Hey,
Relatively new and I did a few searches, but couldn't quite find what I was looking for. Just ordered the SE 103" stage 2 kit and am going with a set of V&H staggered bigshots and a SERT. My question is, I'm thinking about doing headwork but I'm not very educated on what I should be looking for (i.e. use SE heads or have the stock 96" heads worked on, if I should use a differet cam based on if I do the headwork or not, how will that affect warranty, etc..). I'm not looking to break land speed records or anything just get more performance, from low end torque to high speed passing power. Any help from you guys would be appreciated....

 

Whats your budget and how much power are you looking for and how do you ride...are you a twister or a cruiser? Answer these questions so we can answer your question with some accuracy

 

Our stage 2-1/2 head work and cam with 96" will get you 105-108 torque and 100 hp. We also have 107" pistons- plan on 1.1 hp per inch increase in dissplacement with our heads. These typically take 30-50 degrees temperature out of the oil. Going to the stage 4 head work will get you quicker reving 2-4 seconds.[/align]

 

Riding style I'm probably a twister. Usually ride pretty fast and don't exactly spend a lot of time getting to desired speed. As far as numbers, it would be nice to see triple digit torque and HP numbers, but its not an absolute requirement. I guess I'm just looking for more power but RELIABLE power. I know full well I could dump another $6K into the engine and have a bike that will tear my arms off at the twist of the throttle, but I don't want to be replacing engine parts every 500 miles.

I'm into the engine about $2500 right now (parts + labor + dyno time) and would like to keep any head work + misc. cost less than another $1500. So hopefully that helps you guys get a little better picture of what I'm looking for.

I guess to even back up a little bit, I'm not even sure what kind of numbers I should expect from the stuff I have now. From my understanding, without doing headwork I should be in the 95 lbs. torque and 85 HP range. If that's the case, squeezing another 5 lbs. of torque and 15 HP would be nice...

 

Your right you can dump another $4000.00 real easy but if $1500.00 to $2000.00 is all you have to spend I would get my heads done ($850) that will get you another 10 ponies or so. I'd up the compression a bit and use a Woods TW6 or TW6Hcam or a SE 251, 257 or 258cam (the cam selection will need roller rockers, another $400.00), Dyno tune ($350 to $450)...that will take all your money there and somebut it will give you the gain your looking for. I'd say your looking at 112 to 115 hp and 115 to 118 tq with a good tune
Good luck

 

Thanks for the response Doc. Those numbers sound great to me. So in your opinion, to up the compression should I tell the dealer to swap out the SE flat top pistons for some aftermarket ones or keep the flat tops and up the compression with the head work? Also, the kit of course comes with the SE 255 cams. What type of benefits am I looking at at using one of the others that you listed? I'm not neccessarily stuck on having only SE parts installed either, just it is my understanding if you want to have any shred of warranty at all, you have to have the parts dealer installed and use SE internals (is this right?).

Anyway, I appreciate the help. I hope these aren't topic that have been beat to death on the forum, but if I could be looking at 112/115 with really the only extra cost being $1000 or so in head work and a little more dyno time than what I was already planning on, that would be sweet.

 

Of course this topic has been driven into the ground on every forum.....

The 255 cam is a dog to say the least...in my opinion they are an EPA Hi-Performance cam if there ever could be a EPA hi-performance anything. The cam is a step up to the 203 cam package for 95' motors. It will perform but, in a 103' you will be leaving a lot of power on the table. My suggestion would be (for a budget build) a set of Baisley Super Stock heads....(you send in your heads) this is a partial port job with a 1.9 intake valve and a 1.630 exhaust valve. Have Baisley set up compression for 10.2 to 10.5:1 using a .030 Cometic head gasket. Your Pistons Will have to be notched for the bigger valves or buy a set of pistons with bigger valve pockets already set in.
I'd use a TW6H cam (I believe this cam has been changed to a TW7 for the 07 line of bikes) Either way if it is a TW6H it will have a .590 lift with a 240 duration...(the TW7 is the same cam but the lift is .015 less lift which comes to about 3 ponies less). You will need a set of roller rockers with any cam with more than .550 lift don't let anyone tell you different...rollers are not so much for hp gains in aHarleyas they are for relieving side loads on the valve stem for longer life of the valve train, and I guess that would get rid of some mechanical friction too which will add in a hp gain.....lol.

Depending on how much is taken off the heads to get the desired compression you will need push rods....I like the S/E Perfect Fit push rods over adjustable push rods...(thats a whole other story).

A Race Tuner and a good dyno operator and tuner will be needed also.

As you can see using all SE parts will NOT get you the power your looking for but it will cost the yousame money. The TW6 (or 7) is one of thebest torque cams on the market if notTHE best in it's class. The SE cams will not hold a candle to this cam believe me.

As far as warranty....there is none....there might be a hand shake between you and your dealer but if you go to any other dealer foranything they do not have to warranty your bike, a Race Tuner voids you warranty.

The last 103' I didI got 119tq and 118hp....now I went higher compression than the 10.2:1 (10.8:1 actually)I used the 103+ pistons and had Baisleys cut the stock heads to fit the pistons plus a Street Port in the heads....but this isn't a budgetbuild.

I hope this helps...if your dealer won't do it you can always come see me, I do builds from all over the country, my number is in the signature.