SS 338 find!

Gorkon

Gorkon

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Aug 15, 2007
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Edmonton, Alberta
Just came back from the wreckers today with a 1970 SS 338 in the back of the truck! I wasn't even aware of the existence of such a beastie. I have the 70 Brochure and no such machine is listed!? Does anyone know if this is perhaps a US model?

It's all there except the carbs, rear bumper and belt guard, but everything that is there is in amazingly good shape with only 1014 miles showing. Both the engine and the chassis are stamped SS 338. She's seized and was sitting outside open to the elements so it's in need of some TLC, but its all straight with good fiberglass, save the front bumper, that is of course finished.

Anyone know where to get a bumper?

I'm also curious as to whether the YPZ primary clutch would fit and what carbs to use. I would prefer to use more modern carbs, racked if possible. I don't know, is it?

It would most likely be easier to deal with a single carb, but given the rarity and nature of the sled, it just wouldn't be right.

I don't have a camera here to take any pictures at this time, but I'll get some and post them as soon I can. G.
 
Yes its a twin tuned pipe model! The baffles are in it, but so far there is no sign of the straight pipe pieces to replace them, if it came with them? I know the SS 433 came with them because I ran them all the time. The baffles are small and don't make much difference, just slightly take away the edge, but I didn't like that sound and always ran the straight pipes. The neighbors hated me!

Does your buddy have any idea what these were rated at for power? The 396 was rated at 36 hp, which was up 8hp over the next years GP 396 but I have no idea what the 338 was rated at.

I'll check out vintagesled. Thanks. G.
 
Thanks Tony. Does anyone have a Link to Leon's website, I seem to have lost it! Just found out the tank is hooped as well, bad! Might have to dig out the tig torch and do one out of aluminum as it seems they are bad for that! G.
 
Have a set of stock Gp338 carbs and two parts motors if interested. Also know of another parts sled for sale in Saskatoon, sounds like you might be needing some.
 
nice save, not listed in the brochure as it was a last minute addition to the 70 lineup...seem to tougher to find than the SS 396, can only use the old school splined clutch unless you got the end tapered, an SS 433 primary spring would wake it up...intakes will accept boots for roundslides but you'll have to unhook oil injection...
 
What differences are there between the GP 338 jugs and the SS 338? There is another fellow on here that has some SS jugs, but I don't know what I've got til I tear it down.

From the looks of things so far though, I will need to change the crank bearings, so perhaps a trip the machine shop with the crank would be in order? Would a later model crank drop in there? Or is that gonna play havoc with the stator end of things? I have a 77 GS 340 that works well for the kids but I had to play with the idle to keep the primary from rattling at low idle. I'm not a big fan of those clutches even though they seem to work quite well for being so simple. I hadn't thought of the 433 spring, but thanks, thats a good idea.

Forgive my ignorance, but could you please tell what carb boots and why roundslides and why the disconnect on the oil injection? I was thinking I could do some fabrication to adapt modern carbs if I had to, but hadn't looked into it yet. The point on the oil injection may be moot anyway as it still runs the belt drive oil pump and I am guessing that those little belts are nearly impossible to find these days. Both my 71's ran for thousands of miles without any belt problems, but that was just me and my sleds.

But other than that, if one were to use modern carbs, you would mount a fuel pump and plumb the oil injection into the lines anyway, not?

Another thing I am curious about is, with all the interest in vintage racing these days, what are guys doing with the secondaries? I have some friends who are machinists and they told me no problem to build a shaft, but any modern clutches tried there would be running backwards!! So I can't see that working, but then I'm no expert regarding secondaries either. Probably guys are having custom clutches machined would be my guess. Heck if they're making brand new cranks for 643's, who knows!

Thanks for the input, as you can tell, there's a lot I need to know here. Any information is much appreciated. G.
 
