| Author |
Message |
    
Sweatmark
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 11:50 pm: | 
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Terry - thanks for the reply about torque estimate for a 90 inch. My '03 XB has very low miles, so heads should be good. Planning to take my time over next winter to pull the motor, split cases (install new 12 crank, update oil pump drrive), do motor build-up.
Need to talk with you sometime about game plan and your recommendations. Will also need to send the bike down to your new shop for tuning, then ride favorites back home: Hwy 1, 96, 3, then I-5 slab.
Mark
Oregon |
Opto
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 07:14 am: |
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From what I have read the thunderstorm heads have a different squish angle to the XB heads, so it sounds like the standard XB heads are not suitable for use with this kit, is this correct? Cost is not a problem until one realizes that they didn't spend enough to do it properly, or spent too much doing it wrong.
Ian.
(Message edited by opto on June 08, 2007)
(Message edited by opto on June 08, 2007) |
Hogs
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 07:36 am: |
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I`m with ya there Opto,
I want a 90 inch kit myself just waiting for all the details to be worked out, so I can still drive this unit on the street and not worrying about it having a major breakdown.. |
Sweatmark
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 10:33 am: |
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Opto - thanks for the info... like Hogs says, I'm trying to get all the details of an 88/90 inch package project. Can't afford to get half way through with a big "surprise! you'll need different heads/cams/exhaust/etc. to get this motor running right". And need to know how much of the hands-on work I can do myself - my primary reason for tackling the motor build is DIY challenge.
If the total project cost moves too high up the afford-o-meter, then I'd rather spend precious funds on dedicated track bike (or the new deck the Mrs. wants). |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 01:26 pm: |
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There are many good folks who make a living helping their customers with these very issues. I highly recommend taking full advantage of their knowledge. Many of them are even cool enough to sponsor the site here. 
I sure do enjoy the challenge of the DIY engine work. Performing engine work with my Dad is even more enjoyable, and will be one of the precious memories I'll always cherrish. Heck, I even enjoy DIY experiences along the side of the road. I've had my fair share. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) Fun stuff with friends and fellow riders who know how to enjoy life and make the best of every situation. This is giving me an idea for a short story.
Hey, please do document and share your DIY efforts with the rest of us amateur motorheads. We cannot get enough of that kind of stuff. We're darn near mesmerized whenever we see a photograph showing the innards of an engine sitting atop someone's garage bench. 
(Message edited by Blake on June 08, 2007) |
Tigerbythetail
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 06:51 pm: |
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The DIY option is a very sure way for making the job more expensive.......the reasons are:
1. Lack of a concept
2. Mistakes
3. Lack of tools
4. Lack of connections to get parts at reduced cost
5. broken parts that people send you knowingly because you are a privateer
6. lack of experience
7. a fancy for expensive extras once the job started (called addiction)
..........the list could easily be extended
Some of the basic stuff like milling the engine case to fit the oversize barrels (who bores a case these days????????????? how about working with high precision!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is actually a piss easy compared to even getting the parts you really want and to plan the project in the first instance.
An experienced engine builder who is not opinionated and who deals fair and square without making a big mystery out of the whole affair is the pre-requisite for success. This is not so easy to find.
The preparation and final assembly of the parts should only be done by an engine builder. Most of the work is spend on the preparation of these parts for this to work well to make the engine live longer than the stock unit and run smoother because great care has been taken to balance the crank, prepare the crank bearings and to check and measure all these little details.........that is where the money goes. A crap guy will lump your parts together tell you he is the greatest and you will probably never endevor on a project like this again.
I have spend almost two years with preparations to reach the stage of the final assembly, mainly for reasons 2,5,6 and in particular reason number 7.............now the day is very close when the headers go on and stay on...........and it ain't me who is doing it. If time permits I may just hand them over to the guy who builds my engine on the day when it happens and I try and make as many pictures of the different stages.
In short, when your ambitions don't extend beyond a standard engine with bigger barrels and a bit of Cam tweaking than ask for a package price and don't waste yours and the engine guys time with attempts to save money.
If you decide that money is not really the issue than welcome on the next level of madness and best of luck with finding an engine builder who builds you that special peace of metal.
tiger
PS: Blake..................some potential sponsors never had the pleasure of receiving an email from you as an answer for a request for information.........how cool is that?
(Message edited by tigerbythetail on June 08, 2007) |
Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 04:53 pm: |
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That's uncool. Please ask them to try emailing/PMing me again? I try my best to respond to all inquiries, but they sometimes fall between the cracks. My sincere apologies... sorry for that.
Blake |
Tigerbythetail
| | Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 07:02 pm: |
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hi..............thanks for your invitation I will arrange it.
tiger |
Treadmarks
| | Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 10:23 am: |
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Terry,
Your posting some great info here, thanks for sharing.
I had to pull my throttle body/intake, to repair a leaking intake seal on my 06 Uly with 10,000 miles. Once the intake was off I noticed a ton of black carbon/oil caked up on the back of my intake valves. It seems the intake seals are toast, so I will pull the heads and go from there.
After reading your informative posts, I am considering going to 1250 with the S/E 536 cams and mild porting/clean up on my thunderstorm heads. Also considering installing the micron you mentioned instead of my current spec ops setup. The Uly is my daily driver and I really do not want to sacrifice reliability, but I am looking for a good horsepower gain with killer torque in the midrange.
Is this doable in your opinion? Do you have software to support this package.
Thanks for any help with this.
The other Terry in the republic of Miami. |
Hogs
| | Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 10:35 pm: |
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Anyways Terry,
Keep me posted when ya get one of them bad ass xb1500 kits all the bugs worked out I`m in....
120 + RWHP and 115 RWTorque Suits me just FINE...
Thanks Chris |
Goober
| | Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 08:13 pm: |
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went to wisc. to ck revperformance and ck price for my xb12s and brothers xb12r.nice place good people andrew gave my wife and me the shop tour.he said there may be tuning problems with xb models.they have spec sheet for harley xl motor at over 130hp&120#of torque.if i send them my case to bore,heads&throttle body its around 5000.00 with a 2wk turn around.+ tuning by me with computer burn software from amer. sportbike at @800.00 lots of money and work |
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