Hey everyone I am new to this forum. I have a 72 Harley FX Superglide that I am building from boxes of parts and I need some input on my engine options. My situation is that I have the shovelhead motor for the bike along with the kick start 4 speed trans. I am tearing down the motor to the short block for a full rebuild, but it seems like the motor is going to need just about everything ($$$$$). So with my hotrod mentality I am wondering if there is any later model engines I can swap into my bike and bolt up to the 4 speed trans without extreme modifications. Please bear with me if this is a stupid question; I am still fairly new to Harleys.

 

In a Harley 4 speed frame you can fit a Knuckle 1936 to 1947, a pan 1948 to 1965 or a shovel 1966 to 1984. The frame does not have enough clearance to use a later model motor without major modification.

 

Thanks for asking the question - I had wondered the same thing. You can also look in to buying a "crate motor" that is completely rebuild (S&S sells them, for example) but unless the shovel you have is completely trashed, you can do most of the labor for less. I am going through this process on a '79.

FilthyLucre - great reply! I need to save this in my notes somewhere... the "mental notebook" I use it not so reliable these days!

 

mmm... wouldn't an EVO fit? Weren't there early EVOs with 4 speed trannies on shovel frames?

 

DJ - you have one of the earliest years FX - you should seriously consider keeping the motor stock looking, at least. If if needs as much as you say, go for more displacement while you rebuild it.

V-T they modified the frame to fit the taller EVO motor.

 

EVO FXWG's were 4 speed frames that were modified... while they were making them...to fit the EVO enigine.




An EVO will not fit in a regular 4 speed frame...Google "EVO in a shovelhead frame" and you will see pages of people who have done this. Quite a bit of work to ruin a perfectly good frame.

 

The motor is too tall.

 

The motor mount pattern is the same but the motor itself is too tall.

 

Oh thanks... I didn't know they modified the frames to fit the EVO