? I have heard you an use an 02 tank with the older seat but it rides up on the tank more.
Yes, you can. Not really a big deal but since i was doing the entire F swap a few years ago i went with the seat too.

Ahhh Sweet! Local salvage yard has an '02 tank for $100 bucks, I saw one on ebay for $60 w/$40 shipping but its an '04 tank.
If its in the budget I will try to get the tank and do the swap this weekend! I wil post pics..

GSnoober · October 15, 2012, 04:16:05 PM

Don't forget that you'll still need the 2001+ seat with that '02 tank, or your GS will look kind of goofy. IIRC, the fit of the tank, the side panels below the seat and the seat itself will need some tweaking; I don't think everything lines up correctly... so please don't rush into this until you hear from someone who has actually made this swap.

Nice Camaro in your avatar (I checked out the original photo); have you considered adding some racing stripes to it? A white 350 convertible with Hugger Orange stripes served as the Indy Pace Car in 1969; I know yours isn't a convertible, but Hugger Orange stripes would be authentic...

Here's a link to a HUGE photo of it:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/9p946dj

Of course, (Imperial) Blue stripes would also look great, and that combination (white with blue) represents the official international racing colors for American teams (not including GP racing), although blue cars with white stripes have also been used. Still, IIRC, blue on white was used exclusively for a long time, and blue on white is still the official national racing color scheme here in the US, with blue numbers on the doors and a blue undercarriage (not that you should get TOO carried away with this stuff)...

IIRC, the '67 Camaro didn't have side-marker lights, but I can't tell if yours does or not, so I'm not positive which year it is. Doesn't really matter, just trying to exercise the old brain tissue before it rots away.

Good luck with this...

adidasguy · October 15, 2012, 04:32:08 PM

I did a mock-up when building Phenix to see how a new tank would fit on an older frame.
You can use an older seat, just a newer seat would look better.
You do have to fabricate something for the front tab on the plastics. The red tank is old - showing the tab and the newer black tank doesn't have it.
Due to differences in the tail construction, you can not use new tail plastics on the old frame (picture shows them side by side where black=new tail, silver=old)

New seat does fit. I just didn't take a picture of it when I did this mock-up. I was more interested in how the old seat would fit with a new tank.

On to the photos:

New tank. Old seat and plastics.

Old tank with old plastics and seat.

Close up of extra mount for the front of the plastics.

Note the new tank does not have the mount for the front tab of the plastics. You have to fabricate something.

Old and new tails side by side.

average · October 15, 2012, 07:02:26 PM

Quote from: GSnoober on October 15, 2012, 04:16:05 PM
Don't forget that you'll still need the 2001+ seat with that '02 tank, or your GS will look kind of goofy. IIRC, the fit of the tank, the side panels below the seat and the seat itself will need some tweaking; I don't think everything lines up correctly... so please don't rush into this until you hear from someone who has actually made this swap.

Nice Camaro in your avatar (I checked out the original photo); have you considered adding some racing stripes to it? A white 350 convertible with Hugger Orange stripes served as the Indy Pace Car in 1969; I know yours isn't a convertible, but Hugger Orange stripes would be authentic...

Here's a link to a HUGE photo of it:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/9p946dj

Of course, (Imperial) Blue stripes would also look great, and that combination (white with blue) represents the official international racing colors for American teams (not including GP racing), although blue cars with white stripes have also been used. Still, IIRC, blue on white was used exclusively for a long time, and blue on white is still the official national racing color scheme here in the US, with blue numbers on the doors and a blue undercarriage (not that you should get TOO carried away with this stuff)...

IIRC, the '67 Camaro didn't have side-marker lights, but I can't tell if yours does or not, so I'm not positive which year it is. Doesn't really matter, just trying to exercise the old brain tissue before it rots away.

Good luck with this...

I HAVE made the swap. My bike is a 90 but looks like an F at this point. The rear plastics didnt have the usual mounting points with the newer tank up front but for the hordes of newer tanks at there, its a win win.

Calpantera · October 15, 2012, 08:09:49 PM

Quote from: GSnoober on October 15, 2012, 04:16:05 PM
Don't forget that you'll still need the 2001+ seat with that '02 tank, or your GS will look kind of goofy. IIRC, the fit of the tank, the side panels below the seat and the seat itself will need some tweaking; I don't think everything lines up correctly... so please don't rush into this until you hear from someone who has actually made this swap.

Nice Camaro in your avatar (I checked out the original photo); have you considered adding some racing stripes to it?
IIRC, the '67 Camaro didn't have side-marker lights, but I can't tell if yours does or not, so I'm not positive which year it is. Doesn't really matter, just trying to exercise the old brain tissue before it rots away.

Good luck with this...

Ya after seeing some pics from here I am satisfied with the fit of he newer seat.
I just want to ride!

The Camaro is a 67, its not close to stock anymore. I am not a purist when it comes to my projects. Here is a vid of me rowing through the gears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCFh4jOJ8N0
One of my other haunts is Camaros.net

GSnoober · October 15, 2012, 08:15:36 PM

Quote from: average on October 15, 2012, 07:02:26 PM
I HAVE made the swap. My bike is a 90 but looks like an F at this point. The rear plastics didnt have the usual mounting points with the newer tank up front but for the hordes of newer tanks at there, its a win win.

Yeah, sorry about that average, I completely overlooked your post, which means I've probably overmedicated again... I KNOW I've seen your GS previously, but not for what seems like a few years at least. I remember that Alpha "un-F'ed" his GS to run it naked, while you and a few others added the tanks, fairings and body panels to your original recipe machines. I realize that you weren't the only one; I also remember that Buddha did a lot of work converting an "E" into an "F" for a member in Atlanta, but IIRC, you wremched your own GS.

No offense intended, man... you know a LOT more about making this work than I do, and I apologize for overlooking your advice to the OP.

Calpantera: Thanks for the video and the info on your '67... good luck with this conversion.

average · October 15, 2012, 08:20:19 PM

No need to apologize, big guy. We're all here to learn. And actually The Buddha and werase643 contributed a lot of. Time to my bike...

Calpantera · October 15, 2012, 08:28:02 PM

Quote from: average on October 15, 2012, 07:02:26 PM
I HAVE made the swap. My bike is a 90 but looks like an F at this point. The rear plastics didnt have the usual mounting points with the newer tank up front but for the hordes of newer tanks at there, its a win win.

Do the plastics work OK without the front mounts or did you fab something?

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Tank swap, what works