Where to start with 86' VFR700F that hasnt been touched in over 5 years?

Swapping cases would be a big job.

 

Not sure if we're talking the same thing. I haven't followed this thread for a while. An engine disassemble and swapping parts out into an I damaged case is a big job. Certainly doable with enough time, determination, and access to special tools. You've certainly shown you have the first two....

 

Believe it's a special tool to remove the clutch basket which must be done to get the cases split and the internals out.

There's a 4cylinder engine and a complete transmission in that compact container so swapping parts is a major undertaking. Then there's the issue of how far do you go with it? Replace all the seals and bearings while you're there? That's how I'm wired so when I looked at a similar situation for myself, it made more sense to swap in another running engine.

 

It's not so much that they "can't" be reused (with the exception of head gaskets which cannot and the side cover gaskets), but that they do have a limited usable life. That and they would now be around 30 yrs old. And if I'm going through THAT much work, I'd have a hard time reusing old stuff that could fail one month down the road.

That's just my philosophy on mechanics. There are others who would see it differently and not think twice using old parts.

 

If you look at my 3rd gen resurrection thread linked in my signature, I've had this same debate already...