Last Friday I ordered my V&H Longshots which should arrive Monday. I've been reading conflicting reports on wether I need to do anything furthur to avoid hurting my engine in the long term. I sent V&H an email about this & this was their response. Their opinion\recommendation is to buy their fuel pak & high flow ac.
Do you guys agree?

Thanks!
Clay

Hi Clay,

Any time you add one of our exhaust systems we highly recommend the use of a high flow air filter( V&H VO2 P/N 70001 and a Fuelpak (P/N 61001A This way not only do you get the best performance out of your pipes you will also avoid any lean running conditions and prolong the life of your engine. For ordering information please contact our retail store at 866-847-7473. Unfortunately we do not ship direct here from the factory.

 

I believe the 2008's have catalytic converters so it shouldn't run as hot as the 07'd but I would seek a dealer you can trust and talk to the service manager.

 

What year and model bike are you working with?
Long story short - ANY changes made to either your air intake or exhaust system on a computer controlled fuel injected engine to make it breath more freely will cause it to run lean, which inturn increases engine temp (bad).
A tuner will allow you to reprogram the vehicle computor to richen the fuel mixture and/or adjust timing to compensate for these changes.

 

I'm not an expert by any means but this is what I would expect them to say as an up sell. I agree you definitely should get a high-flow filter & back plate and adjust your air/fuel by some means. How you should do it will be a matter of debate. In my opinion the best way is to 'reprogram' you EFI system with a custom map $$$ vs installing a one size fits all base map $$ for your components(or at least close to your componants) vs tricking it with adjusted signals (Fuelpak) $$, but there are those that could easily argue it any other way...

 

i have an 07 fatboy and the V&H BR 2-1's and got the fuel pak and high flow filter and have had no problems and their answer is probably a good one....

however, i was speaking to a service tech said the 08's and 09's have not been successful in running the fuel pak...something has been tripping them up and he said that there's been a lot of people this summer coming back to him with issues

i would ask Vance and Hines if there is anything you need to consider with your bike and let them know the year of your bike....

i don't mean to worry you, but just check and see what they say

later-

 

They should know what I'm referring to.(my bike) Below is a copy of the email I sent them.....I just want to do it right the first time.

I just ordered a set of your Longshots for my 08 HD & have received conflicting info. I have been told i need to get a fueling manager & I've been told that I don't! Please advise.No high flow AC, just your pipes. If I need the box, can you send sales info & part number?

Thanks,
Clay

2008 HD Softail Heritage
EFI
96 cid
6 speed

 

The best advise I could give is this...
Pipes help you engine breath better, with new pipes you will be able to get exhaust expelled better than you would with the stock pipes*. You won't realize the benefits fully with out getting more air into the engine so you really should get a high-flow air filter. Any time you make a significant change to your engine such as pipes and air cleaner you need to have a different air/fuel mixture. You can do this basically 2 ways. 1 is to trick your system into giving you the right mixture, the other is to reprogram you system to give you the right mixture. The fuelpak tricks you system. If you don't change your mixture you could experience premature engine wear, knocking, pinging, back firing and decreased performance (especially from what you could be getting on a properly tuned bike.)

Check out the Exhaust section in this forum or others for further research or discussion on this exact issue.

 

Dude remember she's your lady. Get it done right and she'll stick by you. Get the high flow and have it remapped. I know it costs $$$ but your lady's worth it isn't she? You think it costs now wait till it overheats, starts to leak oil and all else that can be affected by too lean a mixture now your talkin real $$$. I found out the hard way and never again.

 

When you say "remapped" are you talking about going into a dealer & having it (the ecm) reprogrammed? On my cummins diesel I use a fueling box which adjusts the fueling perameters & timing & I'm guessing thats what the V&H FuelPak does vs rewriting the fueling & timing perameters... Please hold my hand here cause I'm a little confused...Anyone know the cost of a "remap"?

Thanks in advance!
Clay

 

Good points made by all. I like to use simple logic- intake=inhale, exhaust=exhale. If I make it exhale better I will be choking it off or visa versa. If I change the way it breathes, I need something to regulate it. I personally would leave it stock unless I could afford to do a hi-flo air filter, POWER COMMANDER and exhaust. I use that logic on all my vehicles. Example1-Ford f150- K&N cold air intake, Edge performance module, Gibson dual exhaust.
Example2- Screamin' Eagle hi-flow air filter, PCIII, V&H BSLs.
Both run great!