Blood, sweat, tears & beers . . .

My motor has those bosses on both rocker boxes. I have decided to make 2 braces as they would hold the carb more securely than just one. Mine would be made from 3/16" dia. rod with flat ends welded on at the correct angles. I can easily make a set out of wood for my welder to fabricate. If I can get them made from stainless, I could polish them up and they would look really trick. (See my crude sketch).

CoolThat will hold everything in place and look good too

Still waiting on my parts to trickle in . . . dang, seems like it's taking forever - like watching paint dry. Got paid Friday but could not cash my check. Tomorrow I'll order the billet flange adapter online. I'm sticking with the stock mixture needle I have for now so I can get things going a little faster. (Forgot to order an EZ just).

ShovelheadUS says to use JB weld to attach the CV carb to the billet flange adaptor. Others say to use red locktite. Shouldn't have problems with the carb staying in place once I get my custom brackets made (see post #1061). JB weld or red locktite? I'm leaning toward the JB weld. Either way, one must be very careful how the stuff is applied so there's no chance any will ooze out and get sucked into the combustion chambers.

Got a pic of the adapter?? Is it 2 bolt flange on one end to bolt to the manifold and spigot type on the other to make it like an Evo/Twinkie manifold that you push the carb into??

Yes, it's like you say. It looks just like you described it. It says that it's a "press on" flange adaptor for CV carb and then it bolts to the original manifold.

So it looks like this...


I don't see the need to JB weld or red locktite it...Just put the rubber seal on the spigot end,push the carb on and everything is held in place with the backing plate...then if the carb has to come off you just unbolt the backing plate and you can pull the carb off,same as an Evo or Twinkie

Looks like the picture although I haven't gotten it yet. Mmm . . . so now I have to get a rubber seal, too. Well, I'm going to Harley today (to save time waiting for things to arrive in the mail) and get a rubber seal for the carb & an enricher cable & possibly a new vacuum piston. I'm taking the carb with me to make sure everything will fit.

Here's a couple of part numbers: Seal Ring 27002-89 Vacuum Slide 27585-88
These are from my '03 Parts Catalog
The choke cable in the parts book is broken down into the pieces,but they should have it there as a complete unit...
The part numbers show it's the same slide used since 1988 and the seal since 89,same with the choke....if there were any changes made to them the part numbers will have a letter after the part number...eg. 27585-88A would mean there was 1 subtle change made to the slide,but would retrofit all CV carbs

Thanks guys. Nobody mentions a rubber seal with these press on flanges - they come with one flat gasket - that's all. One forum says to use the locktite and another the JB weld. Why would anybody use that stuff on rubber? I think because the seal ring is only used with the original manifold and the carb is press fitted metal to metal on the adaptor flanges. But can't find out for sure and I have been looking. Thanks for the numbers. I didn't get to Harley today but I can call them with the numbers and see if they have those parts in stock.
I read somewhere else that those enlarged vacuum holes are supposedly drilled to accommodate heavier bikes or racing bikes with drag pipes. I think I have a Yost kit in mine. They mention that you can drill larger than 1/8" but run the risk of flat spots in the power band. Mine was drilled to maximum size - I mean there's no more room left to drill! They also drill out the needle hole too and I think mine was drilled. Whole thing is messed up.

Probably best to wait until you get the adapter to see if it's a press fit or you need the seal...here's one I saw on Ebay,description said you need the seal

Billet Carb Adapter Mnt CV or Mikuni on Shovel Manifold | eBay

You always seem to find stuff I can't find! I will get a seal ring when I get to Harley with the number you provided, (and of course, a new vacuum piston). Aggravating I have to do all this stuff just to get the carb to work. So much time lost just sitting around waiting . . . . and today was in the upper 70s. Unheard of this time of year!

The stage 1 kit I ordered from CVP must have caught a slow train. Also, I ordered a high flow brass elbow from John's Motorcycle parts and that's taking even longer.

Got my truck back today and it runs better. I had the mechanic put a quart of Lucas "transmission fix" fluid with the new fluid, gasket, strainer. New plug wires and tire. The tranny doesn't jerk anymore when shifting. I've been letting the truck go to seed buying motorcycle parts but we're catching up!

Come to think of it - I'm going to have to fabricate the carb bracket parts myself out of metal and take them in to get welded. I might make them out of regular mild steel and paint them with black motor paint. Can't trust a welder to get them right from a wooden mock up, and I'd save money, too.

Yeah, but I hear most custom builds only take about 6 months. I suppose that would be a shop built bike, though, and not built by the owner. I figured it would take me about a year and a half to 2 years, based on my "disposable" income. It's been 2 years and 4 months so far. Actually not that bad. But here I am near the end and it seems like "time keeps draggin' on".

Today it's going to be around 80! Yesterday I saw a lot of bikers on the road. This morning it's 62. In two more days it will drop around 30 degrees day and night. Crazy weather . . . .

You're right. It's just frustrating not being able to ride yet, that's all.
I called Harley today and they have a seal ring & enricher cable in stock. They ordered the vacuum piston and it should be here middle of next week. About $70 for everything. Not too bad.

My $35 CV carb has so far ended up costing more than $240 to fix.
Carb.
Enricher cable.
Flange.
Seal ring.
Vacuum piston.
Stage 1 upgrade.
High flow brass elbow.
Custom choke cable bracket (Blemished).
Air cleaner.

But I look at this whole business of building a bike as a learning experience. One of the greatest of my whole life, in fact. Anything worth learning is worth the aggravation to learn it - that's what I keep telling myself!

Like JB has said - once I take the first ride it'll all be worth it.