biggest carb ever to come on a 949cc California , gonna go racing

[mtiberio]

There were "big valve" Californias (III's I'd assume). Were these the mid valves of a Lemans III or the big valves of a Lemans IV? Did they come with 36mm carbs or 40mm carbs?

[John A]

They were the 40's with IV heads, they also had a different drive ratio so the engine would rev higher but that's all I know.

[mtiberio]

hmmm, I want one...

[Chuck in Indiana]

hmmm, I want one...

Stay tuned, I'm on the fone as we speak..

Lets talk about it on the SOC, Mike..

[travelingbyguzzi]

I think also that the 1st year 1000S  had 40mm carbs and big valve heads, but subsequent years had 36s.

[guzzibob]

In the US there was the 91 1000S with 40 mm/big valves and 93's with 36 mm/mid valves, that's all. No 92's. Same layout for LM IV and V and big valve Cal III

[jacksonracingcomau]

AFAIK
All we got in Aus were 44/37 valved Calis , late 949cc /early 1064cc had 36mm carbs then EFI (36mm choke)
I've never heard of 47/40 heads on Calis but means nothing of course

Strange one would be comp, very unusual for Mandello to make high comp Cali, special pistons for short run even stranger, specs from time will tell story

But FWIW--IMHO of course
44/37 is enough, 40mm carbs will give more (economy & grunt) but 36 pretty good

I tried 47/40 for a long time before going back to 44/37,

This model is interesting, watching for more info, any owners out there ?

[JoeW]

A little over 20 years ago, I picked up a wrecked LM IV and transplanted the drive train into my 850T3 sidecar rig. It is my understanding that the big valve Calis, had the same engine as the LM4. I initially ran the 40mm carbs but found a huge flat spot from 4100 to 4500 rpm. I put a set of 36mm carbs on it and the power delivery is much more linear. I've been running with the 36's ever since.  FWIW

[dblue]

  the factory put the lemans engines in a cali chassis . Most were red& creamI , do not recall how many.      Emily at Midway rode one.  I am on a trip with afriend who is riding a big valve cali. w/ 110k it gets better econony than my G5.
It has the 7-33 rear drive as I replaced the ring and pinon with new. before we left arkansas. we are in southern cal for awhile.
hope this helps, dave

[Chuck in Indiana]

  the factory put the lemans engines in a cali chassis . Most were red& creamI , do not recall how many.      Emily at Midway rode one.  I am on a trip with afriend who is riding a big valve cali. w/ 110k it gets better econony than my G5.
It has the 7-33 rear drive as I replaced the ring and pinon with new. before we left arkansas. we are in southern cal for awhile.
hope this helps, dave

Hiya Dave! Are you on that badass LeMans?  Glad to see you taking that trip you were talking about, anyway..

[jacksonracingcomau]

  the factory put the lemans engines in a cali chassis . Most were red& creamI , do not recall how many.      Emily at Midway rode one.  I am on a trip with afriend who is riding a big valve cali. w/ 110k it gets better econony than my G5.
It has the 7-33 rear drive as I replaced the ring and pinon with new. before we left arkansas. we are in southern cal for awhile.
hope this helps, dave

Makes sense, 950LM  engine was to be superseded by 1100sport, factory used up all leftover bits.
Has nothing over later 1064 Cali engine with 44/37 valves IMHO but is collectable for sure, not for design but frugal management.
Was obviously heaps faster than earlier 950 Cali's too so was easy seller before 1100 came.

Thanks for info

[handyandy]

They shipped 1 container load of those. I have # 14 of that bunch. I have 122 k on it.

[mtiberio]

I hope to move the southern california next year, and while I was visiting last month, I went to the El MIrage dry lake bed with a buddy where he set a record on his Aermacchi 350. I got the bug to try my hand at getting a record, and since I know Guzzis, I thought I'd look into it. It seems they have a class for Production 1000cc pushrod bikes without aerodynamics (fairings). The production rules state you need to use the stock carb bodies and mufflers (although both can be modified internally). What this means I need to find a guzzi with big carbs (40mm) from the factory and no aerodynamics. This rules out Lemans 4's and 5's. This leaves only the early big valve 1000S (too pricey) and the big valve 1991 California III.

So I have found a 'stock' big valve 1991 California III. There are some questions about what mufflers these bikes came with. At this point, I'm looking for documentation (pictures, etc) on how the bike looked as delivered from the factory. A sales brocure indicating the 40mm carb fitment would also be nice. I can see having to produce documentation "proving" the equipment level on the bike as delivered.

Any help would be appreciated.

[pyoungbl]

I'd recommend talking to Sidney Conn, he did what you are talking about and set a record in the 1320 Production Pushrod class (if my memory is correct) about 10 years ago.  You can probably reach Sidney through Motus Motorcycle in Birmingham.  His son is the President of the company.

Peter Y.

