Where to get porting & valve job?

[WKY400EX]

I am looking for a good place to have porting and 3-angle valve job done on my EX. I know that I can go to a big motor builder, shell out major $$, wait several weeks/months, and get an awesome porting job. What I also know is that there are other shops out there that are just as talented if not more talented as the big shops, but charge much less and have a quicker turn-around time.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this subject? I know C&D Racing does head work at a good price. Is there anywhere else I should consider? Thanks.

[416mx]

Tim Murphey at Action cycles in Kirksville , MO. He's doing mine right now,Don't have the no in front of me but just call info. they have it. Does really good work and very reasonable.:cool:

[Shutang]

Theres a shop here in MI that does a great job on everything from full race ports to mild porting. Vitoes performance has a web site and articles in Dirt wheels. They build killer 2 stroke and four strokes.....give them a jingle...they ship anywhere in the US. I had Duncan do my 440, but I had many other mods at the same time.

[Shutang]

Originally posted by Shutang
Theres a shop here in MI that does a great job on everything from full race ports to mild porting. Vitoes performance has a web site and articles in Dirt wheels. They build killer 2 stroke and four strokes.....give them a jingle...they ship anywhere in the US. I had Duncan do my 440, but I had many other mods at the same time. Phone # Toll free 888-350-VITO www.vitosperformance.net

[WKY400EX]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. Does anyone have any thoughts on GT Thunder? I have talk to some people that have had work done by them, and they've had great things to say.

[tinner]

I had very good luck with GT Thunder. They did great work and a pretty fast turn around. I had there race porting and cam. I did a bunch of mods all at once...I figured it was apart might as well do it. It sure brought the bike to life.:devil:

Jim

[cals400ex]

i think rico just had his mildly ported by gt thunder. he seems to like from what i read. if i get mine ported there is a good chance i will be dealing with gt thunder.

[lilly33]

Laz (owner of GT Thunder) is awesome:D He's a real good person and believe me, he knows his s$#@:) :)

[sandspanker]

:blah: try curtis sparks racing . I think it is 200 or250 for port and 3 angle valve job :p

[motoboy66]

You may want to also look at Ritter Cycle Racing. My buddy had him do his head and it was a totaly different machine. here is the web site http://www.rittercycle.com/honda.htm. Just somone else you may want to talk too. They have been racing quads for a long time and he is pretty fast on the turn around.

Todd

[cals400ex]

Originally posted by sandspanker
:blah: try curtis sparks racing . I think it is 200 or250 for port and 3 angle valve job :p

i imagine they do great work, but the turn around time is not good and i was thinking their port jobs were around $450.

[WKY400EX]

I'm sure that Sparks porting is around $450. Laz at GT Thunder quoted me $450 for complete head work, full-race porting, valve job, and oversized intake valves. What do you think?

[WKY400EX]

The work at GT Thunder includes the following: "New valves, full race porting, head cleanup, 3 angle valve job, valve
seals, head labor to disassemble head, resurface head if needed."

Also, I've looked at: RCR, Fischer's Cycle, & Pro Fab ATV. Just emailed those places, so I'll see what they have to offer. So far, Laz is looking like the man to work with. Anyone have other comments? Thanks.

[Dave400ex]

Check with Fischer's, Baldwin, and Rocky Ridge.

[WKY400EX]

"Check with Fischer's, Baldwin, and Rocky Ridge."

Ever had any work done with these places? Know how much they charge? I'll try to call when I get home today. Thanks.

[Dave400ex]

Not sure on Fischer's or Baldwin, but Rocky Ridge told me $250 for a Port/Polish and I believe that included the Valve Job.

[WKY400EX]

I've communicated with GT Thunder via email, and I just got off the phone with FDO. I tried Rocky Ridge earlier, but I called some old woman. lol She said, "I AM NOT THE MOTORCYCLE SHOP, SO SCRATCH THAT NUMBER OUT!":D

The number I had was: 1-502-259-9604, but 1-270-259-9604 didn't work either. Any help you can give is appreciated. Thanks.

[Dave400ex]

Rocky Ridge's # is 1-270-259-9604. Talked to Ken yesterday!

