86 evo lower (case breather) with newer heads (head breather)

Anyone know whether I can put a heads with a breather on a case breather lower? My local guy has a set of heads with a breather, but I have an 86 evo lower with a breather on the case. Also what year heads would be compatible with the 86 lower? He was telling me they may not fit easily due to the head bolts. Any information or suggestions?

You can use them but you keep using the case breather. You can get inserts for the head bolts from either VTwin or Drag Specialties aftermarket books to bolt your air cleaner backing plate on, but you will have to get the bottom and middle section rocker box from a head breather.

If you want it to breathe from the heads you better add a '93-99 nose cone and gasket to your parts list and a new air cleaner assembly+the '93-up rocker boxes. I wouldn't suggest blocking the bottom breather. If the umbrella valves are still in the head breathing heads you could just add a '93-up air cleaner kit it would relieve some pressure in the heads but it wouldn't be a true head breather and keep your case vent open.

Alright. Anyone got any info on the bolts?

The inner head bolts have the same part number 16478-85A, but the outer bolt number changed in '92 to 16480-92 from 16480-85A, but in the V-Twin Catalog they have one part number for 86-99 models..(From V-Twin Catalog pg 36)Chrome 12 Point Head Bolt Set includes 8 washers
and 8 head bolts for 1986-99 models.
VT No. 37-9019
and other aftermarket companies sell head bolt kits for 86-99
I can't give a definite answer for the head bolts,been quite a while since I changed the heads on my '90 Evo... check with the dealer to make sure. There is an upgraded cyl stud kit with shoulders on the bottom so your stud height is correct without having to measure them. Mine and yours didn't have the shoulders on the studs originally, the change in studs may be why the outer head bolt part number changed but not sure.