Well it sounds like two votes for starting with the cams so I'll start there and see where that takes me.

Work_truk,

I think we may be saying the same thing about canned maps but from different perspectives. I was not suggesting I wanted to try to marry a canned HD map to an a-la-carte selection of aftermarket heads, cams, pistons, etc and hoping to get close. Clearly that isn't going to happen. I also never meant to convey that I was against getting my bike tuned. Sorry if any of that was somehow conveyed.

The tuning device is not an afterthought. On the contrary, it was one of the first purchases I made as you suggested it should be. I have a Screaming Eagle Race Tuner (SERT) married to this bike. I have used it on my own to tune out decal pop and other undesirables following my Stage I and other mods. So I am not a stranger to tuning and I understand the value of having a properly tuned engine. I simply do not know of any tuners in my area, much less whether or not any of them are worth a ****. This whole discussion of tuning was one of convenience, not of ignorance, at least on my part.

My plan is/was to
(1.) decide on a build option,
(2.) install it,
(3.) tune it to be able to ride it in one of three ways: (a.) with the canned map if it was a SE kit build, (b.) using some other tuner like DFO, PCIII, DTT, (c.) have it tuned and Dyno’d by installer (i.e. Hillside) if I don’t DIY the build
(4.) follow-up with a good Dyno tune if #3 was not viable or if I was unsatisfied with the results of the tune resultant from #3.

My original post was asking if folks agreed that the 257 based combo would give me what I was looking for. To be clear, the canned map referenced is specifically designed around the specific year and model of bike I have plus the specific HD part numbers mentioned in my post. The map is for an 06 Softail with shorty dual exhaust with 25 degree injectors, hi-flow AC, and the aforementioned SE pistons, SE heads, and SE 257 cams. Sans the subtle differences between the bench bike on which this map was created at the factory relative to my own, this map is indeed plug and play. So the myriad of variables that you mention have a much smaller impact in this scenario. I was not suggesting an apples map be applied to an oranges build. Without getting into the merits of SE kits, I think in this set of circumstances it is reasonable to trust that the canned map would be sufficient.

So in the end I have my answers.
- No, the 257 cam BB build is not suitable for what I want. I have abandoned the SE option so this discussion of tuning is pretty much a dead issue. The bike will be tuned in conjunction with the build, whatever that ends up being.

- Starting by selecting a cam profile that matches your goals and then match the remaining parts to optimize the build is an acceptable way to approach this project.

I will seriously consider Scott’s suggestions.

Thanks again all.

 

Benson,
If you have questions, feel free to contact us anytime.
scott

 

Yes, calling Scotty would be a good call for you.

 

Thanks to both of you.

 

Scott can assemble a top end package that will surely make you smile. I do not live in VA, but end up there on the bike quite a bit (fall off of mts from WVa.). The only good tuner I know of in your neck of the woods would be TMan in N.C.

I have a 106, and Scott sells a 107 package that's pretty nice and actually economical all way around. Uses your cylinders and heads and then ships them back all ready to install. I like the 106/107 if starting from 96. It's really nice for that 'roll-on' torque.

 

Here's another view that will deliver what you want. You have mentioned the "B" word (budget) several time s in your posts, so consider an alternative.

The '06 heads just aren't that bad and much better than previous years, primarily because of the reconfiguration on the exhaust side. Consider sending them out to BigBoyz, or wherever you can get the best deal for machining the heads to produce somewhere around 88-9.0 corrected compression with the selected cam, a multi angle valve job and a general clean up of the ports. The BigBoyz "street" port job would be fine and affordable. Get a 98" kit from the supplier of your choice, cylinder and pistons to match, re-assemble with a .030" Cometic MLS head gasket, pushrods and lifters of your choice (stay with stock PRs to save $$).

Build around the Andrews 25 or 54 depending on where you want the TQ. The 26 will hit off idle but starts to fade just past 4000rpm. The 54 comes on a little later but makes TQ quick and has flat curve out to past 5000rpm. So it depends on how/where you ride. The Woods cam will definitely make power too but they tend to be noisy.

I have to agree with Wurk Truk on canned maps and black boxes and suggest that you spend the money you save on the build and buy TMax w/AT, PCV or TTS Mastertune to manage ignition and fuel. A black box just won't get the job done. A good tune is soooooooo important on a build like this.

I know you must like those pipes but you could help your low end TQ but tossing them for a better performing exhaust system.