Torquefest

I wonder if the track will be worth a shit this year???

Branch Cylinder Heads

I've had numerous guys contact me lately about old ironhead cylinder heads they found...and they think they're old Branch heads...and they're not. 

All the Branch heads I've seen have very polished ports, razor thin seats, surface ground rocker and head gasket surfaces (to get them perfectly parallel) and these numbers stamped near the intake ports (on the bottom).

....otherwise they look stock from the outside.

The early 900 Sportster Branch heads are not as common as the 1000cc heads.

 

Pipe Diameter

These pipes are small diameter 1 1/2".... I guess back in the day, the factory felt the K Model 750cc side valves worked best with these smaller diameter headers?  Similar sized to the ports, etc.  I always like the big, free flowing straight pipes, but so far, this thing seems extra responsive and hopefully it will help bring back some low end to this thing . . ?  Factory stock early Sportster muffler.  It's got a set of -60R KR heads on it, and I resleeved the cylinders, new valves, guides, etc.  The Delorto PHM38 is my new carb-of-choice (if you don't want to run an M53 Linkert).  I haven't really rode it around yet, so I'm sure I'll have some tuning issues coming up.  Hopefully not - is always nice !  I added my set of -60 aluminum wheels (I'd been saving for who know what?) and figured I may as well start using some of this stuff.... One thing is for sure, H-D made some pretty neat bikes back with the Ks and early Sportsters.  Some of the neatest lookin' if done right.

1952 Harley-Davidson Model K

Clapper Restoration

I took my friend Chad's rebuilt '65 panhead engine to him the other night . . . and the first thing you see when you pull up - is the lamp in the window.  Kinda hard to miss it...

His shop has many many projects in various states of repair....and dis-repair.  It's fun to check it all out.

Full scale auto projects, vintage 45s . . . GTOs with new, straight quarter panels.  Primer & paint.  Chad was welding up a frame for Zach's shovelhead chopper.

I had worked all day, then drove all the way over . . . and was too tired to really help out - so I just drank a couple beers with the boys instead.

Reid and Zach (above)

Lots of cool stuff to check out around here . . . This WLA is dubbed "Private Pile"