[oldbike54]

 Merged Mike's two threads , good luck Mr Tibiero , we will all be pulling for you . Vroom Vroom 

  Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Documentation might be tough. To the best of my knowledge, there were 17 of them.
Ivar would probably have it.. is he still with us? I know he was having health issues a few years back.

[rocker59]

So I have found a 'stock' big valve 1991 California III. There are some questions about what mufflers these bikes came with. At this point, I'm looking for documentation (pictures, etc) on how the bike looked as delivered from the factory. A sales brocure indicating the 40mm carb fitment would also be nice. I can see having to produce documentation "proving" the equipment level on the bike as delivered.

Any help would be appreciated.

There are images of the Guzzi brochure at this link.  The engine is black (Aussie market?), and the bike has some specific upturned megaphones: 
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto%20guzzi/moto_guzzi_california_III%2087.htm

[Chuck in Indiana]

There are images of the Guzzi brochure at this link.  The engine is black (Aussie market?), and the bike has some specific upturned megaphones: 
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto%20guzzi/moto_guzzi_california_III%2087.htm

Those are apparently the same mufflers shown in the Colombo book page 261. Drivetrain is blacked out on this picture, also. I don't remember Andy's being painted, but my memory is suspect. I'll go back through my pictures..

[Chuck in Indiana]

Those are apparently the same mufflers shown in the Colombo book page 261. Drivetrain is blacked out on this picture, also. I don't remember Andy's being painted, but my memory is suspect. I'll go back through my pictures..

Edit:
Nope, no sign of it ever being painted..

[twhitaker]

Joe Eish was riding a Cal III with a full fairing and footboards before he outfitted the '97 '75th Anniversary Edition' for trike duty.  I wonder if it has the big valves?

[John A]

Earl Cleven, former MN. MGNOC rep had one and Tony Stats of San Antonio ,TX had one. Shouldn't be too hard to track down most all of them, being so few made it here. Just for kicks but also for parts.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Earl Cleven, former MN. MGNOC rep had one and Tony Stats of San Antonio ,TX had one. Shouldn't be too hard to track down most all of them, being so few made it here. Just for kicks but also for parts.

and.. documentation. I don't know what the rules of the association are, but I'd think that a few letters from previous owners might do it?
Chances are Guzzi doesn't know. 

[BillinPA]

Earl Cleven, former MN. MGNOC rep had one and Tony Stats of San Antonio ,TX had one. Shouldn't be too hard to track down most all of them, being so few made it here. Just for kicks but also for parts.

Terry, I believe all the Full fairing were the small valve motors. Still nice bikes, I kinda miss mine.

[rocker59]

Would it matter what mufflers were on the bike, as long as they said "La Franconi - Moto Guzzi".

As in, any Cal III or Cal 1100 mufflers ?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Would it matter what mufflers were on the bike, as long as they said "La Franconi - Moto Guzzi".

As in, any Cal III or Cal 1100 mufflers ?

Good point.

[mtiberio]

I do not know, the mufflers need to maintain the stock profile view, you can gut them, but they need the stock shape. I heard rumors that the big valve cali's had "special" mufflers. Just trying to get my hands around it. I know the Lemans IV mufflers are amenible to drilling out the inner baffle plates, and the rear plate design would lend itself to gutting the entire thing into a megaphone. The Cal III mufflers look like they had a big round rear plate and might also be good for gutting to a megaphone. I just need to find out what was stock. Regular Cal III mufflers or Lemans IV mufflers. The muffler hangers would probably help tell the tale. I just haven't seen any good side view pictures.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I race LSR,not Guzzi. The tech inspectors are not experts on every brand of bike so it will be up to you to prove the bike meets production rules with documentation...As mentioned ,anything goes with the internals of engine, carbs ,filters and exhaust.

[guzzisteve]

Stock Cal3 mufflers are a slash cut look and produced 3 less hp than Cal2 mufflers, this is what was w/bikes were new.

[Rough Edge racing]

Stock Cal3 mufflers are a slash cut look and produced 3 less hp than Cal2 mufflers, this is what was w/bikes were new.

 The mufflers can be gutted, the general appearance and exit opening must remain as production. Any optional performance equipment, fairings, etc installed at the factory is ok with documentation... You'll need to safety wire axles which usually requires drilling bolt heads and or nuts. At least Guzzi's require no fabricated chain guard..
 OP, go to the SCTA website and order a rule book if you are serious...I have seen guys show up ready to race and get bounced for safety infractions.
  Note, at the Ohio LSR track, a stock appearing bike can run time only and not be held to the rules....I don't know if this is the situation at El Mirage...

[mtiberio]

El Mirage is speed only, time is not measured AFAIK. Yea, forgot about stock exhaust exit. So best I could hope for is drilling internal baffle plates. Still need to find out if the small lot of big valve cali III's had the regular cali III exhaust or one resembling the Lemans IV.