Branch Heads on 95" deuce

2308 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by softtail2, Dec 23, 2005

softtail2

Discussion Starter · Dec 22, 2005

I have searched and searched, and completely confused my self in selecting a set of heads. I know every one is promoting Deweys and with good reason. My question is what happened to Branch? I have an opportunity to buy a set of Branch at a local dealer for a very fair price. Ive read responses about the torque loss people see with Branch heads due to exhaust valves etc. My questions are:
Any one running a set on a LIGHTER bike like a Deuce?
What type of exhaust on a bike with these heads if so?
Will I notice the rumored loss of torque on a lighter bike?

My build is as follows:
95" with either Branches high comp pistons if I use his heads or 9.8 flat tops with Deweys heads
Andrews 50 or 55g cam
SERT
Samson Ground Pounder Exhaust ( These will/can hurt me I know )
The rest of the typical components

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Ozzie In Arabia

· #2 · Dec 22, 2005

Welcome to the forum and merry xmas to you and your family...........one very prominent techy on here has advised that Branch has changed hands and is not so good anymore and I believe him.

Branch was state of the art once but no\w several head porters/manufacturers have eclipsed those numbers with cheaper just as efficient/more efficient heads.................Dewey and Big Boyz are some of them with my preference to Deweys because of his expertise in valve area porting.

All the best, Ozzie

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MegaGlide

· #3 · Dec 22, 2005

Local wrench just did a build w/ a new set. Ports the size of your fist. Made big numbers, but all on top.

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FXDRYDR

· #4 · Dec 22, 2005

Ozzie In Arabia said:
Welcome to the forum and merry xmas to you and your family...........one very prominent techy on here has advised that Branch has changed hands and is not so good anymore and I believe him.

Branch was state of the art once but no\w several head porters/manufacturers have eclipsed those numbers with cheaper just as efficient/more efficient heads.................Dewey and Big Boyz are some of them with my preference to Deweys because of his expertise in valve area porting.

All the best, Ozzie

...to that I would add - how "fair" is the price and do you have to have the best. A lot of people are happy with Branch. Depends how you view things. Personally I like a good price/value comparison -- if x is 50% the cost of y and x provides within an acceptable range of performance (say 10 percent) = sounds like a deal to me. But that's me...

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Ozzie In Arabia

· #5 · Dec 22, 2005

Hey there FXDRYRDR Merry xmas to you my friend...................sure Branch are still good/great, so are quite a few others.........I have been toying with 3 valve head designs and as an off the shelf would buy Edelbrocks for their superior (in my mind!) chamber design.

But ............I came to realise, due to this forum, that I would get maybe a few more ponies over porting my own heads, and porting my heads for a 5th of the price that I would pay for an Edelbrock kit is good value.

All the best, Ozzie

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GRock

· #6 · Dec 22, 2005

softail2

You are the kind of guy that my younger brother likes to meet at the stop lights with his torqued out 98" Fatboy. Some guy pulls up to him with his VH Straighshots and 95" overcammed, $1800 heads,.....waking up the dead with the revs. They take off at the green and by the time that the 95" starts making power, little brother is waving good-bye.

Every little bit of lost TQ will have you lazy on the bottom end. The 55 cam with oversized valves and ports, AND those pipes will have you waiting for the bike to hit in the range that you mostly ride in. If money is an issue, I would rather see you with a set of BigBoyz street heads for $300. Radiused stock exhaust valve with lightly modified ports and nice velocity on the charge. Boost your compression up around 10.2 if you want the 55 cam to bite and put in a +2 cam advance key to get you going a few hundred RPMS faster. OR hook up with Dewey and get his combo ideas with the 55 and other cams also. Great headwork!! On the bike.....not him!!

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FXDRYDR

· #7 · Dec 22, 2005

Ozzie In Arabia said:
Hey there FXDRYRDR Merry xmas to you my friend...................sure Branch are still good/great, so are quite a few others.........I have been toying with 3 valve head designs and as an off the shelf would buy Edelbrocks for their superior (in my mind!) chamber design.

But ............I came to realise, due to this forum, that I would get maybe a few more ponies over porting my own heads, and porting my heads for a 5th of the price that I would pay for an Edelbrock kit is good value.

All the best, Ozzie

Hey Ozzie -

Merry Christmas to you too and here's hoping for a safe and prosperous New Year!

I'm with you on heads -- also thanks to this forum. Been real curious about the Edelbrock heads too, as an acquaintance has the complete Edelbrock package and says it's strong. I haven't seen it though.

I've gotten big on cost/value considerations with my bike ever since I was shopping for a 2:1 and some of the more popular ones were priced well beyond what I paid for a custom stainless exhaust system for my truck - that included installation for headers. It brought things into perspective for me with regard to some of the prices we see for HD-related things and so now - I'm more "efficient"...

Take care Ozzie.

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Dave L

· #8 · Dec 22, 2005

softtail2 said:
My question is what happened to Branch? I have an opportunity to buy a set of Branch at a local dealer for a very fair price. Ive read responses about the torque loss people see with Branch heads due to exhaust valves etc.

I don't think anything has happened to Branch, before I purchased mine (2 years ago) I called and had a nice 30 minute talk with the owner. There process is even better than before. Only thing that has happened is that a few companies have been able to accomplish the same process at a cheaper price. Which is okay (allows more people to play). If the competitors product holds up as well as the branch product remains to be seen.

My dresser is a 95 BB with branch heads, Arlen Ness breather, tw37g cams, dfo, SE pushrods, DFO, and wild pig mufflers. Before heads with 203 cams. 80HP and 90TQ . With heads and 203s 87HP and 94TQ. With heads and tw37g 92HP and 103tQ. I'm a satisfied customer...:thumbsup:

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claydbal

· #9 · Dec 23, 2005

although i am more a port velocity, long duration, relatively short lift sorta guy. i have a friend with a new branch flowmetrics kit for sale for $1100 if you ae interested.

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softtail2

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 23, 2005

GROC has me all wrong. I am just the opposite ( I do like the sound of my pipes and I do try and respect the noise ). The cams etc. are what vendors have told me work well in my bike. I will definatley sit back on the charge card and weigh out all of these ideas. Still if not more confused now! The Branch heads can be bought for 6 bills if that helps or sways a strong opinion.

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Seahag

· #11 · Dec 23, 2005 (Edited)

I'm not gonna say Dewey's aren't as good (cuz I don't believe that) or anyone else for that matter....

But this reputation for being soft on torque is hogwash. I've compared my dyno to lots of them out there with similar builds and mine, like lots of others is making 95 ft/lbs by 3000 rpm and going over 100 shortly after. If branch heads are only good for the top end, why am I so low on horsepower (Dewey got 10 more horse out of the same cams) but in the ballpark on torque....Dewey himself told me it was the heads holding me back on top...You can't have it both ways; saying they are only good for horsepower and top end when I can prove otherwise.

BTW...My build now is VERY acceptable. If I had to do it over, I would go a different route, not for more power, but because I could have gotten similar results and spent less money.

If the price is right on the Branch heads, get them...but don't pay any more than it would take to get yours done by a good porter like Dewey,AMS etc.

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softtail2

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 23, 2005

Seahag - Your reply is exactly what I was looking for.Thanks.

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