Need some advice
Got a 03 FLHTI, stock engine, Got $2000.00 to spend in engine for now, would love some help from you pros on the best way to spend that $2000.00 to get the best bang for my buck. Thanks!
If you have not done the cam chain tensioner upgrade, you need to address that, and while you are in there you can do the oil pump and cams. If the engine goes BOOM because of that, the rest won't matter.
That will eat up some coin, you will need a tuner, if you can find a set of newer take off head pipes w/ the O2 sensor bungs, a nice thundermax tuner will help.
Other than that I would get the heads done, they are really restricted and a good HD machinist can get them to flow the way they should.
As for going into the bores if it ain't broke, don't fix it. A good tune, cams, and head work, matched to each other will wake the bike up nicely. If the pistons were bad, or the jugs were shot, by all means up the comp ratio or go to 95 inches, but again, if it isn't broke...
That will eat up some coin, you will need a tuner, if you can find a set of newer take off head pipes w/ the O2 sensor bungs, a nice thundermax tuner will help.
Other than that I would get the heads done, they are really restricted and a good HD machinist can get them to flow the way they should.
As for going into the bores if it ain't broke, don't fix it. A good tune, cams, and head work, matched to each other will wake the bike up nicely. If the pistons were bad, or the jugs were shot, by all means up the comp ratio or go to 95 inches, but again, if it isn't broke...
I have an '03 as well. Eight years old and only 3k miles on it and the cam tensioner pads were worn/disintegrating. However, that was not my first mod. Tmax w/auto tune, D&D 2 into1 exhaust and an air cleaner from Zippers was the first mod. After reading about the issues with stock cam chain tensioner pads, I decided to go with the SE upgrade hydraulic tensioner cam plate with 204 cams and top end kit (rocker box parts.) Glad I did. SE cam plate includes a new oil pump and actually supplies more oil pressure.
Krome-
Krome-
Last edited by KromeDome; Sep 8, 2012 at 06:36 PM.
For around $2,000 you can go Big Bore Kit, Andrews 26 Gear Drive cams, ( takes care of the tensioner issue too,) an air cleaner kit and a tuner. Leave the heads alone.
This is how my 95" Stage II is set up.This should take you from 55 / 60 hp to 85 hp or so. Excellent bang for the buck. Reliable with the same output as a 110" Stage I.
(Always check crank shaft run out prior to installing gear drive cams.)
This is how my 95" Stage II is set up.This should take you from 55 / 60 hp to 85 hp or so. Excellent bang for the buck. Reliable with the same output as a 110" Stage I.
(Always check crank shaft run out prior to installing gear drive cams.)
Last edited by Stiggy; Sep 8, 2012 at 06:43 PM.
No, all this is way over my head, but I do have a friend that is a excellent bike mechanic.
Trending Topics
I have an '03 as well. Eight years old and only 3k miles on it and the cam tensioner pads were worn/disintegrating. However, that was not my first mod. Tmax w/auto tune, D&D 2 into1 exhaust and an air cleaner from Zippers was the first mod. After reading about the issues with stock cam chain tensioner pads, I decided to go with the SE upgrade hydraulic tensioner cam plate with 204 cams and top end kit (rocker box parts.) Glad I did. SE cam plate includes a new oil pump and actually supplies more oil pressure.
Krome-
Krome-








