When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.
Hi all
Over the last couple of months I've been researching parts, companies, performance numbers etc. and trying to wrap my head around the HUGE amount of info out there. I've read a good amount of posts on this forum and have learned a lot! I've spoken to a few companies directly like S&S, Fuel Moto, Wood Performance and also Scott at Hillside Cycle. Scott a BIG thanks to you for taking the time on the phone with me last week.
I have a 2012 Heritage Softail with the following.........
S&S big bore 106” flat top pistons w/ 10.0 : 1 compression rate for my stock 85cc heads
Fuel Moto pro billet stage 1 air cleaner
CVO 255 cams
Samson Tru Dual exhaust
Dynojet Power Vision
NO HEAD WORK AT ALL AT THIS TIME
I know the exhaust is not great for helping with performance, but I'm pretty much stuck with it. I spent a $hit load getting Top Shop Hard Bags, lids, hardware, paint, and Cycle Visions brackets to make it all work with a softail. Looks great but wont allow for any other exhaust as the bags are in the way. In hind sight a Glide would have been a better choice for me but there's always next time.
Here's what i'm looking at and would love some comments or suggestions. Price wise there's only a few hundred difference.
S&S 79cc Super Stock Heads
S&S 585 chain driven EZ start cams
S&S 58mm Throttle Body
S&S pushrods and lifters
qtrracer that's not very helpful. Why would you say to leave it alone? What are your reasons? It looks like you've not left yours alone.
You've stated that you won't change the exhaust. You'll find that they are power killers. I've seen dyno sheets that show 10-25hp power losses with those guys, depending on what was done. The more work that was done to the motor the more they killed the power. So if I had to have those pipes, I'd leave it alone.
Looking for more torque, more HP and an all round more powerful/faster machine. I wish there was a way to use a touring style exhaust for a softail. That would fit with my hard bags but I don't believe there is one. So if what qtrracer is saying is right, the more I put into the engine the, more power I'll lose?
I can only say what I would not do and that is the S&S program. 3.932" bore, 79cc chambers and cams with an intake close of 45*; not compatible parts and will produce way more compression than I think you want.
Can't comment on FM Level B heads, don't know specs.
I tend to agree with gtrracer; if you are going to keep the pipes, leave it alone...............
It's not that I WONT change the exhaust, but rather that I cant find an exhaust that will fit while my bags are installed. You can see how low they are in the pic. I don't have a pic of the other side (exhaust side) but the bag has the same orientation. I guess I could always take the bags off and save them for my "one day" Street Glide and sell the brackets. Just a big pain in the a$$ is all. If you have suggestions as to what exhaust would fit without messing up the bags i'm all ears.
Last edited by Mberlin74; Apr 11, 2016 at 03:01 PM.
Fishtails do suck for performance. But it can be done. Here's a 97" with 585s and fishtails. Not saying yours can end up like this....but you'll definitely need all the parts to work well together as well as a competent dyno tuner.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Please chime in on my engine build set up
