big bore or cams and heads?
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Road Captain
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big bore or cams and heads?
Time for more power. I have an 04 RK Custom. Should I go for the 95" big bore or port and polish my heads and add cams? I don't want to do all of it now, but eventually will do all three. The deciding factor will be ease of installation and power added. Which one is easier to do and which one will add more power? I do my own work, unless it absolutly requires a $1000 tool that I will only use once. Thanks!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Southeastern Michigan
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
Honestly, if you think that you will want more power then just one of the options will give you, wait and do the build all at once. It cost more money in the long run to do them seperately. If you were to do the heads and cams, and then the next year came back to it, and went to the 95" kit, the heads you spent good money for are now not ported for the additional cubic inches, nor is the cam the best choice for the 95" kit. If you just went with the 95" kit I would think that you would be disappointed with the performance. JMHO, but I would wait and do the full build the first time.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: TX
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
All of the components add to "the package" and (properly done) they compliment one another.
For example, certain piston & head work will give you a particuler compression ratio. Cams have a "sweet spot"for their powerband (response characteristics), as well as the compression ratio of teh motor they are installed in.
For example, a cam the works well with stock heads and compression, more than likely is NOT the cam you want when your heads are done and the compression is bumped up. The opposite is also true. A cam the is awesome in a 10:1 or 10.5:1 motor with nice heads, will likely be crap with stock heads and compression.
Learn form the mistakes of others (read: me) and do it right the 1st time, even if it means waitnig just a bit longer. I assure you, it be worth the wait!
For example, certain piston & head work will give you a particuler compression ratio. Cams have a "sweet spot"for their powerband (response characteristics), as well as the compression ratio of teh motor they are installed in.
For example, a cam the works well with stock heads and compression, more than likely is NOT the cam you want when your heads are done and the compression is bumped up. The opposite is also true. A cam the is awesome in a 10:1 or 10.5:1 motor with nice heads, will likely be crap with stock heads and compression.
Learn form the mistakes of others (read: me) and do it right the 1st time, even if it means waitnig just a bit longer. I assure you, it be worth the wait!
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RE: big bore or cams and heads?
I gonna have to go with 04hb, if your gonna do it, do it all at once. You will put out more money if you do one without the other.It's not gonna matter how big of slugs you put in it, if ya can't git the air through the heads. The bottleneck on the 88's is in the heads, if you just want more power for now, have the heads ported and polished. This shouldn't be to bad on ya, if you do all the work yourself.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: TX
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
ORIGINAL: BigMoHog
if you just want more power for now, have the heads ported and polished. This shouldn't be to bad on ya, if you do all the work yourself.
if you just want more power for now, have the heads ported and polished. This shouldn't be to bad on ya, if you do all the work yourself.
While piece-mealing is one option, a complete "package" is something entirely different.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Biddeford, Maine
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
ORIGINAL: olgreydog7
Time for more power. I have an 04 RK Custom. Should I go for the 95" big bore or port and polish my heads and add cams? I don't want to do all of it now, but eventually will do all three. The deciding factor will be ease of installation and power added. Which one is easier to do and which one will add more power? I do my own work, unless it absolutly requires a $1000 tool that I will only use once. Thanks!
Time for more power. I have an 04 RK Custom. Should I go for the 95" big bore or port and polish my heads and add cams? I don't want to do all of it now, but eventually will do all three. The deciding factor will be ease of installation and power added. Which one is easier to do and which one will add more power? I do my own work, unless it absolutly requires a $1000 tool that I will only use once. Thanks!
No part of the big bore, heads, or cams requires any super special tool at all. The only thing that comes in handy is a press for doing the cams, and of course a torque wrench.......and don't forget the service manual.
If I was doing my build over again, it would be all HeadQuarters work. I would send my heads to them, and I would go with the HQ-0039G cams. Pistons are a toss-up, they are all pretty good and it depends on what you want to spend on them. You can get the S/E flattops for $110, not sure what some of the others cost.
Steve
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Road Captain
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RE: big bore or cams and heads?
yea, I figured as much. I know about parts matching, I've been building cars for a while, I'm just new to bike engines. I've seen the dyno chart on the HD website for the 95" kit, but I was curious as to how big a difference it would actually be. I did the SE slip ons, a k&n and a flash and was pretty disappointed. I noticed a much bigger difference with a k&n in my Mustang that wieghs 3800 lbs. I figured a 700 lb bike would feel a lot of difference. Does anyone know a good shop in the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area for head work by any chance?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Biddeford, Maine
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
ORIGINAL: olgreydog7
Does anyone know a good shop in the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area for head work by any chance?
Does anyone know a good shop in the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area for head work by any chance?
Don't even waste your time going local, just call Doug at HeadQuarters and talk to him. Send him your heads, and in 2 weeks you'll have them back ready to go. Get his HQ-0039G cams and whatever pistons he recommends. You might even be able to send him your cylinders and have him bore them for you too.
Steve
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: TX
RE: big bore or cams and heads?
ORIGINAL: maineultraclassic
Don't even waste your time going local, just call Doug at HeadQuarters and talk to him.
ORIGINAL: olgreydog7
Does anyone know a good shop in the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area for head work by any chance?
Does anyone know a good shop in the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area for head work by any chance?
Don't even waste your time going local, just call Doug at HeadQuarters and talk to him.
I did, and I could not be happier! I should preface that by saying that I've had HD heads reworked at a number of shops, and the HQ work is by far, the best the "I" have seen.
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Road Captain
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RE: big bore or cams and heads?
No, I wouldn't take it to pep boys, but if I lived in FL, I think that's where he is, I would take the Cobra to Al Papito's shop, probably the best mod motor builder out there. I was hoping there was a smililar guy, but for HD's, around TX. I guess I should just be glad it's alot easier to ship motorcycle engine than a car engine!
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