Curtis Sparks worth the money for porting

[vinson581]

this winter im doing the full overhaul on my motor (doesnt really need it) i just want more power.

i already have a sparky X6 and love it, and i have seen some really fast sparks built bikes. is there port and polish worth the $$ compared to C & D or CT or one of those guys. :Tell me if i'm off the ball with my motor setup

416 11:1 wiseco
Hotcam NEW stage II
HD valve springs
Hardened Rockers
CRF timing chain
Sparks National port and polish

i just want a decent proformer but while maintaining great reliablity while still running 93 pump gas, not that its cheap :(

v581

[400exrider707]

Really no need for the heavy duty valve springs and hardened rockers, your going to just be wearing out your cam lobes faster. A hardened rocker and a billet cam dont really mix well. If you were going to do the valve springs and hardened rockers I would look into getting a web cam, they are hardwelded and then ground to the specs. You only need hardened rockers with a hardened cam!

[vinson581]

im just going for reliablity... i have a webcam in my other quad and loved it....so no rockers and springs for me for now

NOW what about the sparks engine work? worth it

[jak1389]

i have only heard good things about sparks. i wouldnt have c&d do it because you get what you pay for. they were alittle sloppy on mine. if i could redo it over i would send my head to spark to get it p&p'ed.

[K_Fulk]

I would get the sparks timing chain, If your gonna go with there porting, its the right pitch and is a link wider then the crf chain.

[jak1389]

if its a link wider than how will it fit the guides? the crf chain fits perfectly, or does it not matter if its off the guide slightly?

[vinson581]

sparks just comes to mind when i think of power. i think im going with them ...i wanna get ahole of them tell them what i wanna do and what i ride. my piston setup . cam ect. im going with a CRF chain or a HD 400ex one cause ik they work good. what kinda number should i be seeing with

416 11:1 wiseco
sparks National port
hotcam stage II
Sparks X6

high 40's im hopeing?

i want something with good punch.

and hopefully the turn around wont be tooooo long

v581

[enduro400rider]

i think you talked to me about the cam on AIM when you bought the piston. you wanted top end power you should go with the hot cam stg 3. the stg 2 i was talking about was the old stage 2. hot cam made a new cam and bumped the stg 2 up to stg3 and now the stg 2 is a mid range cam. its kinda hard to explain but hopefully you get the idea

[vinson581]

yea i understand. they have a 1 2 3.

1. is all around or more bottom end i heard
2.midrange
3. top end- i want the old stage II new stage 3

i just gotta see what sparks wants $$$$ to make my head flow better.....6-800$? im guessing around idk. some people get cheapy ports for like 200 so sparks should be what 400 idk i gotta call them

[K_Fulk]

Originally posted by vinson581
sparks just comes to mind when i think of power. i think im going with them ...i wanna get ahole of them tell them what i wanna do and what i ride. my piston setup . cam ect. im going with a CRF chain or a HD 400ex one cause ik they work good. what kinda number should i be seeing with

416 11:1 wiseco
sparks National port
hotcam stage II
Sparks X6

high 40's im hopeing?

i want something with good punch.

and hopefully the turn around wont be tooooo long

v581

Not to burst your bubble, but you would be lucky to see high 30's

[wvspeedfreak]

I agree with K. Fulk.It takes ALOT of work to get a 400ex in the high 40's.

[vinson581]

sorry guys i ment 30's i didnt re read what i wrote.... hit the 4 instead!

sooo whats the verdict....is sparks worth the money?

v581

[Cody_300ex]

Originally posted by vinson581
sorry guys i ment 30's i didnt re read what i wrote.... hit the 4 instead!

sooo whats the verdict....is sparks worth the money?

v581

If your willing to wait, then yes.

[vinson581]

ty

[Rico]

Send it to GT THunder for porting. You'll get just as good work and probably get it back before 2007...:cool:

[vinson581]

what kinda price would it run me with GT. and do you have there #?

kyle

[cals400ex]

Originally posted by vinson581
what kinda price would it run me with GT. and do you have there #?

kyle


you can get contact info at:

www.gtthunder.com

[400exrules]

Originally posted by vinson581
this winter im doing the full overhaul on my motor (doesnt really need it) i just want more power.

i already have a sparky X6 and love it, and i have seen some really fast sparks built bikes. is there port and polish worth the $$ compared to C & D or CT or one of those guys. :Tell me if i'm off the ball with my motor setup

