This is a repost that I created in the Touring forum and was advised to move here, which makes sense.


Just curious if anyone has any experience with the S&S heads, and if they will make a noticeable improvement in performance over the stock 1980 shovel-head heads.

That being said, I get it is only 80" in a heavy bike (1980 FLT Tour Glide), and I am fairly robust myself at 250lbs.

I stayed with the stock bore jugs because I do not want to split the case at this time.

The biggest gain for sure is going to be a fresh top end with good ring seal and good valve seal, but I know S&S has done some rework to the ports.

Once the motor is broken in a cam change may be in order, it sounds like the Comp Cams V Thunder SHV-4010 is right up my alley.

Just curious, and looking to see what guys have to say.

I will find out eventually!

PS, here is my project thread:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...nd-revive.html

 

cylinder heads - stock // flow lower numbers then aftermarket, most who buy S&S heads are looking for more performance from the OTHER adds they are using = like more compression - a bigger camshaft - stroking the flywheels - larger cylinders and pistons -

so adding S&S heads and doing nothing else COULD do nothing and or make less power

BUT

you did not give part numbers for them - you did not say if they were New - you did not say if they were modded -

 

Yes, now that I am rereading, I do see that I left out some important info.

I have a 1980 FLT with a 80" shovel that needs a top end overhaul. The engine has a round 18,000 very easy highway miles on it, my dad bought the bike new in 1980 and has owned it ever since. He is too old for this big heavy bike, and has handed it down to me to rebuild and bring back to life. I have a lot more details in my project thread.

I have the S&S 80" top end kit for it. Here is a link to the kit I have. http://www.sscycle.com/product/80-qu...it-p20612.html

The heads are the S&S Super Stock heads, they are part of the kit above. They are brand new, and completely out-of-the-box from S&S.

I am just excited to freshen up the top end with all new parts and was curious if anyone else had used this kit, and what they thought of it.

 

we have in my shop installed that kit more then once and it works very well, having said that some up grades would be advantageous

the gaskets that come with it are paper < we use cometic MLS head gaskets - tin base gaskets and tin rocker box gaskets -

adding a cam like andrews A 2 - its .450 lift - 242 - 248 duration it makes great low and mid power not top end power as you have a bike that would like some help with the low end pull

the head set up you have is 8 to 1 compression so bigger cams are not in the cards

linewebber make a great shovel cam and some others as well

 

Cool, thanks! What do you think of the v thunder shv-4010? Or the shv-4000?

 

the 4000 is 450 lift But its only 236 duration sooo its a bit on the weak side

4010 is .485 lift and valve spring pressures and travel should be checked even if they S&S tell you it fits

i am not a fan of cams that are built around what others dont do - rather then what has been proven works