Success! Here’s a
pictorial timeline representation of what I did. I plan to put together an Adobe Acrobat document with more detail that can be used as a general guide.
Goals to satisfy were as follows:
1. Build a freak alternative costing far less than +$300
2. Increase performance
3. Use the airbox, keeping all sidecovers and both “gratersâ€Â
4. Enable easier access to carbs for rejetting
5. Add yet another cool chrome doo-dad (crankcase breather)
Goals achieved (based on above):
1. Total cost was about $115. I could have saved another $25 if I used my own airbox. I chose not to in case I needed to “fallback†or what I put together vibrates apart in the future (unlikely).
2. Sorry, I can’t quantify the performance increase. This would entail a pre- and post- dyno-run to measure gains. I can only provide an opinion as I’m too “thrifty†to pay for dyno runs at this point in my life. I was running a drilled airbox, no snorkel, with drilled K&N drop-in filter, 132 mains, and 142 pilots with Thunderbike pipes. So, I was about as wide-open air-wise as one could get without the freak/freak-like setup. After the “Ghetto Feak†modification and subsequent rejetting to 147.5 mains. I noted a significant increase in decel popping which is a good thing as this signifies a larger amount of air received (the whole intent). I had to open my HD thumbscrews another ¾ turn to enrich things. There is a definite increase in mid-range power with this setup. Not mind numbing considering my previous setup, but quite noticeable.
3. I was able to keep the top of the airbox pretty much intact and use the existing grater/side-cover mount points (top ones). I did have to fabricate two pieces to mount the bottom points. It was actually pretty easy when you take my approach. The pods can be removed from each side (not through the airbox), but the braces I fabricated must be removed first as they are mounted outside the pods. Five minutes to remove/install braces. Additionally, the smaller RC-2340 pods must be used due to their smaller foot print.
4. I was actually able to change mains for the first time without dropping the carbs. I have easier access to the allen head bolts securing the carb bowls with the pods removed and what I chopped away in the aforementioned pictures. Wahoo!
5. Picked up a cool HD crankcase breather. I fabricated a rubber plug allowing our ½ inch breather hose to connect to the 3/8 crankcase breather. Nice shiny bit held securely to the piece with a conventional screw-type o-ring.
Conclusions:
It was worth the time and relative inexpensive cost for the gains noted above.
Regards,
Tom
