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That was the set up in my 1979 74 inch FXEF. I bought it bone stock with 4400 miles for $4100 bucks. Did a ton of mods.
Yes, lead was the engines friend. Cooler running temps, cushioning valve seats and lubing guides.,Frosty grey tail pipes. I used to keep a couple 5 gal cans of CAM2 leaded racing fuel for my other ride back in those days. I mixed 2 gallons into the Vettes tank, the remainder was Sunoco 93. T-Top 69 427 L36 Stingray, M21, .370 rear, matching numbers. No air, No power accessories at all, stock am fm mono radio. Cheater with a heater the cost of head work in the Vette compared to my shovel for unleaded gas compatibility was huge. Aviation gas was also a good alternative if ya had a connection.
This thread is getting a life of its own, but entertaining. . As for the frame bosses mentioned whatever the MoCo did or not is confusing. I get the use what is on hand assembly in some instances. Im always learning something. Going back to 1980 1200cc shovels - I know they made em. I came across this documented FLHP 1200. Now I gotta find an FX bike with a 74.
I found MORE confusion here in a Harley print ad. It states the 1981 bikes can run on regular leaded fuel, WHAT? The 80 engine was supposed to be set up for unleaded so why that? I never ran regular and by the leaded gas was scarcer ever so since 1975. I suppose unlike an auto with cat-converter maybe no real harm to the bike from a little lead. My 1979 74 frame label, leaded premium only, it cost me to set up my heads for unleaded swill. The Sunoco high test unleaded was my preferred back then. Better yet-Who remembers the days of Sunoco 260 ?!? High octane leaded nectar. https://www.adbranch.com/harley-davi..._fat_bob_1981/
A little fuzzy but they state leaded regular in the 1981 bikes?
I gotta move it, I have a local run to attend. 19th annual Mels run. Raises a money for the childrens medical center. Im not much for these things but since it is local event kicking off in town and ending in town, I know a few people it be fun to see. Besides that kids med center was great to my daughter when she was a tot.
Lots of "shops" made lots of Money, when Unleaded gas was introduced... FWIW... I have Never even considered my Shovel needed to be Converted...to Anything!!!
The supposedly "softer" seats may, perhaps, sink...slightly Faster... Maybe.. I cannot tell the difference when doing Valve Jobs between original Valve Seats, and... Oh so Expensive, so Must be better,, Seats.
More Mythology... and Yes I still Have more than one Shovelhead with Old, Original Seats. Aint Skeert
Nice, great source. The above post illustrates my point. I know there were 74 models for 1980. I didnt locate the print proof fast enough but well remember the bikes.
I listed 1980 engine codes below.
Lots of "shops" made lots of Money, when Unleaded gas was introduced... FWIW... I have Never even considered my Shovel needed to be Converted...to Anything!!!
The supposedly "softer" seats may, perhaps, sink...slightly Faster... Maybe.. I cannot tell the difference when doing Valve Jobs between original Valve Seats, and... Oh so Expensive, so Must be better,, Seats.
More Mythology... and Yes I still Have more than one Shovelhead with Old, Original Seats. Aint Skeert
There was a lot of "The Sky Is Falling" with the introduction of non leaded fuels ... As mentioned, many replaced valve seats in an effort to thwart impending doom .. When I did my Shovel I had a good friend who worked at McLaren ... ( He was one of the guys who worked on the Buick V-6 that ran at Indy ) ... He was kind enough to have the "guru's there massage the heads ... Their opinion was that the seat in the heads were more than stout enough to handle the job ... I did use a set of Manley stainless swirl polished valves and Rowe valve guides ... So far so good ... Sunoco 260 ? Yep I worked at the corner Sunoco gas station as a kid :>)
@Racepres Unleaded gas caused issues with the shovels. They ran hotter with unleaded, more problems arose because of it including the heads. I believe the MoCo made the move to the 80 because of the issues of unleaded fuel. Toss in that making good horse power on unleaded gas was a consideration. Look what happened to the Vette and all US auto makers from 1975 on, the time it took them to catch up power wise. Adding a cat-conv helped with emissions but the cars were sadly anemic when you hit the gas. The cars were detuned to deal with unleaded fuel. It was around 1985 when it started to get a little better - Buick GN and a couple others come to mind. Lead played an important part in the wellbeing of the old engines.
That youve had minimal issues is very good and certainly interests me as you do the engine work yourself. I have no doubt my Shovel would have ran a while without the congestion but my concern was long term.
Funny I dont recall Japanese and Euro bikes having issues.
One thing if anything we learned fast with the bikes - unleaded runs hotter, heat causes issues.
Japanese & Euopian bikes knew (as did Harley) it was coming & their bikes were built from the get go years before to run well on unleaded,...
the Moco have always been behind them on most things,...
deny it's gonna happen then suffer when the inevitable happens,...
most is down to not wanting to lose short term profits,
long term they are years behing the rest of the world, sad but true
During the unleaded fuel transition. I did get caught up being all kinds of concerned. I will testify that the temperature gauge on my 69 Vette indicated pure unleaded ran hotter. Ideal mix was 20% CAM2 leaded race fuel by volume mixed with Sunoco pump unleaded 93. Pain the **** doing all that but the big block Vette addiction was strong.
Now we deal with ethanol dont get me started on that crap.
it been good reading these post.
when in NJ i ran a 59 Land Rover & my local gas station sold CAM2 but wouldnt pump it into the car, but was happy to fill a can & help me pour it in the tank after i'd paid, it ran real sweet on it
I never did fall for the Unleaded Hysteria.. none the worse for wear over it... No Corvette tho!!! LOL
No Temp gauge on my Harley Either... Don't Care.. and it Still Works..
Tho Not on Ethanol... the Dangers of Alcohol mixed with real Gasoline...leaded or unleaded, are Very Real... Stuff is ****... Purely ****!!!
Perfect for People that think High Octane is better... Check the octane rating on Alcohol!!!!!
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Stellite Valve seats & stainlesss steel valves
?!? High octane leaded nectar.
