My NC-30 Build Thread. Many questions!!!

[ScottieDucati]

OK So I thought it was high time to start a build thread here... here's the scoop. I happened to have a chance to pickup an '89 NC-30 for relatively short money. It has sat for ~3 years and been run at trackdays, and down at least once or twice. We started by tearing the thing apart and seeing what we had.

Here's how she started.





Yours truly after removing the rads... they're in rough shape and either need a lot of attention and rehab, or I could use some new ones.



Motor's out.



And she's apart... here's my buddy Derek (Degsy) who'se helping me out and offering the workshop space. He's got a soft spot for NC's as he grew up in London and used to see them everywhere.



A few weeks went by with the holidays, and eventually we got to have a look-see inside the motor:









Now it's impossible to see in the pics, but most of it looks up to snuff. The biggest wear issue we noticed was on the shift forks that have some fairly significant wear. We debated long and hard about what to do since they seem quite hard to get at to replace... but eventually we decided that this, coupled with the general age of the motor were enough reason to split the cases and do a full "whole hog" motor rebuild.

I'm planning to get a full rebuild kit from our own Rick Oliver :)

Now's where things get iffy and where I'd like some input... as I, and even Degsy and our motor builder are all new to the NC-30 or the V4's in general, but a motor is a motor and I'm sure we can get her back together in top-notch fashion.

What I'm curious about is, here's a list of thoughts to do while we have it apart....

- Port heads
- 5 angle valve job
- Skim / deck the heads
- Undercut the transmission
- Balance the crank, rods and pistons

What I s'pose I'm looking for are other things to do while we're in there? I would love to consider an overbore kit but that just doesn't seem to be in the budget (unless someone has some pistons and such they're looking to part with, of course!)

Otherwise, what are some lessons learned and general do's and don'ts here?

I've already decided I will NOT be doing an HRC spec carb setup, but will likely be looking for a ram-air kit to use with my stock airbox, and go with Rick Oliver's "road" carb stuff.

For what it's worth, I have a hand-made full Mercury 4-1 system with titanium end can that's brand new that will be going on :)

Anyway, I look forward to updating this thread as often as I can, and would love, love, love for anyone with solid experience to chime in and push me in the right direction! As $$ is tight, this will take a while, so we have the time to do things right the first time. This will be my track bike as I run a track day company over here with Derek and 2 other partners, so she'll see loads of track time and I *might* consider the odd race here or there... I'm just afraid it'll be too much $$ to get the motor competitive with the only class she'd be eligible for, which is Ultralight Superbike that includes modified Ducati 800SS', Hawk NT650GT's, and Motards of unlimited displacement.

I also plan to restore basically everything along the way (externally) so she will be quite the gem when I'm done!

[ScottieDucati]

Few more engine detail pics... note there's quite the build-up on the exhaust valves. Intake valves weren't awful, but weren't very good either.









Here's the oil pan / sump cover after a proper cleaning.

[royster81]

good luck with the build , going inside the motor is something i've wanted to do but don't have the nuts for as once it mashes itself to bits it's more money to buy another motor only to start all over again..

i'm sure they are alot of members on here that will help you along the way and keep the posts coming.

[ScottieDucati]

I feel the same way, fortunately one of Derek's good friends is an engine builder w/ many years of experience. He's had 7 motors in the Daytona 200 before (all finished), he just hasn't built a V4 yet, but with the books, it's all the same for the most part. Without him on my side I'd never attempt this.

[RonniB]

Hi,

Sounds like a good game plan you got, a few things to consider/be aware of with regards to V4/NC motors.
- remember to shim camgears and geartowers if you take something off the head or block, else the gears will bind and rip apart. Basicly you need a bit of backlash in all the gears driving the cams.
- A V4 needs a bobweight system on the crank balancing machine, that is set up with the exact weight of the rods/pistons, else the balance wont mean a thing, but your friend will know this.
- Plan/budget on fitting a set of oversize rads, since these bikes really produce some heat when tuned (even just lightly). Rick Oliver makes a nice set and Boeckers alubau (in germany) does too.
- Rick Oliver also sell a ignitec CDI, if coupled with a TPS, gives very good midrange gains.


enjoy the time in the workshop

Ronni

[ScottieDucati]

Thanks Ronni!!
I was thinking of going with TL1000R rads, as they're much easier to get here in the US and much cheaper, sadly the exchange rate is KILLING me and would run me well over a grand to get some of R.O's rads.

I DO plan to look into the programmable CDI, what kind of TPS's are folks using?

[Drunkn Munky]

[quote="ScottieDucati"I DO plan to look into the programmable CDI, what kind of TPS's are folks using?[/quote]

I think people use one from a CBR 400, could be wrong tho

[Cammo]

You may as well remove the quitening cam gears also while you have the engine apart (as done on RC51's etc). This will liberate some power, but make the engine a bit noisy (still not as bad a duc dry clutch!). I personally really like the sound of them removed.

The engine will be a peach after you've finished with it.

[ScottieDucati]

Hehe, definitely planning on removing ANYTHING unneccessary. She'll never see the street again, so any areas to lighten (internal, or external to the motor) will be exploited :)

I've heard of removing the flywheel completely??? Or lightening? Interested in what other areas in and out of the engine I can have lightened or do without.

I'll likely run a total loss system but keep the starter motor, I think I've seen a DIY for that but can't recall where....

[RonniB]

Hi,

You can easily remove the flywheel and stator, just remember to either make a crankcase plug or cut of the one the stator wires and seal it with silicone, and use that.
Starter can be used by taking an anderson plug and fitting it with the lead directly from the starter and another lead going directly to the frame/ground/earth, then you can have an external battery with just an anderson plug on. Connect the plug, engine starts, disconnect and ride off. Your onboard battery should be the smallest LiFe cell (2.3Ah and 400gr)