Newbie Needs ANY info + TANK info

[Guest]

Hello everyone,
Obviously this is my 1st post and thanks in advance. I just got a 1978 GS 1000 with one major flaw... is does NOT have a tank. I am looking for any tank for now, and possibly a matching tank later on. I did a search and read up on what tanks will swap, but nothing definitive. My main question is the petcock issues. Does anyone have a good pic of a 1978 GS 1000 tank and its petcock? I am heading to the bike salvage yard & want to know what NOT to buy.
Thanks!

[tkent02]

1980- 82 GS750, and 1981 - 82 GS1100E tanks fit nicely, bolt right on, and are fairly easy to find.

Paint it up nice and only a GS expert would know it's not original.

The original GS1000 tanks are really hard to find.

[Charlie G]

1978 GS 1000 tanks ( the ones with the indented sides) are prone to developing rust from the inside out and leaking. They are hard to find in good shape. I believe the 79 and 80 tanks will work. Get a new petcock from Z-1. Where are you located?

cg

[BADJACKSON]

Thanks
I don't know what model I have, just a GS 1000 I think

[tkent02]

If it's a 1978, the tank should have the little indentation all the way down both sides. There were no other models with different tanks
in '78.
For '79 that indentation was removed. In 1980 the petcock placement was changed for the new CV carbs. The 1980 1000 tanks are even harder to find than 1978, as almost nobody bought the 1000E once the 1980 1100E was available.

[BADJACKSON]

So, there is a difference between a 1000 & a 1000E ????

[Big T]

They're the same tank with different colors

[BADJACKSON]

Thanks guys. This has helped.

[salty_monk]

The 750 and 1100 tanks need some work on the petcock to work with the 78 carbs. The clearance is really tight. A petcock from a 750ES gave more room but even so it was a struggle. I had to replace the stock tank rubber so I could jack the back of the tank up and grind the carb top to make clearance and even then it was tight.

i have eave some pics of it fitted somewhere...

[BADJACKSON]

So, unless I find a 78 or 79 1000 tank, I'm making SOME kind of modifications????

[salty_monk]

That is correct. You'll have to mess with it to get it to fit with the VM carbs they are not a straight bolt-on as they are on the 1980 1000 that has CV carbs.

Maybe be one of the petcocks with the screw for prime or no lever on them.

There may be an alternative petcock aftermarket or something that will work but I don't know what it is. Either that or you'll need to block the hole and cut a new one somehow...

[tkent02]

Just noticed you live in Montana. At which elevations do you do most of your riding? What's the highest?

The reason I ask is that the VM carbs on your '78 have zero elevation compensation, and if you ride at a variety of elevations as I do, they suck. Big time.

I have gone to only running CV carbs on my GSes, they work just fine from sea level to 14,000 ft. Of course you lose a bit of power up high, but the fuel mixture stays just about perfect. All you have to do is adjust the idle if you care about that. I don't bother, just keep the throttle cracked a tad.

You need a head and carbs from the 1980 GS1000, might as well go with the cylinders and pistons from a GS1100G, they fit right on. I think it's about 9% more displacement, can't remember exactly. Get the GK head and get more power yet, it has a better exhaust port shape.

That gas tank will fit better as Salty Monk says, and the bike will run perfectly at any elevation you will ever ride.

[salty_monk]

Tkent is correct as usual but I just want to say that my Skunk - jetted for Sea Level- runs fine anywhere up to about 6,500 feet - above that it is noticeably rich but will still run.

[cowboyup3371]

Have you checked EBay yet for the tank? Others that are smarter than I can tell you if this is the correct one so hopefully they'll speak up about it but I found this while doing a quick search this am:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-80-Suzuki-GS-1000E-GAS-TANK-HARD-TO-FIND-OEM-44110-49020-YD8-/251931393254?hash=item3aa847fce6&vxp=mtr

[BADJACKSON]

Right now, I hadn't planned on switching out my carbs. When I do that, I'm switching to Pods too. I just want to get it running, but their really doesn't seem to be a quick & economical solution. I don't ride up high... yet.
Montana is nowhere near as high as CO. Your plains start out above 6500 ft!!!! Then the mountains go UP from there!