Rebuilding the Top End of a Harley
- muleequestrian
- Jul 12
- 1 min read
My old girl started getting some mileage on her. She’s a 1998 Electra Glide and she’s never had any serious work done to her. Bone stock and really high miles. I’m ready to bolt on a sidecar, so I figured it’s time to rework the top end of the engine so she’ll have plenty of nuts to pull the weight.
I figured it’s time for a slightly larger cam, and new valves to stop the slight oil leak into the cylinder where she blows a little bit of blue smoke. And while the heads are off, might as well put on new rings and pistons.
A new oil pump and plate for pushing more oil pressure through the lower end.
New valves and springs. New pressed in valve guides. New seats cut into the heads.
Each jug is cleaned up and rebuilt. The engine is mostly left in the factory “blond” finish it left in, but the top of the cylinder heads were finished in black Cerakote.
Two guys with a bottle of scotch and hand tools rebuilt the top end of this bike in two days time.
Just because she’s old doesn’t mean she’s useless. Mostly bone stock 1998 Electra Glide, with upgraded oil pump and plate, new valves, new gaskets, new slightly hotter cam to push a Champion Escort sidecar dog carriage. Still has the factory exhaust and all the rust that comes with an ancient Harley.
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