Evolution Top End Project Wrap Up

We have come a long way with our 1988 Heritage Softail. In order to rebuild the engine’s top end and install a performance cam, Mike had to remove fuel tanks, the exhaust system, the top motor mount assembly, and the carburetor & intake assemblies. While inside the cam compartment, Mike replaced and upgraded the cam bearing. He cleaned and inspected the breather gear, the pinion gear and the oil pump drive gear. The original cam gear was pressed off of the stock cam and correctly pressed onto the new S&S bolt in cam. Cam end play was set and timing marks correctly aligned.

A new set of S&S lifters were hand bled and installed into the front and rear tappet blocks. In the top end, Mike honed the cylinders and replaced the stock pistons and rings with a new set of pistons & rings from S&S. The valves were removed from the heads and both heads cleaned thoroughly. Mike cleaned up the valves and valve seats and went back together with premium valve seals.

Mike replaced the stock butterfly carburetor with a last generation Harley-Davidson/Keihin CV (constant velocity) carburetor. Mike also demonstrated his progress for drilling the baffles out of the stock Harley-Davidson exhaust pipes. Now, the bike is completely reassembled. The negative battery cable has been hooked up and gasoline is in the fuel tanks.

Prior to start-up, Mike put the bike in high gear in order to turn the rear wheel and turn the motor over by hand. This is a good way to check your work. If the motor stops or you experience any binding at this time, you should not proceed to starting the engine until the interference is diagnosed and repaired. An attempted start-up at this point could result in catastrophic damage. After verifying that the engine could turn freely, Mike depressed the start button (without spark plugs) until oil pressure could be verified.

Finally, with spark plugs correctly gapped and installed, Mike starts the fresh motor for the first time.

Watch the whole project again here on Fix My Hog.