400ex Makeover with 450r

[440challenger]

Well. Last night, i had a few hours to myself after work. Had the urge to tare down my quad and rid the half *** spray paint job. Was staring to look beat and i needed to gusset the frame also.

Tore the whole schbang down in an hour and a half.
I did the 450 conversion over a year ago, so im just going to do a few little adjustments (rad,oil cooler mounts etc) .

I cut a bunch of the factory 400 mounts out and grinded them smooth. I gotta run to lowes and get a wire wheel to strip the frame, then im going to gusset it with whatever i can find laying around, shoot in epoxy and we should see color fly by tonight.

Im doing base coat clear .
Heres before

[440challenger]

During

[440challenger]

Currently,

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/741430/preresto.jpg



Heres my G/f's 400 frame i did a few months ago . Its holding up very very well.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/741430/Picture024.jpg

[michaelj]

what did you do to that frame it looks awesome? dont understand the epoxy thing did you just spray paint it and then clear coat it ?

[440challenger]

I take the frame down, if any bare spots i hit with an etching primer. Then i epoxy prime the frame. Then shoot the base coat about 3 coats then a heavy coat of clear.

I use dupont, you can go with the cheaper omni line since its only a quad . I spray it from a HVLP gun. Same way i spray cars. No spray paint.

[mat1977]

Post some pics when ya get it back together.Ive allways liked that bike.

the way to paint is use several thinner layers. Thick layers cause chips. So always spray it in thin layers at a time

[440challenger]

You cant spray clear in a light coat... it will look dry.

Day 2...
Well, just got done cleaning up.
Today I Made my own gussets. sanded down the frame and sub frame. Made a brace between the top frame rails and welded on mounts for my coil.


Well Mixed up the prime and within 2 minutes I had the rents *****in' at me becuase the paint fumes. Its too cold to do it outside like i usually would....We have a half car garage attached to the house , my moms always complain' wether its paint or brake clean ,etc. I dont blame her but i gotta get stuff done! LOL

So i kept going and finished the prime. I sat there thinking how im going to spray the base and clear without them complaining. So i grabbed the 1.5 inch masking tape and a towel,went inside shoved the towel against the floor and door and taped the air gap between the trim and the door shut .
:blah:
Few coats of base and clear and called it a night.


Tommrow i need to do the a arms, and swinger. Not sure what color im going with,just use something thats laying around...
Need to wait for the rents to leave to paint that stuff...maybe ill send them to a movie :devil:

[440challenger]

Frame

[440challenger]

Shock mount and lower gueests i made

[440challenger]

Boxed in top a frame (where my frame kept cracking)
Also added a reinforcement bar as you can see from top tube to top tube

[440challenger]

Sub frame

[440challenger]

Close up of the color. Its PB3 chrysler intensive blue pearl. (left over from when i painted my challenger).

Hopefully have some more progress pics up tommrow for you guys.

[97WarriorRider]

frame looks sick..can we see some pics of the challanger though?

[440challenger]

Thanks!

VIDEO
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YrkDQig8hIQ

[97WarriorRider]

omg..that is crazy nice..any more pics of the whole car? sorry to get of topic..but d@mn

["THE ShoP"]

frame looks good and thats a sicka** burn out.:devil:

[flauge]

Daaamm!

[AGPallstar109]

nice frame job, 440challenger i was at sahara sands during AGP i race in the 13-15 you8th class on a modded 250x, if you ride in nj pm me, i dont know if you know him but #32 rich sharkey hes my uncle so get back to me, i guess ill see you in 08 for the AGP series:D

[440challenger]

Nice you probably saw me there... i was out front pretty far the first lap until my clutch gernaded. i dont know rich...maybe if i saw him? Im always trying to ride. send me a pm if you go out..


Well Day 3... Got the quad to a roller. Greased all the bearings etc .Going to do a little at a time now with cleaning up small parts etc. Front bumper and nerf bars i think im going to go with textured black. Doesnt look bad now..much better then before...

[440challenger]

another..any suggestions let me know...

[440challenger]

ok last one for now....

[AGPallstar109]

what you need is get a triple rate shocks setup and revalve kit form works shocks and bring it to jrd raicn or do it yorself for the front and the back, so you will have triple rate shocks for super cheap

[michaelj]

I need to redo my frame I started sanding it because it had rust spots on it, I just hit it with clear coat to stop it from rusting so I can ride this winter. I need to tear it down and get it powder coated or something, how does your paint hold up compared to powder coating.

[nick249420]

is that a 450r motor or the crf 450

[440challenger]

It's the TRX motor .
Paint holds up well. It really doesnt cost me nouthing so im saving a ton of money. I'd reccomend it to anyone who's a do it your self kind of person or has a friend who can spray.

[Blown 331]

Sweet Mustang wheels on the Dodge. :D

[440challenger]

Got a little more done. All the brakes,radiator,peg mounts,bumper ...

[440challenger]

Sub frame, cleaned up all the little rubber bushings etc

[440challenger]

Booty shot

[97WarriorRider]

What kind of a arms are those and how do you like the motoworks exhaust?

[nick249420]

ive been told the trx 450r motor wont go on the 400ex frame because of the radiator and motor mounts

what all did you have to do in order for that motor to go on there

[440challenger]

Motorworks exhaust is AWESOME. Its built so well and sounds great. I was torn between the dasa,rossier ,sparks or the Motorworks. Either of the 4 are top of the line but i usually like trying different products and im happy i did.

A Arms are cheapo Burgards i got new off ebay for 300$. I been beating the freaking snot out of them for over a year and i can't believe how well they are holding up. Just now im noticing only the top bushings start to have a small amount of play. They are another great bang for the buck.

Of course the trx 450 motor wont go right into a 400.
I had to make every new motor mount, moutns for the radiator,oil cooler, coil,frame gusseting. A bracket to keep the tank off the top of the valve cover, fuel line needs to be stepped, all new harness, air boot mods. It was a lot of work but its one of the easiest hybirds to make next to the yamaha 426 swap.
If you can weld and fabricate ,its a fun project that is very do-able!!!

[416exfreak]

PLEASE turn those shocks around. The rezzies go in the back...:(

[440challenger]

Thanks Chief :o I know thats how they go, but i like them in the front. Had them like that for years.

[tman12345]

really nice quad, can't wait to see it all together, nice blue frame!

[nick249420]

ya i have to say i like the rezzies up front gives it a little more style in the front

[440challenger]

Well heres some pics. not the greatest pics... but you get the idea. Just have to put on my new seat.

[440challenger]

Beadlocks and shocks are future mods.. Just takes a while to get that much money together.

[440challenger]

Last one for now, going to go try her out before it starts pouring.

[nick249420]

that looks awesome

do the 450r rear plastics and seat not work on the 400

[440challenger]

i never tried putting any 450 plastic on my 400. Never felt the need to...I like my couch seat lol

[F-16Guy]

It looks good. I think it would look even better if you'd shoot the a-arms and shock springs the same color. I like the monochromatic look.

[mat1977]

Originally posted by F-16Guy
It looks good. I think it would look even better if you'd shoot the a-arms and shock springs the same color. I like the monochromatic look. x2

[440challenger]

Thanks guys. Yea ill do the arms etc in the spring. Im banned from painting in the garage anymore LOL. happy i got this much done this fast.