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can you put a 1988 aluminum swing arm in a 1986 frame

11K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  atc330rrider  
#1 ·
i was wondering what it would take to put an aluminum swing arm from a 1988 in my 1986 frame i see the mount is all the way across the front what would you have to do about the engine mount on my 1986 if anyone can help thanks in advance
 
#4 ·
the 88-89 have a welded in rear mount beteen the upright frame supports for the engine. THe 86 utilizes the swing arm.
 
#5 ·
To clarify, the 86 utilizes a motor mount that fits on the swingarm bolt with the swingarm that CAN'T be used if you're using an 88/89 swingarm. It doesn't use the swingarm itself. I believe a member here is currently working on creating the motor mount that is missing from the 86/87 frame so that you could have it welded in place and then use an 88/89 swingarm.
 
#10 ·
I have modified my frame to not utilize the 86-87 swingarm engine mount. I used some 3/16" tabs from my local ornamental iron shop. Most shops call them RC3 tabs. the engine mount bolts fit perfectly in the pre-stamped holes. I just mounted my engine using all of the other mounts. and the welded these tabs on the rear cross member below the swing arm. I am not utilizing the upper rear mount. The engine has been mounted this way for 4 years and have never had a problem. I previously made the upper mount and welded it it into the frame. however, the intake tube was a PITA to R&R.
 
#11 ·
I am currently doing this. The 88-89 frames use 4 mounts, the head stay, the front mounts, the bottom middle one and then the upper rear mount. If you switch to an 88-89 swingarm on your 86-87 frame you will only have the head stay, front mount, and bottom middle mounts remaining, nothing on the rear of the engine.

I originally planned to weld in both the upper and lower motor mounts(as i have had to put lower mounts in my 88-89 frames for added stability), but upon further investigation of aftermarket frames, the WALSH, LSR(on some of them), and LAEGERS do not use the rear upper mount.

So, in order to run my Roll Design no link swingarm on the 86 frame i have laying around, i am simply adding in a rear lower motor mount and leaving the upper blank as many of the top aftermarkets do. I think this is the best of both worlds because it also gives you so much more room to play with your carb/intake in that area.

I will post pics when i complete it, but thats about a month out yet.