Best Performance Mods for an Ironhead?
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Why worry about HP??? Come on now. Anyone with any experience want's the power there when they feel like giving it some juice, straight line or in the curves. Of course this will be straight line.....
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
[QUOTE=Mario77746;3716556]Thanks for the replies all. So far I'm sold on the performance aspect of it. Now, $$$.... How much are we talking to get this up to 80hp / 70tq range? I know everyone is different but a good guesstimate would help. By the way, it's a 76 sporty driveline...Thanks.
Best to do the mods in stages....Easier on the pocket. Get your heads ported, aftermarket cams and valve springs to match the cams. If possible, get a pair of used heads and get them ported so you won't have down time. Ironhead heads are on e-bay for pretty good prices. The porting work done at first can be used later if you decide to go stroker.
I'll go out on a limb and estimate $600 for head porting....Jerry Branch on the West Coast is in my opinion one of the best. You can probably find cheaper prices elsewhere but stick to those who already know the game.
Best to do the mods in stages....Easier on the pocket. Get your heads ported, aftermarket cams and valve springs to match the cams. If possible, get a pair of used heads and get them ported so you won't have down time. Ironhead heads are on e-bay for pretty good prices. The porting work done at first can be used later if you decide to go stroker.
I'll go out on a limb and estimate $600 for head porting....Jerry Branch on the West Coast is in my opinion one of the best. You can probably find cheaper prices elsewhere but stick to those who already know the game.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
[QUOTE=Mario77746;3716556]Thanks for the replies all. So far I'm sold on the performance aspect of it. Now, $$$.... How much are we talking to get this up to 80hp / 70tq range? I know everyone is different but a good guesstimate would help. By the way, it's a 76 sporty driveline...Thanks.
I forgot to ask........Who made the frame? Looks pretty sturdy. At least 1" backbone tubing and single downtubing to the motor mounts. Definitely not the spindly work with bolt-on hardware. And some serious rake to boot!.....you got a show-bike already! Consider entering it into bike shows. The frame alone will attrack some seroius attention! You don't see many sharp looking Ironheads out there anymore!
Keep The Faith!!!!!!!
I forgot to ask........Who made the frame? Looks pretty sturdy. At least 1" backbone tubing and single downtubing to the motor mounts. Definitely not the spindly work with bolt-on hardware. And some serious rake to boot!.....you got a show-bike already! Consider entering it into bike shows. The frame alone will attrack some seroius attention! You don't see many sharp looking Ironheads out there anymore!
Keep The Faith!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Thanks. The frame is a redneck eng. It's 4 up 5 out with a 250 rear.
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
Thanks. The frame is a redneck eng. It's 4 up 5 out with a 250 rear.
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
Thanks. The frame is a redneck eng. It's 4 up 5 out with a 250 rear.
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
I already have a S&S E carb on it with a Billy Lane velocity stack. The motor already has Crane Single Fire ignition and drag pipes (no baffles).
My first concern is driveability. I'm sputtering like hell at mid throttle from 50mph up. Absolutely no problems starting. Driving from 0-40mph in 1st - 3rd is no problem. Once I hit 4th I have to either barely crack the throttle or go full throttle for it to run. Anything else and it just spit and spudders. Any advice on what jet sizes I should be around?
After that is fixed, I'm thinking the next mod will be a cam. Which one should I go with? I know head work and upgraded higher comp pistons, maybe even a stroker kit will be in the works in the future. With this in mind, I still need a streetability...I'm not one to let my bikes collect dust in the garage.....
Focus first on getting rid of your "Flat Spot" before going further......You may be happy with what you got once that flat spot is gone!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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IMO, building up a 30+ Ironhead is only asking for trouble. The cases are weaker than EVO cases and are now antiques. You can build it and I guess ride it reasonalby and get by. But, if you beat it, don't be surprise when the bottom end of the cases blows out.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Ok, the bike was put on a dyno and the air/fuel came back at 11/1 mid range. I have a 26 intm jet and a 68 main jet. Again, the internals are stock. I have straight pipes, crane single fire ign and a velocity stack. Where do I go from here other than getting a CV carb for now????