As my cash reserve is growing and the conversion project is starting to look like it is actually going to happen, I've been getting quotes from local stealers on what this is actually going to cost for the scope of work I want done (jugs and pistons only for now) THe last one said that they do not change cylinders but bore them out. He said something about the tensile strength being built up from the original cylinders being broke in already and it helps with subsequent break in for the conversion. I s there anything to this? Or was he trying to blow smoke up my *ss? I would think for the money he wants for it $1100, I could at least get new cylinders. Or is boring the old ones a better deal?

He's going to Charge you $1100.00 for Jugs and Pistons???? :yikes

:frownthre

That's what I said :laugh But I was mostly wondering aboutboring out the old jusgs or putting new ones on. I've been to three different places and it's hard to get a straight answer out of any of them.

There's different opinions out there about Boring Cylinder!!! The 1200 is just a Bored out 883. So you could go that route with out any problems. Just make sure that the place you get them done at knows what the Heck there doing with HD Cylinders they need to use Torque Plates when Boring!!!! Also make sure that they match the Pistons to the Cylinders and type of heads your using..

There's probably not a right or wrong answer, just different ones. But $1100 to buy a set of pistons and have the cylinders bored and slap it all together is a lot of frickin money.

Unfortunately this the going rate for conversions at the stealership...at least it is where I live. This outrageous price motivated me to learn the process and do it myself. I had my cylinders bored-no problems. With the boring, you are taking the cylinders from 3" to 3.5" bores. The belief is that it might run hotter. I don't know if the 1200 cylinders have a thicker cylinder wall that precludes this or not. The new cylinders will run you $280 for the pair.

Foxy, here' the deal. New cyl's can get out of round (oval) which causes blow by and compression loss. Orig. cyl's with a couple of k on them are more heat treated and when bored are much less likely to oval. Definitely go bored. Cyl wall thickness is not. a consideration. If you were going out to 89 or 100 inches maybe.
$90 or a $100 per cyl bored is reasonable. $300 for the pistons. $1100 is a ripoff.
I had a Wiseco kit and bore done in '98 for $650 "Out the door". I called around at the time and the local stealer wanted $1100. Find a good local indie and have your work done in dead of winter (when they're slow) and pay in cash. Thatr will get you the best price.

Thanks to all for the input. The lowest price I've gotten for the swap out so far is $800. Which seems a bit more reasonable. But I think I may opt for the bore out. I guess I have some more legwork to do. :rolleyes:

Desertfox

Who in Houston are you talking to, to get your work Done??

I've never seen the inside of a v-twin and I was able to do the conversions for just about $500 (this is including a Sears floor jack).

Buy the service manual and do it yourself.

DesertFox.. If you have any mechanical knowledge, you can do the upgrade yourself. Just get the book and take your time. If you don't want much down time while waiting for your cylinders to be bored, purchase a set off Ebay. They are usually dirt cheap on there. Another option is to see if an indy does cylinder exchanges with a matched set of pistons. This process wil probably save you a lot of time and some money.

G'luck!

Thanks for the input. I've found an indy that actually specializes in H-D fuel drag bikes . He's given me a decent price including valves. he was telling me that if you do not do valves the cylinders get a bit anemic being starved for fuel/air mix with the smaller 883 valves. And since the engine is apart anyway, might as well do it while I'm at it. The Stealership wants $1100 for cylinders alone. He says that he can bore the cylinders (with my choice of pistons) and head work together for that. That sounds much better. That way I can put cams in at liesure at a later date.

Desertfox

Who in Houston are you talking to, to get your work Done??



Southern Motorcycles on Aldine Mail Rd.

Southern Motorcycles on Aldine Mail Rd.

Is that who's going to do your headwork and boring??

I think so, best deal I've been able to come up with. Although I I haven't talked to them face to face yet, might do that tomorrow.

Let me know what you find out, I haven't found anyone local to do Heads!!!

Will do. :chop

I've never seen the inside of a v-twin and I was able to do the conversions for just about $500 (this is including a Sears floor jack).

Buy the service manual and do it yourself.



Although I admire those who can do this kind of work, at this point in my life I have neither the time nor inclination to do it myself. Besides I love my Annabelle far too much to leave such major surgery to such a rank amateur as myself. I guess if this makes me a wuss or somehow less a biker I guess that's the breaks. Could I read a couple of books and pull my own teeth? Probably, but I would MUCH rather pay a professional to do it. AS Clint Eastwood so aptly put it in "Joe Kidd" I believe.... "a mans got to know his limitations".