If you're building a budget chopper, you know every penny counts, and you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. When choosing the right motor for a project, most people end up sacrificing precious greenbacks for more horsepower. However, a bone-stock crate 80ci Evo motor for about $2,700 is a good start. While a stock Evo won't beat your buddies to the next fuel stop, with the right combination of parts, you could easily hop-up the motor to respectable horsepower and torque numbers, and still stay well within the narrowest of budgets.
Edelbrock has spent years researching and developing the right combination of parts to create a reasonably priced performance kit for people looking to get a little more out of their stock Evos. Trying to locate a chopper with a stock Evo isn't the easiest thing to do. However, Wink Eller, of Wink's Performance, in Temecula, California, called to let us know that he was going to be using one of Edelbrock's performance packages to hop an 80ci Evo in a '91 FXLR. With several land speed records from Bonneville and El Mirage, he knows a thing or two about getting the most out of V-twin motors, so we jumped at the opportunity to cruise down to his shop and watch him work.
 This is Edelbrock's 10.5:1...  This is Edelbrock's 10.5:1 compression Performer RPM Power Package for '84-and-later 80ci Evos. The package includes heads, a cam, pistons, adjustable pushrods, and all the gaskets necessary for the installation. Eller also picked up a new Edelbrock manifold for the installation. |  When we arrived at Eller's...  When we arrived at Eller's shop, he already had the top end torn down and was in the process of removing the cam. Eller used a Trock Cycle tool to remove the gearcase cover. |  Before he pulled the cam,...  Before he pulled the cam, Eller checked the endplay, then he removed it and measured it in comparison to the Edelbrock cam. This way he would know if he needed to use a different shim when installing the new cam. Both cams measured in at 3.025 inches, so he just used the existing shim. |
 Before installing the new...  Before installing the new cam, Eller replaced the old cam bearing by pulling it out with this cam-bearing remover tool that he made. |  This is Edelbrock's (PN 1741)...  This is Edelbrock's (PN 1741) cam with 0.600-inch lift that comes in the performance package. Before it was slid into position, it was treated to a liberal amount of assembly lube, and then... |  ...Eller slid the new cam...  ...Eller slid the new cam into position and lined up the timing marks. |
 With the new cam and cover...  With the new cam and cover in place, Eller moved on to installing the tappet blocks and tappets. He noticed one of the tappets was bad, so he decided to swap out all of them for a new set from H-D. He applied some lube, then slid them into the blocks. When tightening the blocks to the case, Eller uses an alignment tool, so that the block wouldn't shift and cause the tappets to rest crooked on the cam. |  These are the Edelbrock/JE...  These are the Edelbrock/JE plus 0.005-inch bore pistons that come with the power package. The pistons are designed to match the unique combustion chamber of the Edelbrock heads and increase compression to 10.5:1. |  To accommodate the slightly...  To accommodate the slightly larger pistons, the stock cylinders needed to be honed. Eller secured one of the cylinders in a torque plate and then took it over to his honing machine. |
 After a couple minutes on...  After a couple minutes on the machine, Eller measured it and made sure he had removed enough material for the new pistons and rings. |  Eller installed the new Cometic...  Eller installed the new Cometic base gaskets that came in the kit and then fit the rings to the piston, checking each for proper end gap. |  Next, using the new pins and...  Next, using the new pins and circlips that were provided, Eller installed the pistons onto the connecting rods. Then, using a ring compressor tool, he slid the cylinders over the pistons. |
 These are Edelbrock's CNC-ported...  These are Edelbrock's CNC-ported heads that come with the kit. The heads have a black or satin finish and feature a 72cc combustion chamber that is specifically designed to work with the Edelbrock pistons. |  New intake manifold mounting...  New intake manifold mounting bolts were secured to the heads, then Eller slid new head gaskets onto the cylinders before lowering the heads down. |  Some anti-seize was applied...  Some anti-seize was applied to the head bolts, and then... |
 |  The Edelbrock manifold was...  The Edelbrock manifold was next to go on. Edelbrock incorporated square intake ports on the heads and manifold, because it was found that you can get more airflow into a smaller port with flat sides. The square ports also help air traveling through the top and bottom of the ports keep the same velocity. |  Next, Eller installed the...  Next, Eller installed the pushrod tubes and new Edelbrock adjustable pushrods |
Upon inspecting the old rocker... Upon inspecting the old rocker arms, Eller noticed that they were showing some wear, so he replaced them with JIMS Roller Rockers. |  After placing new gaskets...  After placing new gaskets on top of the heads, Eller installed the lower rocker box covers and checked for valve spring clearance on the intake side before securing the rocker arm support plates. |  He then finished reassembling...  He then finished reassembling the rocker boxes. |
 Next, Eller adjusted the Edelbrock...  Next, Eller adjusted the Edelbrock pushrods. He started with the rear cylinder and made sure it was TDC on the compression stroke, then opened the pushrods by hand until there was no play in them. He then marked and opened them up three full lashes and repeated the process on the front cylinder |  New exhaust gaskets were installed...  New exhaust gaskets were installed in the heads and the pipes were bolted on, and then... |  ...Eller bolted the carb back...  ...Eller bolted the carb back on. |
 The reassembly process wouldn't...  The reassembly process wouldn't be complete without a Wink's Performance ignition cover. Then, it was time for some dyno runs. |  After some break-in miles,...  After some break-in miles, the bike was put up on the Dyno so that we could see the improvement the Edelbrock kit made on the motor. We were very impressed with the numbers. While we knew that there was a lot of room for improvement with the stock Evo, we were very impressed with the end result. The bike put out 89.1 hp and 90.1 lb-ft of torque. Besides the excellent numbers, the other good thing about the kit is that it goes together smoothly and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. | |