whats up fellow hd owners i am new to the harley world i have been wrenching on bikes my whole life and just purchased a 79 shovel fx not sure if its a fxe or what it has a sick wide glide front end with dual disk and im thinking its the 80ci it has a 4 speed trans! im looking to find a rigid frame but from what i see alot of frames are for evo engines and 5 speed and not really sure whats compatiable with that motor and could i swap out the 4 speed and bolt a newer 5 speed to that motor? any help would be great as i am a noob to the harleys!

 

In 1979 they came in both 74 and 80 inch models. The way to tell is the serial number. Here is the cheat sheet to id what you have: I cut and pasted it so some of the columns ran together, sorry
Motorcycle Serial Numbers
Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) is located on the
engine crankcase and is the same as the number located on
frame steering head.
Example: 1A 13478 H7
1A = Model Designation
1A = FL-1200 6E = FXEF-80
2A = FLH-1200 7E = FLHS-1200
3A = XLH-1000 9E = SS-250
4A = XLCH-1000 2F = FXS-1200
5A = GE-750 3F = SXT-125
6A = SS-350 Sprint 4F = SS-175
7A = SX-125 6F = SS-125
8A = M65-S 7F = XLCR-1000
7B = ERS 2G = XLT-1000
8B = MSR-100 3G = FLH-80
2C = FX-1200 5G = FLT-80
3C = SX-350 Sprint 6G = FXE-80
5C = MC-65 7G = FXS-80
6C = SR-100 7T = SST-250
1D = LE Sidecar 8F = SST-350
2D = X-90 9F = SX-350
3D = Z-90 9G = FXWG-80
5D = SX-175 1H = FXB-80
6D = SX-250 2H = CLE Sidecar
7D = MX-250 3H = FLH-80 Classsic
9D = FXE-1200 5H = FLHS-80
4E = XLS-1000 6H = FL-80
5E = FXEF-1200 7H = FLH-1200 Police
8H = FLH-1200 Shrine
9H = FLH-80 Police
1K = FLH-80 Shrine
13478 = Sequential Number
H = Decade Code
H = 1970 thru 1979
J = 1980 only
7 = Model Season
0 = 1970
1 = 1971
2 = 1972
3 = 1973
4 = 1974
5 = 1975
6 = 1976
7 = 1977
8 = 1978
9 = 1979

 

if you have a 4 speed frame than only one 5 speed trans will fit and its useless, as all it does for you is make you shift one extra time no difference in high gear between the 4 speed and the 5 speed they have for a 4 speed frame --

But you can gear your bike up if the motor is powerfull enough

you need to know all the gear counts for an answer to be helpfull primary and rear wheel

welcome to the site BTW -- jz

 

thanks jz! i plan on keeping the 4 speed just am wondering what my options are as far as fitting the 80ci motor and 4 speed trans into other rigid frames that say only for evo and big twins only

 

Frames for Evos are fine as long as the motor goes... at that point the transmission is the issue.. so you need a frame for big twins and 4 speed I think

 

they make it two ways - the 4 speed frame some can accept the evo motor and the 5 speed frame you can use any big twin / primary choice and belt drives answer most of the install questions

the explain is in the frame add itself - what it takes and what to use, it comes down to what you have and what you want it to be - jz

 

lol ok not quit sure what u guys are saying evo and shovels work in any big twin frame its just the trans that doesnt?

 

You will run into title issues if you change frames. After 1970 the bike was titled to the frame. You will have to get a builders title to change frames, some states will give you many problems trying to title a home build. Check with your dmv before you go to the expense.

 

Don't get rid of your HD titled frame for an aftermarket frame!

There's a shop in Raritan, NJ that does spectacular work, that will hardtail the frame for you, and you can keep your HD title. The bike will have much better resale value that way.

Contact Mike at 47 Industries:
http://www.47fab.com/home2.html


As far as fitment goes, a cone Shovel can fit into an Evo frame. If you put a Shovel motor into an Evo frame, you will need to get a 4 spd tranny plate if you wish to use your 4 spd transmission.