I have a '96 Road King. I need some suggestions please. I am sick of putting band aids on my every year. I replaced the cases last year due to the studs pulling out of the stock cases. Went with Ultima cases. I am always doing some sort of motor work every year. I am in a club and ride my hard all the time. Its just 80 inches. Have a Mikuni HSR42, Rinehart true duals and a Woods WS6 cam. I want to buy a complete top end kit with new cylinders, pistons and heads. Not sure who to go with. I do not want to lose reliability. And I do not want to bore the cases out. I just want to buy new heads and cylinders and everything on. Can you guys please make some suggestions. I ride 2 up alot

 

You've double-posted this question! See my reply on your other post.

 

I have always believed a stock motor would last longer.

It sounds to me like your 80" is heavily modified.
I would suggest you get a bigger motor.

 

Harley had offered a rebuild program for Evo's. You send your engine and parts back to the MoCo, they will replace the cases and put your original VIN on the new cases, rebuild everything else and send it back to you. I think you had to have it dealer installed to get the warranty. If I remember correctly it was between $2800 to $3500. I also agree that a stock motor will last longer.

 

Ok, opinions it is!

Evo's can produce great power with items supplied, stock cylinders bored to be round again with a compression bump to 9.5 to 9.8 or 10-1 edge with a matching cam responds well. Stock heads reworked by a GOOD head guy to match the compression bump also responds well so you have a 80 hp 80 tq easily with base parts being rework with reliability. Not sure if the WS6 being a typo but a W6 is a great cam for power in a bagger but needs detail on setup.

I know first hand that SE heads are great heads but the ports are designed to come in later in the rpm's and not perfect for a bagger, you can find a fine line in compression to help cover the lower end lag but splitting hairs towards detonation, I sold a set of SE's to have a stock set of heads done per a detailed explaination of a top shelf head porter.

Don't know anything about S&S heads beside some of heads have a shape that take only S&S pistons and some heads work with a flattop pistons but aftermarket heads @ $800 and the price of new cylinders would be overkill when available parts are already in your posession. Even aftermarket heads will need some cleanup to be efficient per stock design and matching items to work great, If you want aftermarket items then do some homework to what is best for your riding style on the bagger, you can get reliabilty with both directions but keep your compression in check.

 

Your Ultima cases are light years better than anything the MOCO has, plus when they send your engine back it has the shitty bearing in it.
Your cylinders have been heat cycled so if you bore them out they will stay straight. Send your heads to John Sachs in Florida, he will put in new valves, guides and port them for your style of riding and engine mods. He can also bore your cylinders for you. That will give you a better engine at a cheaper price than replacing everything. I know that you will be very happy with this work. Hope this helps.
John

 

Ditto all . Why throw your money away by replacing stuff that can be redone to your own specs. and requirements by a good machine shop ?