is it possible to convert an ironhead into a shovelhead?
for eg, would s&s cases house the current internals or something? thanks.

 

It is possible because I have seen it done before, though I had no direct connection with the project.
I will say it is not something an average wrench would want to undertake doing. I certainly would not myself............ pg

 

Put Shovster into the Google search.

 

Here's an old Shovster poster...

 

I saw a cool ironhead with the trans cut off and a baker 6 speed behind it in the latest Horse chopper mag.

 

Here is one http://www.spchoppers.com/archives/nightprowler.html
Send mail to Mike he will tell you more...

 

cheers for the info guys. i am confused tho, they still look like ironheads.
i ment completely remove the gearbox from the ironhead and fit the internals to a big twin case so it can run a belt drive to 6 speed.
or is that whats been done but i cant find a pic of the primary side? cheers, sundayrider.

 

A shovel rocker box looks like an ironhead rocker box to a lot of people. You have to look closer and you will see the differences. An ironhead gets it's nickname from the iron head of course. A shovel gets it's name from the shovel shaped rocker boxes.

I have heard of adapting a multi-speed free standing gearbox to an ironhead engine by cutting off the Sportster gearbox, but never seen one in person.

Just about everything has already been done. There is very little, if anything left to do for the first time.

But look at it this way..... At what point do you say, Build a Sportster into a Big Twin by cutting off the case etc, etc.? Why not just go buy a Big Twin to start with. Then modify that to suit your needs.

You will not be the first and only to try something new. It's all been done before by someone............ pg

 

I agree this why ruin ironhead for this... but if you have ironhead with blowed cases and they can't be repaired...
Actually you can buy aftermarket bigtwin cases (delcron, s&s)... but there isn't ANY place that you can buy new ironheads !
Here is one sample, Ironhead engine in W-type (1920s) repro frame. Ironhead original gearbox (blowed) just cutted out, attaced geabox from Norton.
Picture from drag race lineup, class street bike.

 

Heh-Heh..... That's a Hybrid for sure Sepixlh! More proof that everything has been done at least once by someone, somewhere...... pg