Dog Bowls Be Gone!

[DarkStar]

Finally received the Thunder 51020 intake and left side plate, dog bowls be gone! This machine is getting way too shiny to take a decent picture of, but she's running even cooler now that those bowls are off the engine, the header is wrapped and the PCV and V&H slashies are installed. Now you can hear her breathing with every twist of the wrist...

[blowndodge]

That looks SWEET!!!

[Jared]

That does look great!

So, did you wrap the head pipes and then put the chrome heat shield over the wrapped pipes? Whats the benefit of doing this?

[mobandy78]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

That does look great!

So, did you wrap the head pipes and then put the chrome heat shield over the wrapped pipes? Whats the benefit of doing this?

That's what I was wondering.

[DarkStar]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

That does look great!

So, did you wrap the head pipes and then put the chrome heat shield over the wrapped pipes? Whats the benefit of doing this?

In my case my primary motivation in wrapping the exhaust header was simply wrapped headers retain more heat, more heat in the pipe means less radiant heat around the engine, intake, and rider. The wrap serves as a sort of thermal blanket that directs heat out of the exhaust rather than radiating from all over the sides of the pipe. There is also a scavenging effect of wrapped pipes since the gasses are hotter and less dense which pulls them more quickly through the system which is also a potential performance benefit but I was working at reducing the radiant heat around the engine and intake.

One interesting benefit I’ve noticed since I wrapped the header, there is much less mechanical ‘noise’ from the engine itself which was also radiating out of the bare header pipe. I wear full face helmets and custom made earplugs when riding and with the wrap done the exhaust is the dominant sound with the air drawing into the intake also quite noticeable when you’re on throttle but the assorted mechanical engine noises are much reduced…

This is what it looked like before the heat shields went back on, I used 50' of 2" black wrap and stainless steel cable ties to secure it...

[tazfl]

Looks good Darkstar, I like it.

[ringadingh]

Very nice, now chrome the crankcase.

[mobandy78]

Looks good. Makes sense. Have you noticed a difference in performance? How about the heat?

[RACNRAY]

Very nice wrap job!!

RACNRAY

[DarkStar]

Originally Posted by mobandy78

Looks good. Makes sense. Have you noticed a difference in performance? How about the heat?

The header was wrapped, the V&H slash-cuts and PCV were all done at the same time, temperature gauge even on hot 90+ days remained below the half way mark with the bike moving where beforehand it normally was above it. In stop and go traffic the gauge would climb but the heat radiating upward was much less than before the wrap. The bike always felt as if it had lost power when the temp gauge was in the 3/4 and above range which was my initial motivation to wrap the pipes, trying to keep the heat away from the engine and intake.

Now with the addition of the Thunder intake and removing the dog bowls the temperature gauge now reads barely over the 1/4 mark when moving and the gauge climbs much slower in traffic and drops back down much quicker... those bowls block way too much air flow to the engine. I topped my tank off after the ride yesterday and even managed 42.7 MPG, she pulls strong with no flat spots or stumbles, my map tweaking is getting there!

Originally Posted by RACNRAY

Very nice wrap job!!

RACNRAY

Thanks Ray!

[sctrcks]

I like the whole job alot. Living in AZ the heat is brutal and I have been looking for a solution to bring the temp down, as wll as a sleeker look. I have been looking at Performance Machine but they are so costly. Can you post a parts list and supplier where you got the wrap, PCV, and air cleaner kit. I wnet to Thunder Mnfg, and the air cleaner says a insert is required?? Is that just the filter element? any Idea if they do this kit in powder coat black?

[DarkStar]

The Thunder intake kit doesn't require a separate insert for the 1700's, only the 1500's and 1600's need it and I have seen a powder-coated black 51020 kit, Element80 posted images of his here in the Vaquero Owners thread, call Thunder and check on the availability of the air kit in black, the left side plate comes either chromed or black. I did consider using a black air kit but with so much chrome already on the engine I opted for shiny...

I used this air kit from Thunder: http://www.thundermfg.com/store/inde...t_detail&p=358

This Thunder left side cover plate: http://www.thundermfg.com/store/inde...t_detail&p=386

PCV here, I used the 17-006 fuel only model: http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/.../pwrcomm-v.htm

V&H Slashies, also from Phat: http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/...st_p/18371.htm

I couldn't find the exhaust wrap locally so I ordered this, it took all 50' to wrap the header using a 1" overlap: http://www.amazon.com/DEI-010108-Bla.../dp/B000BRNF68

Called the local NAPA store for these: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...279_0362411831

[sctrcks]

thanks for all the links. believe it or not i will be in bay city mi this friday for a week to visit family. how far are you from bay city.

[DarkStar]

I'm exactly 70 miles north and west of Bay City, I can't even remember the last time I was in the Bay City/Saginaw area... it scares me...