I am thinking about installing the Woods 777 cams in first and later getting headwork. I know if you do bigger valves you might have to the piston valve reliefs looked at or modified - where is that decision point reached? I mean if you leave the valve sizes at stock, you shouldn't have to do anything to the pistons, but then do you lose too much value of getting your heads worked on?
And if you have to get the pistons looked at with any valve enlargement, are there any pistons available that will fit the stock 103" cylinders that a DIY could do?

I am trying to get the most bang for the $$, but there seems to be a dominoe effect working on engines - cams, now heads to get the compression, oil/fan cooler for the heat, new pistons because of the heads, mind as well get a big bore since your getting pistons, now a new tb for that big bore, better valve springs, rockers, lifters, etc, etc etc.

I am just looking for the logical engine upgrade that gets me to around 100 to 105 hp/ torque and does not cause a massive $$$ outlay.

 

You should be able to get over 100 hp with stock pistons. AllenW recently posted a thread with his build and he got there with stock pistons and throttle body.

When I was researching having my heads ported the guy (WFOLarry) who did them for me figured on average oversized valves are worth 5hp over ported heads with stock valves.

 

Good info, do you know the title to AllenWs' thread, I do not think I have seen that.

5 hp for oversized valves is significant, but not sure if and how much that impacts pistons?

 

Nevermind Reindeer, I found thread, reading now.

 

I looked real hard at doing head work when I did the stage II 103 on my 2010 street glide. My bike stock dynoed at 68 hp and 84 tq. The stage II work with SE 255 cams bumped up to 92 hp and 106 tq. The 06 and later heads actually flow pretty good and most of the head work that is done to them is generally just cleaning up casting flash and other imperfections. It was estimated that head work would have increased my results by 6 hp and 6 tq but from a cost benefit perspective the $800 to do the heads and another $200 to do the throttle body didn't seem worth it. Now that I am having throttle body issues with the bike, really glad it wasn't modified as that could have warranty implications.

 

These are the kind of debates going on in my brain when I go to sleep! Thanks for the info - did the heads you were looking at have the bigger intake and exhaust valves too? To get your heads worked on and bigger valves, I would have guessed more hp/torque in return.