engine upgrade ideas

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May 21, 2012 | 10:00 AM

shuggy39

Thread Starter

2nd Gear

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

From: England

engine upgrade ideas

HI i have the 1550 15th anni fatboy and would like a bit more oomph so what are my options?? i would like to keep some reliability in the engine but would be grateful for any sensible suggestions (already had the lose some weight from my own club members) much appreciated
shuggy

May 21, 2012 | 10:04 AM

harleycharlie1992

Unofficial HDF Chaplain

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 21,158

Likes: 18,079

From: san diego

cams, headwork, assume you have exhaust, and at least air cleaner with a tune. thinner head gaskets work well with a good cam choice. or just get the h.c. pistons.

May 21, 2012 | 10:14 AM

shuggy39

Thread Starter

2nd Gear

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

From: England

stroked

i see you stroked your deuce to 103 would you rec that for a fatboy?

May 21, 2012 | 10:27 AM

Sgt_Jim

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 3,048

Likes: 3

From: Central Jersey

Is the 15 year FLSTF the 2005 model? and you have a 95" kit on it (the 1550cc i assume)? Well aside from what Charlie said (new cams, get the heads ported and polished), your only other option is a 98" kit.... anything larger than that requires you to bore out the bottom end/crank case.

May 21, 2012 | 11:13 AM

harleycharlie1992

Unofficial HDF Chaplain

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 21,158

Likes: 18,079

From: san diego

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuggy39

i see you stroked your deuce to 103 would you rec that for a fatboy?

no replacement for displacement!! but you said "reasonable" I assumed you diodn't want to get into the lower end. once there you need to think weld and true (older ones aren't as bad. but this is good engine building) extra 500 or so, so you have to ask yourself "speed costs, how fast do I want to go?" 103 is nice to be sure, I wouldn't not recommend it but you can do a lot with 95/98" motors. I'm just a little crazy! I thought about bigger, held back

May 21, 2012 | 02:43 PM

tbonetony06

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 3,492

Likes: 19

From: Illinois

Head work is by far the best thing you can do for your bike.

May 21, 2012 | 04:26 PM

Motown Strag

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 1,566

Likes: 2

From: Detroit

I am no engine expert but if you did a big bore bolt on and still have the stock cam then you are only a third of the way there. Cams and then if you want more power on the top end do heads. (also assuming you already did pipes and AC)

Do you guys think head work gives you much in the cruising range?

Haven't done mine so curious if the expense justifies the cost for a daily cruiser.

Also a good tuner and a professional dyno tune are pretty important for good power, safety and a balanced AFR throughout the RPM range.

IMO

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May 21, 2012 | 04:42 PM

djl

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 12,774

Likes: 2,606

From: san antonio

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuggy39

Send your heads out to the porter of your choice for a "street" port; Hilside Cycles and VeeTwin Performance are forum sponsors and both have a street port package for $450-$500. Short Block Charlie (SBC) also offer a street port package for about the same price. Those guys include larger intake valve, better guides and decking for compression as part of the base price. BigBoyz offers a street port job for $299 but he does not include decking for compression and reatains OEM guides and valves.

Install a set of Andrews TW37 cams and make sure the heads are setup to deliver about 9.8 static compression with a .030" head gasket. That combination won't break the bank and will make 100/100 every time if built and tuned right and is very dependable. You will need a decent exhaust to hit those numbers, something like a V&H Propipe, Fatcat, Bassani Road Range, Thunderheader, etc.

Install upgraded inner cam bearings as well; Torrington B148s or Nachi equivalent. Fuel management system of your local tuner's choice and a good tune to top it off.