Reversed Heads

Anyone ever seen them on a KZ? I'm running/chopping a '77 KZ750 and am wondering how feasible this even is. I think it'd be cool if I can pull it off.

top fuelers and funny bikes have done it for years

I know. Just wondering about the feasibility of doing it on a street bike.

I can't find anyone local who can do it and I'm having a tough time finding anyone who has done it.

youd have to build the frame around the carbs basically,seems like a lot of work.but who am i to talk about a lot of work?:woohoo:

Reverse the block too. Used to do this with Elmer Trett

Sorry for the ignorance, but why is it done? This is the first I've heard of it. What benefit is it? Just trying to learn.

HerrDeacon wrote:

Sorry for the ignorance, but why is it done? This is the first I've heard of it. What benefit is it? Just trying to learn.

I believe they do it to put the carbs out front for fresh air or "ram" air at speed.

This something I've thought about doing on a street bike for years....

I always give up on the idea once I realize that there's no real benefit to turning the head around and the cost to get the headers fabricated would be too expensive...then there's always the heat issue... from the exhaust being in-between your legs.

But it would be unique and quite cooooool.....

Buzz

A lot of bikes have the exhaust routed somewhere between the legs. If I can get the heads reversed, the pipes will be behind my legs. The ram effect will be nice but I'm only doing it for cosmetic reasons. This isn't going to be a go fast sled, just a bar hopper. Same reason I'm rephasing the engine- the cool factor. Any gains will be just gravy and nothing more.

I was thinking the other day of perhaps reversing the valves and leaving the heads alone in their orientation but flights of fancy being what they are...

So, APE. What am I looking at here? I know I can't do it in my garage without dropping some bling on a Bridgeport. The heads are probably the only thing I can't fab myself.

"rephasing the engine"? Not sure what you mean......

There should be no machine work necessary to reverse the head. Turning the pistons around on the rods and getting the cam and ignition timing squared away should do the trick.

Top fuel did it only for a maintenance feature. Put the blower, injector, barrel valve, out where you could adjust / service them. Had no effect no performance.

Rick Stetson turned the head around on a carbureted drag bike many moons ago. Had no effect on performance.

yes a whole lot of extra work and fabrication for nothing