If you can turn a wrench and don't mind doing so, GO FOR IT. A bunch of us put CV carbs on em, upgrade the brakes, and use newer gasket materials and Hylomar to seal em up. They run/sound great, and there's no feeling better than tooling down the road on a piece of old iron like that. Just wait till someone comes up to you at the local watering hole and asks "is that a Harley??"

 

Get the Shovel WG. I just went back to my roots and bought an early Evo 'cos that's the first H-D's I owned back in the day and wanted to get another. Good Luck

 

 

Just remember a shovel is only as dependable as the owner. Keep up on matainance and give 'er a thorugh going over every once and awhile to catch minor things, there is nothing wrong with a shovelhead. As a matter of fact I've ridden my FXEF more then my Twin Cam this year. Riding to the Dice Party in Des Moines Sat, anyone else going?

 

You just described my Shovel.
I found a nice set of virgin jugs, but had to go 20 over. Dyna ignition, CV carb off 1200 Sporty, late Softail forks with 4 piston caliper, same late model disc and caliper in the back.
CV carb works from sea levelto 6000' elevation without a hiccup. Starts easy wit a couple of kicks cold and first kick hot. If I let it sit 2-3 weeks it might take 6-7 kicks ..... She's kick only, btw.
Not as cushy as my FXD, but better than the rigid Trumpet. Still has the 70s-80s "Club Bike" feel to it. Somehow it morphed into looking a lot like my '77 FXE did back in early-mid 80s.
Not sure it would my first choice for a long trip, but I've rocked it up and down the coast from Dago to Bay area with no issues.

 

next bike i get to go with my evo will be a new twincam or a shovel. more than likely ill get the shovel though i just love old iron.

 

Problem is...they don'thahve the close tolerances, and thus require more TLC.

Not so sure they can be rode like a Twin cam....80 on the highway all day.

With a pan, you will destroy it, if you try to ride it past about 65 all day long.

it is what it is.

~Joe

 

There is nothing in the design of the Shovel that prevents it from doing 80 all day long.
The problem is with the parts that are at least 25-30 years old at this point. Of course, old metal is weaker and more likely to fail.
Most of the old bikes I see and I'm guilty of it too, are put together with old parts. I built mine for bopping around, but with right gearing and some fresh wheel bearings, swing-arm bushings, good shocks and comfy seat could easily take it cross country.
I got a buddy up in Ohio that still tours on his early 80's Shovelhead FLT.

 

At this point, most all of that 25-30 year old stuff has been replaced with better stuff. Hell, I've thrown away parts that were in better shape than what I see people trying to sell at swap meets. Mine's got 200,000+, and is ready to go anywhere.

With anything older that is new to you, it is important to know what's been done to it, and if it was done properly. I've had mine since new, so there were no snafu issues that had to be undone, apart from what AMF did to it in the first place.

 

Good to hear.

~Joe