416 11:1 wiseco
Hotcam NEW stage II
HD valve springs
Hardened Rockers
CRF timing chain
Sparks National port and polish

i just want a decent proformer but while maintaining great reliablity while still running 93 pump gas, not that its cheap :(

v581


im in the same boat as you, except im thinking of running a bigger carb also. Let me know how it turns out, keep us updated

[vinson581]

well i made some calls and i updated my brain as far as what parts need to be purchased

SPARKS- they want 550 to do a national port. + i want my valve seals replaced so add 50.....so say 600

GThunder- they want 50 bucks to do a "play port" and 200 to do a race port. which he highly suggested useing a FCR carb, for like 450 OUCH! i like the edelbrok better. so if he did my valve seals and a race port it would be like 250 vs. 600$

sooo

250 gt. vs. 600$ sparks

gt- they have a 4-6 week wait
Sparks- has a 3 MOUNTH!@!!!! wait

some things i didnt like about sparks.....i told them i wanted a nice port for mx. like a national style and all he did was give me a number. where GT thunder took the 5 mins, and let me explain what i wanted to do. 416 piston stage 3 hotcam. sparks X6 pipe, he wanted to know exactly what i had before he gave me $ amounts which i think is better.....

now! does anyone have a head done by GT thunder?

my updated parts are as followed

FCR or edelbrock carb
Wiseco 11:1 416 piston
Stage 3 hotcam
CRF or HD timing chain
new valve seals- for a piece of mind


----------------------------------------------------

other things i need besides my motor

:)
d
-frame PCed by PAPPY transred and gussetted
-Rear hiper beadlocks- 8 or 9 inch- anyone have any? red prefurred..
-mxr4 holeshots
-and im sure im missing stuff but i prolly already have 2000$ in stuff :D soo i will keep you updated


btw heres how it started.....well all stock the pic i have shows a few things

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/vinson581/400ex%20stock/forum400ex.jpg

now

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/vinson581/maybrook%20pics/P8140088.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/vinson581/maybrook%20pics/P8140080.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/vinson581/P8160004.jpg

[NacsMXer]

My head is GT Thunder race ported and the quad flat out rips. My entire motor was rebuilt by GT Thunder as in my sig. Laz is a great guy and definitely knows his way around the 400.

[vinson581]

quick ? how do you like the FCR. i have heard mixed thoughts on them....any imput?

v581

[K_Fulk]

Once you switch to a Fcr you'll love it.

As for the valve seals they should be replaced when they do porting any way, sinc you need to take the valves out to port the head. And there very cheap.

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

The Fcr is an awesome carb, you just need to learn how to tune it. I would also make sure you replace the valve seals since they are only $5 for the 4 of them.

[vinson581]

i have a feeling im going to be talking to you more silverfox. or colby.....

how much for a say 39mm FCR, heavy duty timing chain, valve seals, stage 3 hotcam(when available) top end gaskets ( the one that thinner so its really 11:1 compression) i mine as well get the parts sooner then later :)

thank you

kyle

[Rico]

My head was ported by GT Thunder and I was very pleased with it and Laz is #1 at customer support.

My cylinder is at GT Thunder right now getting HD head studs installed....:cool:

[vinson581]

GT thunder is looking better and better. and im glad to here the owner is a good guy to work with...sparks really didnt give me the time of day.....

:)

v581

[cals400ex]

sparks customer service sucks.

laz is great. his turn around time is good, his prices are good, he is reliable, and he will answer questions you have. i have bought a few things from gt thunder and i will gladly do business with him again.

[Dave400ex]

I say GT Thunder all the way. I would get the FCR over the Edelbrock as well. C&D can get you most of the parts you need, and then have Laz do the head work...

[Ex'r Marlin]

I did not have the port & polish done to mine, only because 3 years ago I was told if I wanted to keep my atv focused on "low end torque" rather than "top end" to NOT port and polish. Please correct me if I was miss informed!

Anyway, if I remember right, with a 10.8 to 1 416 J&E, Hot Cam stage 2 drop in cam, FCR carb with Boyessen (sp?) Quick shot, Yoshimura slip on, K&N with outerwear and no lid... I registered 34.5 HP. (Lost 2 HP with air box lid on). Very reliable set-up for me!:D

Added note: I too bought my parts from C&D Racing.:)

Is it worth the money to port and polish???:confused:

[cals400ex]

you shouldn't notice a low end loss with a good port job. laz at gt thunder can hook you up on what you need. he likes having good power everywhere so his port work should not hurt you anywhere.

[vinson581]

thanks agian folks

and thanks C&D for the quick PM!

well looks like my mind is made up laz seems like a great guy and gt thunder is apparently a reputable place. i will keep you guys updated

v581