[WKY400EX]

Thanks Dave! I'm just an idiot! :rolleyes: I know that I tried the 502 area code, which is Eastern Kentucky, but it was some lady. lol I'll give RRR a call tomorrow morning, since I don't have to work.:devil:

[INFANTRY RACING]

www.xrsonly.com

can't go wrong with them...the xr pros

[rhandw69]

I went with Trinity Racing, very happy with the results.

[WKY400EX]

I talked to Ken at Rocky Ridge, and I can get my motor built by them for $1200. The build includes: full-race porting, valve job, 416 or 426 bore, lightened flywheel, advanced timing, custom grind cam, 12:1 piston, degreeing the cam, Lectron 38mm carb, gaskets, and labor.

Rocky Ridge is only 2 hours away, and does great work, but I don't know what to do. If I do the work myself, order the parts from C&D Racing, and have Rocky Ridge do the porting, flywheel mod, and carb bore, I can get away only spending about $850-900. What should I do? Thanks.

That cost might include a beafier clutch too. I've rode one of Kens national 416 kits and it huals the mail. It used an electron carb so i'm not sure if he's still using them or not. I'd just drop the whol dam quad off and let him build it, test it, and dial it in for ya.

[Dave400ex]

Rico has a good point, take the whole thing to him, then he can jet it just perfect and what not!

[Doibugu2]

I agree with Rico and Dave. If they are that close, and there work is pretty respected around here.

But, there are advantages of doing the work yourself. You learn a few things. And if you screw up, throw the parts in a box, and let KEn sort it out.

[WKY400EX]

I'm going to call him back right now. I'll find out exactly what I'll get for the price. Plus, being so close is also an advantage. Rico, I believe he still uses the Lectron carbs, because he mentioned that I could get one from him if I decided not to bore the stocker.

Originally posted by WKY400EX
I'm going to call him back right now. I'll find out exactly what I'll get for the price. Plus, being so close is also an advantage. Rico, I believe he still uses the Lectron carbs, because he mentioned that I could get one from him if I decided not to bore the stocker.

Dont' get the lectron. Ask him about the custom FCR 40mm carbs he has. I'd also ask about the clutch.

[WKY400EX]

I just talked to Ken again, and I'm definetely having my motor built by him. I asked about dropping the bike off and having him build and tune it, and he said he would do that. I talked to him about the clutch, and he said he'd install an 8-plate clutch with HD springs. It takes a little machining to the inner hub, but he'll do the clutch for $150 extra.

Rico, what do you have against the Lectron? Just wondering. Thanks.

[northeast400]

Robbs atv in Merrimack N.h., He is the man I think his #603-231-1692.

[Dave400ex]

The Lectrons are known to not idle well, be a pain to jet, and just be a head ache! The FCR would be better, but your stocker would also work!

[WKY400EX]

I'll check into the FCR. Also, would I get a large amount of extra power from using the FCR compared to a bored stock carb? Thanks.

[INFANTRY RACING]

in a carb test the lectron made more power than the 39mm fcr. tom carlson sent it set up for the bike and it ran perfect, kehin had to send out a team to get theirs to tuned perfect and still didn't make as much power. lectrons are the most popular drag race carb too. Might not make as much bottom but will eat a fcr from mid up.

[WKY400EX]

I'm still unsure what to do. I've always heard good things about the FCR, but I know that certain people can make a Lectron do amazing things. From what I gather, Ken at Rocky Ridge Racing is one of the people who likes the Lectron. He'll be tuning my bike after he builds it. What should I do? Has anyone owned both a Lectron and FCR? Which was better?

[HondaChris]

take a look at profabatv.com I have talked to a few and they have really liked what they had done from them. When I get my binus I'm getting a hold of them to do mine.

Lectrons do put out more HP but they are for top end and yes it might come from Ken fine tuned and that will last about a week at most. If you like fiddlin with carbs and taken them apart, then the Lectron is for you. Lectrons need cleaned at least once a month also. They Suck on the bottom end so be prepared to run it hard to work correctly.

If you plan on drag racing then it's the carb for you, if your not then FCR is the better all around carb.

THe FCR will also be better than a bored stock carb.

