Hey Donzilla, I looked and it's the '87 frame the long bolt a arm mount. So I've got an '89
powerplant in a '87 chassis, so what the hell do I call it????Now how do I go about ordering a pipe in the future? Any mounting concerns that you know of?? Thanks Donzilla !

 

lol the pipes are the same so no worries there . when doing motor work get stuff for the 88-90 and anything chassis related 87 .

 

Sorry to hear about your stem problems. I actually posted a thread somewhere (I thought this forum but maybe not) telling someone that the 87 stem was different than the 88 & up stems. It's too bad you couldn't have seen that thread first. I've got quadzillas from both era's so that how I knew the difference. The one good thing about the 87 stem is that you'll notice it actually has a grease zerk on the stem that greases the lower stem bushing. That isn't on the later models for some reason.

As far as the chassis goes, there are a few major difference. The most obvious one is the upper A-arms and the frame where they mount as already mentioned. Second, the front spindles are not interchangeable. The 87 has a much longer mounting distance from top to bottom than the later years. Third, the steering stem and frame where the steering stem goes is different as you found out.

As far as the motors, the jug is the main difference between the 87 and later years. The 87 only had 6 head bolts, the later years had 7. The 87 had a much larger intake reed cage than the later years. 87's also have totally different stock jetting and 4th and 5th gear are internally higher on the 87. (88 & up had higher gearing with the sprokets so the top end speed was about the same.)

The exhaust pipe on the 87 is actually a different part # than the later years, but I can't see what the difference is. They will both mount up to either year so I wouldn't worry about that. I've noticed a slight difference in the stock mufflers between 87 and 88 (other than the obvious color difference between 87/88 - grey, and 89/90 - black) but again nothing material that doesn't permit you to swap them out.

 

Thank you guys for the inportant info!!! Also I'd like to say that Yagerzzz just HELPED
ME to figure out what to call this machine!
It's an '87 through & through!!! I just went out to check how many stud bolts I have{after Yagerzzz's thourgh details} I have an '87 {6 studs}!! I guess I'm no where near as good as you guys at
knowing what the hell I'm lookin at!!!! Donzilla...... I'M BEYOND WORSE THAN YOUR TYPICAL DAY!!
I was told it was an '89 and thats what I went with all this time{never checking things out for myself} WHAT AN ASZ I am!!!!!!!!!But now I know right???? It's better to know{THANKS TO YOU GUYS}what I've got in my possesion, now after all of this I can feel comfort knowing I have an '87
ZILLA!!!! But one thing I dont have Yagerzzz is a grease zerk on the stem, but all the turning radious angles are on the frame FOR SURE!!!!!I absolutley made sure of this....I AM POSSITIVE
of this one thing.LOL!

 

Question..... So was the '87 any better than the following years, being that it was the first year they made them????

 

BIGONE, nice short direct question. Here's a long convoluted answer (as many of my posts tend to become)

There are different things that are better on each year. The 87's had overbuilt front ends which were unecessarily heavy. The upper A-arms weigh quite a bit more than the later years, and so do the spindles. The later years were better simply because of weight.

The 87's head bolts would rarely but occasionally strip out of the aluminum jug, especially when higher compression domes were installed due to the large piston. (keep in mind that stock zilla's actually have a very low compression. But the area of the piston is so large that it still needs very stong head bolts) That's why they added another head bolt in 88 to fix this problem. However, it's a fairly easy fix to drill out and install larger head bolts into an 87 jug which completely solves the problem.

The reed cage on the 87 was considerably larger than all later years. Plus, the stock jetting was much larger on the 87. On paper, the 87's would appear to be much faster. However, having owned both quads, I can tell you that the performance is nearly identical. However, it's thought by many that if you were to build an extremely modified zilla, the 87 jug (with larger head bolts installed) might be the preffered jug to use simply because it has a much larger capacity to flow air. That being said, I believe the later years have more than enough air flow to build just about anything you want. Also, an 88 or newer jug will suprisingly bolt right on to an 87 lower end. I have one that I'm doing that with. I think they may also take different pistons but I haven't gotten that far yet on mine to say for sure.

The 90 models (and possible some 89 models) had another improvement. They actually had steel inserts in the cases for the crankshaft. This is a common upgrade that many people make on the earlier models. Also, the 90's had a stronger flywheel. Apparently older ones could seperate where they are welded/riveted together, although I've never actually heard of anyone having that happen.

As far as the gearing is concerend, that's up to your opinion. If you want the utmost top speed, using an 87 lower end will gear it a liitle taller on top and you can still gear it way up with sprokets. Some may like the closer ratios of the newer models for things like woods racing.

Also, just an interesting fact, there were about as many 87's sold as all 88-90 combined.

 

Boy Yagerzzz, You know your **** !
Well currently I do have a stud bolt hole that is stripped out, I was told to have it helicoiled,
should I do that ? Or do what you mentioned re thread it??If re thread... to what size do I move up to?? I wish you lived about 2 doors down from me!! I look at the machine and get depressed,
all I wanna do is ride the dam thing, it's been sittin in this condition ever since I got it home
from a swap.I heard it run...it's a very strong motor,just needs the bolt hole done up and {maybe you can answer this for me} at the way bottom of the cylinder it's scored pretty bad {just in one
area} but it doesn't look like it affects bottom stroke, do ya think it needs to be re bored??Right now it's at .060 over{that I also know, I called Suzuki corp and read the # off the piston}what do ya think?The top end {piston and rings} look pretty fresh,when I took the jug off {head too}
the gaskets looked kinda new.But I was just wonderin if I could get away with that scored area.
Thank you Yagerzzz!!

 

Helicoiling is fine. It serves the same purpose as putting in larger studs because you put in inserts that are larger than the studs, and then you can insert factory size studs and use the factory nuts. Probably easier to find also.

As far as your cylinder goes, if your piston and rings still have good compression, I'd be hard pressed to tell you to have it rebored. As long as your cylinder skirts aren't chipped or cracked, you should be in descent shape. Instead of having it bored, if the scouring isn't too deep, you may be able to have it honed out. That is the process that any machine shop does after it bores a cylinder to smooth the surface and it's not very expensive to have done. In fact, you can probably do it yourself if you buy a honing kit. Some can go right onto an electric hand drill and they usually have 3 sanding stones that are spring loaded that go against your cylinder wall and clean it up without boring your cylinder.

If I were you, I'd take your entire jug to a machinist and see what it would cost to have your head bolts helicoiled and your cylinder honed. If it's reasonable, it may not be worth you messing with. Also, I'd consider having all of your head bolts helicoiled as opposed to just one to prevent future troubles. I've never heard of anyone who had trouble with their head studs again after they inserted larger ones or had them helicoiled.

 

Yagerzzz, Won't you PLEASE move 2 doors down from me!!LOL!!
Hey I'm gonna do EXACTLY as you said and take the cylinder in and have ALL the bolts
helicoiled and to have them look and see what they say about the cylinder also.Should I have them
helicoil the '88-'90 bigger size bolts in it??Probably huh.
Thank you again, much appreciated !!

 

Actually, the 88-90 studs were not any bigger. There was just one more of them to help handle the stress. Have them use the same size stud as stock. The insert that goes into the jug will be larger than stock which will be stonger, but the studs that screw into those can be stock. The insert is steel instead of aluminum so that's why the stock size studs won't strip anymore.