Will a 2007 1500 EFI Engine fit in a 2001 1500 Drifter??

[OR Seedman]

it's actually very quiet compared to how it sounded with the V&H pipes....sounds like stock Nomad...

I still am waiting on the rectifier mounting bracket to show up, so I can mount the rectifier up front.  You have to move it because the left side pipe comes out of the goat bladder right where it sits.  As soon as that comes in, I'll mount the rectifier and put the left cover back on...

I have a short video of it running, but it's to big a file to post here, so I posted it on the MeWe page...you can here the noisy lifter...about 5 minutes later it quieted right down and now you can barely hear the engine at all...

[Tim]

Big thumbs up - nice work! Have you driven it yet? (Not sure what your weather is like this time of year). We have ice and snow where I live and I have to go visit my bike in the garage to keep her company for a while... 🥺😄

[mittico68]

Stunning result! 
Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

[Easy Drifter]

Wow. Just freaking WOW!

[OR Seedman]

oh..and by the way, runs just fine.  nice and smooth.  had a dry lifter at first, but it cleared up after a few minutes.

[OR Seedman]

All done except for the Rectifier relocation....bracket is on the way.

Things done:  Swapped in 2003 Vulcan 1600 engine with one actual mile on it
Added 2004 Vulcan Nomad dual exhaust  (very quiet...not sure about that but I love the look)

Things still to do:  Swap out wheels with Vulcan 88  19" front and 15" back wheels getting powder-coated right now to match the Navajo Crimson paint
Mount new WW tires on wheels when they are ready.  have new bearings and rotors for both.
Design a better and permanent muffler bracket for each side of the bike to hold the Nomad mufflers.  Currently they are attached to
the saddlebag brackets.

I will be listing multiple items for sale at very reasonable prices here on the forum....if things don't sell, I'll put them on fleabay.

pics of new engine:

[OR Seedman]

will do.  I'm waiting on a couple of parts still, but I am going to put the clutch spring from the 1600 (new) on the 1500 clutch (friction plates are still in nice shape) because I ordered a heavy duty Barnett one with the new limiter springs.  Also, one of the exhaust studs backed out and I have a new one coming (the nut was frozen on it).  I will let you know as soon as it is back together and ready to go.  I will be sending the new 1600 clutch slave with it as well since I didn't want to take the lines off of mine to switch them out.

[Big Foot]

OR Seedman,
I would be putting it in my 2001 Drifter. I am definitely interested. Let me know how we can make that happen. Big Foot!!!!

[OR Seedman]

Yes....nothing wrong with it that I know of...but it has 40K miles on it and I got it at 31K so I don't know the full history.  I put a new front bevel gear bearing in (that's why it the bike was sold off cheap) and flushed the motor several times to make sure the crankcase was clean.  it does have the noisy lifters but it runs strong and doesn't burn any oil....I'm putting the side case back on with a new gasket and then going to get it ready for sale.  let me know if you are interested and I will send you some detail pics.  Price will be right...especially if it needs to be shipped LTL, which can get kind of expensive.

on the washer....the center hole is too small to fit anywhere on the clutch...so, I'm still trying to figure out where it goes....no motor diagrams have it listed as far as I can tell....

[Big Foot]

OR Seedman,
I have not found an engine yet to put into my 2001 1500 Drifter. I started this thread. I am excited to hear how your project works out!! Is the engine you took out for sale?

[Bucko]

There's a couple of washers that are part of the clutch stack - maybe one of those?

From the 1500 Motor fich (not sure if the 1600's are the same or not): https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motorcycle/2001/vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500-r1/clutch-r1-r3

(wondering if it's one of 92022A)

[OR Seedman]

question on right side of engine...when I pulled off the right case cover, I did not see the small washer that is in the photos.  However, since I am swapping the case from my old engine, when I pulled it off, I found this washer in the pic.  It was not where I have it sitting because I did not notice it at first and found it when it rattled in the case cover after turning it over.  My question is where does it go?  this is the only place I can find where it would fit.  Does anyone know if it sits there between the sprocket and the needle bearing in the side case that the shaft it is sitting on goes?  I cannot find it on any engine diagrams.....all my clutch parts are in and I am waiting to find out about this washer before putting everything back together....

[OR Seedman]

The $250 makes up for it....clutch plates and limiter springs totaled about $135.  So, by the time its all said and done, I have a brand new 1600 engine for about $1200.00.  looking forward to seeing if the higher torque and hp ratings translate to the drifter and its cpu.  If nothing else, having a new engine is worth it.  Once that's done, I'm going to have some Vulcan 88 rims (19" front, 15" back) sandblasted and powder coated to match the Navajo Crimson red on the bike and get those mounted with WW tires and put on.  the modification for the front wheel is here on the forum.  Then I can go tubeless as well.