[WKY400EX]

Alright. I gotcha. If I get it from Ken, will the FCR cost much more than the Lectron?

[cals400ex]

Originally posted by WKY400EX
Alright. I gotcha. If I get it from Ken, will the FCR cost much more than the Lectron?


i think you can get a new fcr 39 with cable and prejetted for around $420, but i am not positive.


does anyone know whats special about the fcr 40 and why it produces more than the 39 or 41? also, how many modifications are needed to make it fit on the bike properly?

[WKY400EX]

About $420? I'll talk to Ken and ask him exactly what it would cost from him. If it's only going to be about $100 more, I'll just go with the FCR.

I know that I'm kicking a dead horse:D, but 416 or 426 with the following mods: full-race porting, valve job, lightened flywheel, advanced timing, TC custom grind cam, 12:1 compression piston, degreeing the cam, FCR carb.

Thanks.

[Dave400ex]

Go with the 416 so you have another bore on the stock sleeve. Plus power would not be much different! Also with a 12:1 piston, I would be getting the TC heavy duty head studs!

[WKY400EX]

How much would those run me?

[Dave400ex]

$80 I believe!

[WKY400EX]

Ahhh! $80!:D That sucks, but if ya gotta have em, ya gotta have em. Right?:p

[tinner]

Yep, another$80.00 is nothing in the whole scheme of things. Might as well do it right the first time. Good luck.

[WKY400EX]

Hopefully, I'll be dropping my bike off with Ken in the next couple of weeks. First I've got to get that d@mn pivot bolt out!:mad: I guess I'm going to load it up here in a few minutes and take it to a local machine shop. Plasma cutter here we come.:eek2:

[Dave400ex]

Your not going to take the whole quad? Then he could ride it to get everything set up just perfect.

[WKY400EX]

Oh yeah. I've got to install my extended swingarm before I take my bike to him. Before I can even do that, I've got to get the pivot bolt out.:mad: :grr: This has been the absolute biggest pain in the ***** with this quad.
I took it to some shops yesterday, but they said they were concerned using a plasma cutter so close to the engine cases. They told me that the plasma creates a lot of heat, and may damage the cases while cutting out the bolt?:confused: I don't know. I'm going to try a dye grinder with a small disc in a little bit. I'm praying, cause I've tryed everything so far.:(

[Dave400ex]

I must have got lucky with my pivot bolt, sure I had to beat it really, really hard, but it came out!

[WKY400EX]

You were pretty lucky. I am so disgusted with this bolt. My cases have been marred a bit now, and my frame is damaged!:mad: I suppose I can have those things fixed at the machine shop when I get my frame gusseted. I'm about to go to a friends place and work on it. He owns an automotive repair shop, so I'm sure I'll have about all the tools I need. Thank GOD!

[INFANTRY RACING]

get the big ****in hammer out:D

[WKY400EX]

I fooled with the pivot bolt for almost 3 weeks, doing everything but cut the swingarm off. Guess what? The air cut-off tool and air hammer cut through that hollow swingarm like butter.:eek: I can actually pull the motor, and begin tearing down my bike now!

I should have saved my self the headache and chopped that f-ing swingarm off in the first place. Come to find out, the bolt was seized to the spacer sleeves, and couldn't be knocked out in either direction, so I had to cut the bolt and swingarm up. I think part of the bolt is seized in the cases too!:eek2: :( Got any ideas on how to take care of that?

[ingleful]

Yeah Tim Murphys Going to be doing mine on my 400ex soon..and hes also working on my Trannsmission...i lost 3rd gear at my last race!:(

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by 416mx
Tim Murphey at Action cycles in Kirksville , MO. He's doing mine right now,Don't have the no in front of me but just call info. they have it. Does really good work and very reasonable.:cool:

What do they charge now days to do a porting job?

[ingleful]

I think hes charging $40 an hour

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by ingleful
I think hes charging $40 an hour

Right on, Thanks :cool:

Are you having a mid range port job or what?

[ingleful]

Were just boring it 20 or 30 over... not to much..but we took it somewhere else becuase its got to be fixed so i can ride and he took to long to call us back about when we could bring it in lol:D