I’ve been making ET hoods for years and they are very popular now that racing organizations added a 250 single class for ETs. Fellas like Steve Windingland from West Fargo and Greg George from Princeton, MN are doing superior graphics for them. That’s Steve’s sled shown here.
Yamaha ET 250 & 300 Pan Sides
Raw NOS side panel
If it’s one part on old ETs that is consistently in bad shape, it’s the aluminum side panels. They are inherently weak and most show bangs and dents. Very shortly I will have fiberglass replicas. These at least you can repair if need be. Dented thin aluminum is virtually impossible to straighten perfectly. I will offer the panels in white so you can paint them or I will have them in bright aluminum warp to look original. If you want a polished aluminum look, buy my white ones (cheapest) and paint them. No pricing as of March 2020. If you want to be on the list for these, write phil@phillittleracing.com and say “put me on the Pan list.”
March 30, 2020 update: I got to this project sooner than expected-primarily because it was a simple task. This Thursday I will take to the fiberglass company to make female molds. I have decided to offer them in bushed aluminum vinyl wrap for builders who want something stock looking. I’ll offer them in colors too. No price yet but now we know timing-I should have parts in a month plus.
Polished and waxed panels
GP300R Hood for 1973+ 292s
Greg George said “why don’t you make hoods for 1973 1/2 Yamaha GP one lungers?” I said okay. I will slash off the dashboard and windshield for less wind resistance. Hood sides will puff out like the ET hood. I will add an air duct on the right side and a long inlet in the nose for fan air. I will have graphic packages in different colors so you can do your individual thing. This hood is primarily for One-Lunger racers but it will fit other models with the same belly pan with steering bumps. This is hood is number two after my Phazer project.
Colors
In time, I may offer hoods in colors if the price isn’t too nuts. White is the base color and base price. Next higher is black and the other colors would be higher but all are less than a paint job.
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 Gutsy Yellow |
 Electric Blue |
 Yamaha Blue |
 White |
 Black |
EX440R hood for Yamaha Exciters
This hood is designed for 340 and 440 Exciters from 1976 to 1979 with fan cooled engines. It will be primarily for vintage racers but there’s no reason not to buy something sexy for your Exciter with the bad hood-as most of them are today.
This hood will look like the 338 and 433 GPX models from 1974 but with distinct changes. It will fit on other Yamaha models with the same belly pan. Changes will include a smooth hood with no immediate provisions for a windshield. The left scoop be lower than the GPX and will aid engine cooling. The scoop on the right will be directed at the engine intake.
This is hood is number three after the GP project in my shop priority.
Yamaha Phazer Race-Styled Hood
This 2012 hood idea came from Lonn Peterson from Thunder Products in Richmond, MN-he’s one of the smart guys on Yamaha being an ex-employee. I didn’t get moving on it I bought a Phazer II from my buddy Sam Niskanen of Cologne, MN. I am working on it now. The design change is very simple. The center raised hood screws to the stock hood and completely changes the Phazer look.
If you’d like to be on the Phazer progress report list just write me at phil@phillittleracing.com.
ET side panel progress report 4/28/20
The aluminum side panels on old Yamaha ETs are always in bad shape. Greg George from Princeton knew I wanted to make side panels so he sent me a brand new set to replicate. Greg’s rewards are two. I had to polish his original set for molding so he now has gleaming new side panels. And two I promised him the first set out of the mold. Speaking of molds, here they are:
I have a lot of work to do to make these useable-sanding, polishing and mounting bases. Molds are about 3/8” thick fiberglass so they don’t move out of shape during molding.
I have killed the idea of making pan sides in colors. I will offer them with bright aluminum wraps or in white so you can paint them to match your scheme. I now have an inkling of how much these will cost. Sadly, it is more than I expected. I’m guessing in white they will be $125 to $140 per side. Wraps will be more but I don’t know about that yet.