[Tim]

Good on you to hold them accountable. I hope the $250 makes things right in your mind.
Cool project!
I can't wait to hear what kind of performance upgrades you get.
I love my 02 1500 but it could sure use some extra juice...

[OR Seedman]

called them out on it after they b*%$#d about my email.  they said they test run every engine when they get them in from their suppliers....I said if they did that they would have seen the oil leaking (gasket was non-existent) and they would have heard the clutch parts rattling around...so I caught them red-handed swiping the new clutch friction plates out of the engine and then just slapping it back together...they had to refund me $250 and issue an apology.  So I'm now just waiting on the new limiter springs and friction plates....everything else is ready to go.

[Old Drifter]

What an A-hole! Sounds like you have it under control.

[OR Seedman]

have the engine all in...filled with oil and discovered a slow leak from the clutch cover side panel..took it off to replace it and noticed that something didn't look right with the clutch...discovered that someone (the seller) had removed the new friction plates and put in old ones and also remove two of the 3 spring limiters....steel plates and everything else looks absolutely brand new, the whole clutch was pushed out and not able to spring back and engage....the crap people will try to pull on you when selling stuff is really unbelievable.  Have ordered new friction plates and limiter springs....should be here by early next week. 

[Old Drifter]

I raced MC in my youth....so just having a toe shifter is what I'm used to....I was constantly putting my heel on the heel shifter when lifting my left foot off the ground from a dead stop....not that my feet are that big (size 11), but it would have been better if the heel shifter was about 1" longer so that I had more room when putting my foot up on the floorboard...it just seemed like it was always in the way.

I agree with Troll, once you get used to it you'll never go back. If you think it's too short, you could always cut and weld an extension piece in.

[OR Seedman]

I raced MC in my youth....so just having a toe shifter is what I'm used to....I was constantly putting my heel on the heel shifter when lifting my left foot off the ground from a dead stop....not that my feet are that big (size 11), but it would have been better if the heel shifter was about 1" longer so that I had more room when putting my foot up on the floorboard...it just seemed like it was always in the way.

[Troll]

Having grown up with a foot clutch/hand shift, and numerous bikes with rocker pedal shifters, I really find it hard to understand why people take the rear pedal off. The trick is adjusting it correctly for you foot. My FLHs had a straight pedal, but my FLT had a V shaped set up. That's how I have my drifter adjusted, and it's just PERFECT! Seems to me, with boards, using only the front for both up and down shifting is totally inconvenient and cumbersome.

[OR Seedman]

regarding the heel shifter....yeah, I took it off....too many times I would hit it accidently...Drifters are the first bikes I have ever had a heel shifter on...I like the convenience, but it would get in the way too much.

on the rocker covers....I don't honestly know...the 1600 ones have little bulges on the sides.  Not sure if that is for looks or function.  The bolt pattern is the same ( I was going to swap them because I have the Arlen Ness side covers on my old engine), but decided not to at the last minute.  So, I am leaving off the chrome engine accents (leaving them on the old engine) and the chrome water pump cover.  Those will go with the old engine, which I will shortly put up for sale.  There's nothing wrong with it, but it does have 40K and did have to have the front bevel gear bearing replaced (which I took care of when I got it).  I am curious to see if the 1600 has the noisy lifters....

Overall, the swap has been relatively easy and straightforward.  I really need to get the engine fired up and get the clutched lubed up as I think the plates are kinda stuck....from sitting.  As I already have the gaskets, if I need to, I can pull the right case cover of to check them...at least the cylinders had some oil put in them to keep the rings lubed....The little bit of oil that was left in the case looked brand new as it should have since the engine only had 1 mile on it.

[Bucko]

Wondering if you happen to know....are the cab covers (rocker box covers ?) swappable between 1500 and 1600 motors?

[Old Drifter]

by the way....anybody pick up on my hidden ignition key?

Since you mentioned it, yes it's cleverly hidden. It kinda blends in. It would totally disappear if you painted it black. I also noticed that you don't use a heel shift lever. 

[mittico68]

Sorry for your wife. I hope she's getting better, now (so that you're free to take care of your bike... ).
An engine transplant is a fairly easy project?!? 
Geez, to me even changing a light bulb wouldn't be "fairly easy"... 

[OR Seedman]

by the way....anybody pick up on my hidden ignition key?