70 ss 338's took early style jugs that have the windows in the pistons as another piston port, instead of the normal gp style jugs with the 2 transfers in the cylinders, i said unhook the oil injection if you run different carbs than original as the original carbs are hooked up with a lever to the injector that meters the oil according to how far the throttle lever/butterfly is opened, 338 cranks didn't really change and one from 70 to your 77 gs 340 should drop in that case and stators from 70-77 will fit on that end, even a gpx or exciter cdi ignition, smaller hr size boots from some 80's 90's indy's bolt to the intake pattern, i've seen very few of the oil pump belts break myself also and have never had one break on me. not sure what you plan on doing with this sled but if it were me i wouldn't try turning it into a race sled...plenty quick originally for a 1970 340 and getting tough to find decent original SS's.
 
You would 'not' try turning it into a race sled? Turning it into a race sled is heavily on the mind of an almost 10 year old around here and I'm not certain I can derail that. I'm going to look into it but don't know for sure. When I was racing in 74/75 I was running my then new 74 GP 433 and one day took my SS out there as I was doing well with the GP and my SS flat out spanked my GP! But they refused to allow it run. They argued that it was because it was piped, but later in the back room in private admitted it was because they knew it would win. They were right! So I don't know if they allow these to run stock classes?

I might have a bead on a 76 STX 340 engine, but am still snooping around, I would like to keep this case for sure as it is stamped SS 338, but would love a CDI ignition and YPZ primary on it, so am looking for an ovation engine too. Any idea what year they switched to a tapered end on the crank? By what you're telling me, it sounds like if I were to use GP jugs, I'd have to use GP pistons as well? I have heard that the GP 338's did not work as well, do you know if there is any truth to that?

I found this picture of a 396, does anyone know if the 338 looked the same externally as far as striping and decals? Thanks a bunch. G.
 

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Decals were the same . Intech graphics in Rocky mountain house will have GP graphics only difference is GP on hood not SS. There is not many classes for that sled to run. Would probably run in pre 74 340 mod and they would make it run in E stock. Not the best racer but would draw some attention, hope to see you out there. Stx would be a better racer many parts available and competative. SS way cooler
 
True it does not handle like an STX/Exciter, but heavy on the cool factor in my mind too. The boy is drooling over the pipes and I've already told him he can't ride it without wearing hearing protection! Mine ruined my hearing. Well at least I have some more ideas now, if they're probably going to make it run mod, then it might as well be MOD! I'll keep you posted. G.
 
I have a SS338 motor shroud decal for you if you want one. I restored one about 5 years ago. I have a 70 SS396 waiting for resto now. Yes the gas tanks are hard to find. Looks like Yamaha built around a 1000 of them. I think mine awas around number 900. They started with 00101 I think.
Very cool sled!!

Mark
 
94max said:
I have a SS338 motor shroud decal for you if you want one. I restored one about 5 years ago. I have a 70 SS396 waiting for resto now. Yes the gas tanks are hard to find. Looks like Yamaha built around a 1000 of them. I think mine awas around number 900. They started with 00101 I think.
Very cool sled!!

Mark
Click to expand...

Yes! Please. I've already been looking and around, obviously without success. Please PM me with the details. This SS is 00588, so that would number 487 of a 1000, correct? Thank-you. G.
 
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I have a few 338 and 396 rings you are welcome to them $10.00 to ship rings are free. I think 3 nos sets
 
Wow, thank-you guys so much. I will PM you for the details.

I still have not got to tearing this thing down, just puttering with it a little in the evenings when I have time between working on my 77 GS 340 trying to get it ready for the fall show.

I'll definitely take the rings and it looks like I have found an oil pump drive belt. Combine that with the fact that I was just given a 78 GS 340 motor that runs and I could even have this thing running soon!

That is if I can solve my fuel tank problem! This tank is cracked all the way across the top right through filler neck! I was looking at it last night and while I can build one out of aluminum, its gonna be quite a bit of work. Looking at options there as well. Someone locally suggested making one out of fiberglass and having it lined, not sure about that.

One other thing I am curious about is tracks. This track is in perfect condition, but I don't trust it. I went through a few of those tracks when I was younger, eventually putting an SR track on old SS 433. If this track goes, is there any new replacement tracks being made for these single sprocket sleds? Or are you just left with the option of putting in a twin sprocket setup and track? I know my old SS really woke up with the more aggressive SR track. I definitely would like to have a more aggressive profile with this sled for lining guys up. There's just nothing like leaving them sitting spinning at the line! G.
 
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