'82 head on '79 gs850

[Guest]

the intake ports on the 82 head are larger than the '79s, can this be done using some sort of restrictor plate or any other means to make this work.

[tkent02]

Do you want a '79 850 head?

[koolaid_kid]

The 79 used VM carbs, the 82 used CV carbs. Hence the difference. What is your goal, and what do you have on hand?

[Steve]

Why use a restrictor plate?

Get a set of VM carbs and be done.

Of course, then you would have to change the airbox and make sure you also have a valve cover that fits.

The '79 valve cover had 16 bolts.
The early '82 covers had 16, but they changed to a 19-bolt pattern mid-year.
The valve cover and the head need to match.

.

[tkent02]

He's putting a '82 head on a '79 motorcycle.

Meanwhile my spare '79 850 head sits idle on a shelf.

C'est la vie.

[newfyby]

Well I purchased the 82 head firuring I could just switch it out with the old, only realized intake port difference when I went to switch boots from old to new head, so I was trying to figure out a way to do this switch by maybe putting some kind of restrictor plate to make intake port hole smaller in dimension, or maybe a boot that will fit on this head and reduce down to fit the vm carbs. !!!!!! I hope this makes a little clearer.

[newfyby]

There is vm carbs on this bike now, it's a 79!!!!

[tkent02]

Why would you want to put an '82 head on it?
Does your head have a problem?

[newfyby]

Long story, bought bike 4 yrs ago, when changing rings , left small rag in cylinder, partially melted # 1 and 2 cam journals, had guy repair and bike has been working great. Was just now changing head gasket "leak" and so thought was good time to replace head. Just spent some hours cleaning ,reseating valves and such on 82 head, is there no way to make this work if not I would concider your offer of '79 head you have.

[Steve]

Considering all the other parts you would have to change to make the '82 head work, getting tkent's '79 head might be quicker and easier.

.

[newfyby]

Not really the answer I was looking for , but it is the reason I came on here , to have some one to confirm what I didn't want to hear. THKS