Engine Upgrades - If you could do it over again?
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Pasco, WA
Engine Upgrades - If you could do it over again?
I've only owned a Harley for about six months ('99 RK Classic with fuel injection). The only engine power upgrade is the True Dual pipes, which I was told actually hurts low end power, but sure sounds great. I only have basic mechanical skills and too little time to do serious wrenching anyway. I did some checking on prices and came up with ~$800-$1,000 for a cam, ~$1,500 for 95" jugs installed. That is $2,500 without even getting into the heads or electronics for the fuel injection or switching to a carb.
My question is, would those of you who have had their upgrades installed by a shop, would you do it again? Or, is it a better deal to buy a crate motor, like an El Bruto?
I've seen some good sized crate motors going for less than $4k. If I could get $1,500 for my good running 20k motor, I would be close to what the cam and jugs would cost for my 88 but end up with way more power.
To sum it up, I just want to be smart about my upgrade path for good daily driver power. Thanks.
Dave
My question is, would those of you who have had their upgrades installed by a shop, would you do it again? Or, is it a better deal to buy a crate motor, like an El Bruto?
I've seen some good sized crate motors going for less than $4k. If I could get $1,500 for my good running 20k motor, I would be close to what the cam and jugs would cost for my 88 but end up with way more power.
To sum it up, I just want to be smart about my upgrade path for good daily driver power. Thanks.
Dave
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 2
From: Eastern NC
I sent my parts off and had them worked over. Heads, jugs, gear drive cams, bored throttle body etc.... Total investment was under $4k including shipping both ways, and dyno tune. The motor still looks like a stock 88. I kind of like having a sleeper, just a casual glance and it just looks like I have pipes and an air cleaner. Nobody ever notices the compression releases.
Last edited by ryanl; Mar 12, 2010 at 05:01 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
If you look at my signature with the motor specs, I did all that and more for $2,700. I would suggest a 95" with SE 204 cams and a PC-III. I had that on my RK and that scoot would pull really good numbers. NO, on the crate motor.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 5
From: Ontario, Canada
An important thing for you to consider is the fact that the 99 EFI will be harder to tune than the 02' and newer Delphi set-up. Additionally, the guys that do the tuning won't have any experience with it.
All the advice that you will be given from folks trying to help won't be relevant if their bikes are not using magnetti Marrelli EFIs.
All the advice that you will be given from folks trying to help won't be relevant if their bikes are not using magnetti Marrelli EFIs.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 9
From: Southern Illinois
Mine is an 01 with the mm injection and i went with S&S 510 gear drive cams a Fueling super pump and lifters, S&S adjustable pushrods, Big Sucker Stage 1 for the mm and a DFO fuel processer with Rhineheart True Dual headpipes and Wild Pig mufflers and have a total investment of 2600.00 including the labor charges and am very happy with how it woke my 88 up.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 1
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 491
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 146
From:
Most of those crate motors like the El Bruto are Evo style. You will have to make significant changes to your wiring, and your fuel system to get it to work. Your twin cam style tranny probably won't bolt up to the back of that engine either. An S&S 124 or a JIMS 120/131 would be easier since they are twin cam cases, but they're not cheap. You can do a lot with your twin cam motor with a lot less hassle and not have a motor with numbers that don't match your bike.