Hitchcocks Forum

Hi All KH here just simple question i have a 1950 350 bullet is it possible to put a more modern 350 engine into my frame ? Thanks as always.

Yes, it should fit no problem. Just make sure the gearbox top case has the holes for the 2 studs that anchor via 2 triangular plates to the bottom of the seat tube.

REgards, Mark

you could even put a more recent 500 engine in it. just saying ...

... up to and including the Electra-X, you could most likely get the 5 speed gearbox in there too if it's right-foot shift converted, I know you can with later Redditch frames.



A.

Thanks useful info any idea what year endfield would be a ideal candidate. Thanks

The 350, any year up to 2003. Did they stop making them that year? If not, any year up to the end of 'Classic" production. I'd say first find an engine (on Ebay say,) then come back and ask here.

REgards, Mark

@ Mark M, the very last classic 350s were built for the Indian home market in 2010, I understand. The last official imports of classic 350 and 500 Bullets and the Electra-X into the UK were in 2007 and sold on by the importers into 2008, with the final trickle of unsold models making it onto our roads in 2009, already registered to the dealers selling off old stock, as the Euro 3 regs came into force in the UK in January that year. The last classic 500s for the US market were built in 2009.



@ kh, do you intend to use an Indian Bullet gearbox or stay with the Redditch box?



A.

Adrian i was going to use my gearbox would that be a problem?

Unless they changed the length of the four 3/8" cycle thread studs at the back of the crankcase, I suspect it will bolt straight on to the Indian engine.



If your original centre stand or the pivot holes in the rear engine plates are worn, the later Indian centre stand and a new set of plates will be worth fitting while you've got things apart. The Indian stand is a lot easier to use, keep the original for high days and holidays.



The other question is of course why do you want an engine swap? There are enough parts around to build a late-style Redditch engine if you want to keep it all British, I saw a nice 350 bitsa on ebay recently with a later Redditch Bullet engine in an earlier Bullet frame.



A.

I can confirm a Reddich gearbox will fit an Indian bullet. I bought an optimistically thrown together collection of parts in the rough shape of a motorcycle off gumtree which turned out to have a 1991 350 bullet motor in a 2004 500 chassis with a meteor minor gearbox. That part at least looked like it would work and definitely fitted.