New Top End Harley Engine Discuss New Top End in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; I am considering a new top end for my 03 TC88B, heads, cams, pistons, carb, and ignition. I am currently looking at S&S and R&R kits. Will probably use a ...

I am considering a new top end for my 03 TC88B, heads, cams, pistons, carb, and ignition. I am currently looking at S&S and R&R kits. Will probably use a Crane ignition system. Any other suggestions out there? Also should I get a kit with cylinders or bore out my current ones? Going from a 88 to a 95.

[shovelmike]

It's personal preference whether you want to buy new cylinders or get yours bored. If you want to cut the downtime, buy cylinders. If you want to save some money and know a machine shop that you trust, get yours bored. You need to compare notes with 03FXST, since he's done that project

[Jayson459]

Originally Posted by srh201

I am considering a new top end for my 03 TC88B, heads, cams, pistons, carb, and ignition. I am currently looking at S&S and R&R kits. Will probably use a Crane ignition system. Any other suggestions out there? Also should I get a kit with cylinders or bore out my current ones? Going from a 88 to a 95.

When Upgraded the Sporty to the Big Bore 1200 went with the VTwin Wiseco Piston 9.5:1 and Hasting Ring set all matched up and ready ... 3,000 Miles Later Glad I did .. Still have the Old Jugs coated and Ready for another day if want to go another option later on...

[03fxst]

Hey
One thing I would do differently if I were doing it again. Get compression releases in the heads. That is if you plan to increase compression. I went to 10:25 to 1 and have trouble starting when it's hot. Am going to SE 211 cams this season and hope the longer duration will fix the problem. If not I will pull the heads again and do what I should have done last year. I'll tell you though, the sweet crack of that high compression power when I roll onto the throttle and the arm stretching pull... I wouldn't change it for all the easy starts in the world.....

Oh, I did go with a 95 kit instead of having the jugs bored. Bought the forged high compression pistons and had my own heads done. Running a Dyna 2000 ignition. I had to re jet a couple of times and change the ignition advance curve a few more before I got to where it was kicking out the power without detonating. Guess I'll be playing that game again with the new cams this spring.

Believe me, any problems you have the members here will help you through. You can learn from my project by reading the "trying a top end re-build" thread.

What bike do you have?What is the intended use?

[hotrodsporty]

I took my sporty from a 883 to an 88ci, with new jugs and used buell heads, compression of 10.5:1. Never had trouble starting and the hp gained from the buell heads was enourmous.

[stretch]

First off, personally, I wouldn't fit new jugs just to go from 88 to 95. just have you're existing ones bored out.
I bought the Wiseco 1550 piston kit and had my existing jugs bored out.
If I was going to the expence of buying new cylinder bores I would want to go bigger than 1550, as big as possible without machining the cases.

I had my 1550 kit fitted, then ran it in, then had the cams fitted.
I could tell the difference with just the extra 100cc and the lightweight forged wiseco pistons (in my world!!) just seemed more eager to dance up and down the cylinder bore. The heavy cast H-D pistons are now sitting on my welsh dresser as ornaments (after I shored it up!)

But the real difference to the rebore was adding the cams, it opened the engine up a whole lot more, giving my rebore a big added advantage.
Thats my expirience of wot I've done to mine. Don't anybody shoot the messanger.

Hope all goes well for you. best regards Stretch
PS kept the std compression ratio to enhance more of what it already had
PSS Also Busa's in the garage

Bike is a 03 FXST. Intended use would be casual riding. Why do you ask?

[hdnt1550]

I have a big bore and went with the SE heads with compression releases but I also have 10.5-1 forged pistons. I am back into the motor to change some things I should have done the first time like gear drive cams and cleaning up the SE heads.

If I had to do it over again I would get one of the packages out there either by S&S or SE. The parts are matched to work together.

It also depends what kind of power you are expecting and where you want the power to hit.

The reason I ask the intended use is some want power up top some want it down low.Some ridem hard all the time and some just like to putt.Do you ride two up or solo most of the time?All these things factor in making the best choice for compression ratio,cams,exhaust,carburetion ect......It's all in the combination.