EV27 & Piston Install Cost
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 44
Likes: 14
From: Eastern Shore of MD
EV27 & Piston Install Cost
Hi everyone,
I'm getting a bit of an oil weep at both of my base gaskets, and am thinking about pulling the cylinders, getting them cleaned up, installing new Wiseco or KB pistons, bumping up the compression a little with a thinner base gasket, installing an EV27 cam and replacing the lifters. What I'm wondering is, has anyone had this done recently, and if so, about how much did it cost? I got an estimate from my HD shop and they estimated the cost at over $3,300, which seems crazy to me. They quoted 12 hours of labor, plus $1,200 for the reconditioned cylinders and heads with the pistons. Hell, for a few thousand more dollars I could get a complete S&S motor. I'm not looking to make the engine into a street rod, but just want a basic clean up with good reliability.
My current bike is a 1990 FXRS with just under 29,800 miles.
Thanks,
I'm getting a bit of an oil weep at both of my base gaskets, and am thinking about pulling the cylinders, getting them cleaned up, installing new Wiseco or KB pistons, bumping up the compression a little with a thinner base gasket, installing an EV27 cam and replacing the lifters. What I'm wondering is, has anyone had this done recently, and if so, about how much did it cost? I got an estimate from my HD shop and they estimated the cost at over $3,300, which seems crazy to me. They quoted 12 hours of labor, plus $1,200 for the reconditioned cylinders and heads with the pistons. Hell, for a few thousand more dollars I could get a complete S&S motor. I'm not looking to make the engine into a street rod, but just want a basic clean up with good reliability.
My current bike is a 1990 FXRS with just under 29,800 miles.
Thanks,
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 3,577
From: Texas
Hi everyone,
I'm getting a bit of an oil weep at both of my base gaskets, and am thinking about pulling the cylinders, getting them cleaned up, installing new Wiseco or KB pistons, bumping up the compression a little with a thinner base gasket, installing an EV27 cam and replacing the lifters. What I'm wondering is, has anyone had this done recently, and if so, about how much did it cost? I got an estimate from my HD shop and they estimated the cost at over $3,300, which seems crazy to me. They quoted 12 hours of labor, plus $1,200 for the reconditioned cylinders and heads with the pistons. Hell, for a few thousand more dollars I could get a complete S&S motor. I'm not looking to make the engine into a street rod, but just want a basic clean up with good reliability.
My current bike is a 1990 FXRS with just under 29,800 miles.
Thanks,
I'm getting a bit of an oil weep at both of my base gaskets, and am thinking about pulling the cylinders, getting them cleaned up, installing new Wiseco or KB pistons, bumping up the compression a little with a thinner base gasket, installing an EV27 cam and replacing the lifters. What I'm wondering is, has anyone had this done recently, and if so, about how much did it cost? I got an estimate from my HD shop and they estimated the cost at over $3,300, which seems crazy to me. They quoted 12 hours of labor, plus $1,200 for the reconditioned cylinders and heads with the pistons. Hell, for a few thousand more dollars I could get a complete S&S motor. I'm not looking to make the engine into a street rod, but just want a basic clean up with good reliability.
My current bike is a 1990 FXRS with just under 29,800 miles.
Thanks,
That's in the ballpark of what I would expect to pay someone else to do this.
When I did my '90, I sent the heads and jugs to Scott at Hillside. He dressed the gasket surface and honed the jugs, did a complete workover on the heads (new valves, beehive springs, porting, etc), and pre-installed the pistons and set the ring gaps. I also bought Wiseco pistons, a Woods cam, a Dynatek ignition, S&S lifters and adjustable pushrods, a Cometic gasket kit (and probably a few other odds and ends I'm forgetting) from Scott at the same time. The real benefit of working with him is that we followed a proven "recipe" he has used hundreds of times, so I ended up with a well-engineered, balanced solution.
The total bill was something like $2100.
Disassembly and reassembly on my end was not difficult. Any monkey could do it with a little care and patience.
When I did my '90, I sent the heads and jugs to Scott at Hillside. He dressed the gasket surface and honed the jugs, did a complete workover on the heads (new valves, beehive springs, porting, etc), and pre-installed the pistons and set the ring gaps. I also bought Wiseco pistons, a Woods cam, a Dynatek ignition, S&S lifters and adjustable pushrods, a Cometic gasket kit (and probably a few other odds and ends I'm forgetting) from Scott at the same time. The real benefit of working with him is that we followed a proven "recipe" he has used hundreds of times, so I ended up with a well-engineered, balanced solution.
The total bill was something like $2100.
Disassembly and reassembly on my end was not difficult. Any monkey could do it with a little care and patience.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,727
Likes: 3,072
From: Brighton, MI
I did mine for about $650 to $750 doing the work myself. Used the stock push rods, did not buy new rockers or shafts, installed Johnson hy-lifts (cost was $100), new cam bearing, was able to purchase my cam with out the gear for about $100, top end cometic gasket kit around $80. Had the cylinders bored and the bases of the cylinders trued. Wiseco standard piston kit. New cylinder studs, and a few other odds and ends like cam seal, cam shims, loctite, hylomar. blah blah. Maybe another $50 to $100 on stuff I can't remember.
Nice winter project if you have a garage. Heat in the garage is a bonus. I took my time and really enjoyed the project.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 44
Likes: 14
From: Eastern Shore of MD
Thank you everyone for the great replies! This forum is such a wealth of information.
Our local HD shop has 2 mechanics who work on evo’s. I’ve used them before and they seem to do a good job. Just sucks their hourly rate is $110 an hour, but they’ve got bills and overhead to pay so I get it. Unfortunately our indy shops have a pretty bad reputation, both time and quality wise.
I may give this a go myself. I have a good friend who’s a good mechanic. I may hit him up to assist. He has a ton of tools, so this may be my best shot.
Appreciate the replies! Thank you everyone.
Our local HD shop has 2 mechanics who work on evo’s. I’ve used them before and they seem to do a good job. Just sucks their hourly rate is $110 an hour, but they’ve got bills and overhead to pay so I get it. Unfortunately our indy shops have a pretty bad reputation, both time and quality wise.
I may give this a go myself. I have a good friend who’s a good mechanic. I may hit him up to assist. He has a ton of tools, so this may be my best shot.
Appreciate the replies! Thank you everyone.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 933
From: Long Island
With a factory service manual pretty easy to do as mentioned above.Go for a new set of lifters also if they’re original.I had my heads cleaned up with new valve seals,Wiseco 10:1 pistons,Cometic top end kit,EV13, and a single fire Ultima ign. My FLT is a little heavier than yours and really zips along nicely.Probably around 1000 -1200 if you diy.
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Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 44
Likes: 14
From: Eastern Shore of MD
With a factory service manual pretty easy to do as mentioned above.Go for a new set of lifters also if theyre original.I had my heads cleaned up with new valve seals,Wiseco 10:1 pistons,Cometic top end kit,EV13, and a single fire Ultima ign. My FLT is a little heavier than yours and really zips along nicely.Probably around 1000 -1200 if you diy.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 286
From: Buford, GA
Heck if you're close to Boston, Hillside is about 4 1/2 hours from you. Save you on shipping the parts back and forth.
EV27 is good, but if you're doing head work, the Woods W6 or W6H is a better option IMO.
EV27 is good, but if you're doing head work, the Woods W6 or W6H is a better option IMO.
