hello everyone been awhile since i posted so my 01 1500 drifter has over 100k miles and lifters are starting to make noise and I have been missing 2nd gear for the past 50k miles I just skip it. but the bike is in great shape and I can either go buy a new bike or replace the engine. So my question is what is the newest year engine can i put in and does anyone have a good place to buy from? also will any of the vulcan 1500 engine fit? thanks for your time
Why not just rebuild it? Any of the 1500 EFI engines will fit, but the cams are different , so the torque curve is different. If it were me, I'd just rebuild the original, but a Nomad engine might be the best choice for a replacement.
well I don't personally have place to take on this project and I don't know if any dealers would touch it haven't went and asked some of the feed back I got from other vulcan owners was techs didn't like to rebuilt this model engine. I figured I could get a reman engine and have it put it
do you know by chance if it has to be a 01 engine or can i go to a newer year engine?
Pretty sure that any 1500 efi engine from any year is the same, including the mean streak. Crank case part numbers will tell you what will fit.
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/kawasaki/KP-14001-5394.html
The Drifter does have a unique cam grind, so there is that. A Classic engine is pretty similar, aside from the cam grind. Going with a Nomad engine though would allow you to upgrade the electrical system because of it's dual stator. A meanstreak engine would give you a hot rod.
Quote from: pcarrell on October 20, 2015, 17:10:54 PM
A meanstreak engine would give you a hot rod.
6 extra hp, +12 N.m. of torque @ 2800 rpm.
Maybe on a lighter bike you might find a difference.
I would go with the Nomad engine.
aralph
Quote from: aralph on October 21, 2015, 16:41:05 PM
6 extra hp, +12 N.m. of torque @ 2800 rpm.
Maybe on a lighter bike you might find a difference.
I would go with the Nomad engine.
aralph
Drifter 1500
Max Power
65 hp 47.4 kW @ 4700 rpm
Max Torque
112 Nm @ 3000 rpm
Meanstreak 1500
Max Power
72 hp 52.5 kW @ 5500 rpm
Max Torque
114 Nm @ 3000 rpm
A few more horses and a touch more torque, all higher up in the RPM band, would make a bit of a hot rod compared to a stock Drifter. It's not going to make it a superbike or anything, but I'd bet you could tell the difference pretty easy.
Drop in a MS 1600. That would probably be noticeable ;).