84 softail
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Some early '84 models had left-over Shovel engines, and not Evo engines.
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From: Farmington ,MS
Not according to Harley and every book written about harleys...The Softail was built to showcase the new Evo motor...I don't believe anyone can show me a Softail with a shovel motor that the Vin number matches the frame.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Been a few months ago, but I think there was a story in one of the rags, and a pretty good tale to go with the pics. But the Shovel motors may not have been in a Sloptail frame, but maybe in an FX-style frame. Memory is a wee foggy on that! But then, how you gonna believe a company who celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1954, but did the 100th up in 2003?
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From: Farmington ,MS
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From: Western South Dakota
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From: Blairsville GA
'84 was the first year for the Evo and the last "official' year for the Shovel. I had an '84 Shovel dresser.
I'm still trying to figure out how Shovel cases could be re-machined for Evo use. I've also heard of a small number of '84 Softails with Shovel engines originally. I don't remember what the story was behind them, but they definitely weren't a regular "for sale" item.
Harley has a long history of sliding features from model year to model year. E.G., everyone knows that '84 was the last year for the Shovel, except the people that ended up with '85 bikes with Shovel engines (some Shriner and police bikes).
Similarly, my '49 came from the factory with a springer even though all big twins that year came with Hydra front ends. Except for the police bikes that were bid and contracted before the specs were available for the glide forks.
I'm still trying to figure out how Shovel cases could be re-machined for Evo use. I've also heard of a small number of '84 Softails with Shovel engines originally. I don't remember what the story was behind them, but they definitely weren't a regular "for sale" item.
Harley has a long history of sliding features from model year to model year. E.G., everyone knows that '84 was the last year for the Shovel, except the people that ended up with '85 bikes with Shovel engines (some Shriner and police bikes).
Similarly, my '49 came from the factory with a springer even though all big twins that year came with Hydra front ends. Except for the police bikes that were bid and contracted before the specs were available for the glide forks.
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From: South Carolina
The oil filter mounts were on the frame on Softails until the early `90s.