Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine Build?Crate ?????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-22-2016, 08:52 PM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Blue Tick
Blue Tick is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Tomball, Tx.
Posts: 821
Received 54 Likes on 40 Posts
Default Engine Build?Crate ?????

Ok, in a nutshell I thought I was decided on a 107" build this summer. A buddy of mine threw out the idea of just getting a crate engine and swapping it out and leaving the 103" as is. Been doing a little research and it seems every engine I've seen says not for liquid cooled bikes. Is this the case on every single one out there? What or are there any options?
 

Last edited by Blue Tick; 10-22-2016 at 09:03 PM.
  #2  
Old 10-23-2016, 10:46 AM
EdwardK's Avatar
EdwardK
EdwardK is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,800
Received 304 Likes on 226 Posts
Default

Need more info. What year bike do you have? Why are you rebuilding? More power or is it wore out? Etc...

I wouldn't buy a new crate engine the same size. The MOCO has a rebuild program where the dealer will pull your engine, send it to the factory and it is rebuilt to factory specs. Keeps the same serial #'s on the engine that way.

If you are having someone else do the work, make a visit and talk to Danny at Danny's Motorcycles in Montgomery. Tell him what you want out of the bike, your riding style, and what you are looking to do and he will make some great suggestions. He takes a long time to turn a bike but he does great work and is extremely knowledgeable. It doesn't cost anything to talk to him and Honea Egypt is a great twisty road to ride.
 
  #3  
Old 10-23-2016, 10:54 AM
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
mkguitar is offline
Extreme HDF Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Posts: 14,746
Received 395 Likes on 337 Posts
Default

determine what result you want to see.

your Pal's suggestion makes no sense to me in terms of cost and result- based on the info in your post. so am I missing something.

IF you want to mod your motor- proven packages from known vendors give repeatable results-

the wet head bikes have better cooling and controlled combustion chamber temps allowing higher compression and more aggressive cams than other 103's.

so getting a conventional crate motor will likely give poorer result than a wethead- even if the displacement is bigger.
you could get a "race" motor and leave out the ( advantages) of liquid cooling, but a race motor will be less reliable and less street friendly, and less mpg if you ever leave hometown

mike
 
  #4  
Old 10-23-2016, 10:56 AM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Blue Tick
Blue Tick is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Tomball, Tx.
Posts: 821
Received 54 Likes on 40 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by EdwardK
Need more info. What year bike do you have? Why are you rebuilding? More power or is it wore out? Etc...

I wouldn't buy a new crate engine the same size. The MOCO has a rebuild program where the dealer will pull your engine, send it to the factory and it is rebuilt to factory specs. Keeps the same serial #'s on the engine that way.

If you are having someone else do the work, make a visit and talk to Danny at Danny's Motorcycles in Montgomery. Tell him what you want out of the bike, your riding style, and what you are looking to do and he will make some great suggestions. He takes a long time to turn a bike but he does great work and is extremely knowledgeable. It doesn't cost anything to talk to him and Honea Egypt is a great twisty road to ride.
I have a '16 RGU and learning the liquid cooled is a real PITA. I'm looking to get more power out of the bike. I've been talking to FM about their 107 build and leaning that route but my buddy threw out the option of an S&S and just doing a straight replacement.

I used to live off Honea Egypt and know Danny well. Will have to give him a call as well and see what he thinks.
 
  #5  
Old 10-23-2016, 10:59 AM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Blue Tick
Blue Tick is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Tomball, Tx.
Posts: 821
Received 54 Likes on 40 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mkguitar
determine what result you want to see.

your Pal's suggestion makes no sense to me in terms of cost and result- based on the info in your post. so am I missing something.

IF you want to mod your motor- proven packages from known vendors give repeatable results-

the wet head bikes have better cooling and controlled combustion chamber temps allowing higher compression and more aggressive cams than other 103's.

so getting a conventional crate motor will likely give poorer result than a wethead- even if the displacement is bigger.
you could get a "race" motor and leave out the ( advantages) of liquid cooling, but a race motor will be less reliable and less street friendly, and less mpg if you ever leave hometown

mike
Mike,

This is info I was looking for as well. My plan has been to go to FM this coming June for their 107 build and I even contemplated doing their 117. But, talking with them and for what I do their suggestion was still the 107. My main goal for the post was to get info and suggestions from others who have done work on their wet heads before I make a final decision.
 
  #6  
Old 10-23-2016, 11:19 AM
EdwardK's Avatar
EdwardK
EdwardK is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,800
Received 304 Likes on 226 Posts
Default

From what I read on the forum, you can't go wrong with Fuel Moto.

If your bike is still stock, you might find that you'd be pleasantly surprised with cam's, gut the cat out of the pipe and a good tune. That will really wake it up. As mkguitar said, the wet heads have higher compression and allow for a more aggressive cam. Even without headwork.

If you talk to Danny, I'd love to know what he suggests. I took him my 2013 103 at 1,000 miles for cams and tune and he really woke it up. Strongest bike I'd ever had. Curious what he recommends for the wet heads.

Good luck with your decision.
 
  #7  
Old 10-23-2016, 11:32 AM
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
grbrown is offline
Club Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bedford UK
Posts: 45,435
Received 2,852 Likes on 2,419 Posts
Default

We have other HDF sponsors who are engine specialists. Try Scott at Hillside Cycle, I'm sure he will have some helpful suggestions.
 
  #8  
Old 10-23-2016, 09:10 PM
Blue Tick's Avatar
Blue Tick
Blue Tick is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Tomball, Tx.
Posts: 821
Received 54 Likes on 40 Posts
Default

We do a lot of touring with our bike and I'm looking for a good bullet proof build and not to mention something that won't wreck the fuel mileage.
 
  #9  
Old 10-23-2016, 11:29 PM
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
mkguitar is offline
Extreme HDF Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Posts: 14,746
Received 395 Likes on 337 Posts
Default

- um sounds like that is what you have already.


a stage 1 will be the best bang for buck power improvement you will ever get----and will retain reliability and be close in MPG-

you will also have a machine which is easily serviced if away from home on a trip as there are no "mysteries" for the guy who is trying to fix it.

Mike
 

Last edited by mkguitar; 10-24-2016 at 01:07 PM.
  #10  
Old 10-24-2016, 04:11 AM
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
grbrown is offline
Club Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bedford UK
Posts: 45,435
Received 2,852 Likes on 2,419 Posts
Wink

Originally Posted by Blue Tick
We do a lot of touring with our bike and I'm looking for a good bullet proof build and not to mention something that won't wreck the fuel mileage.
Admittedly my bike is much older, but I've gone from stock to stage 1 to an over-size rebuild and currently an S&S 107" replacement engine. Gas mileage hasn't changed enough to be bothered - except when making good use of the extra power! Unless you go for a really wild build I suspect you will find the same.
 


Quick Reply: Engine Build?Crate ?????



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:15 PM.