Is the kit that bad? Cripes – I thought it was good for a little more torque?

As for why I’m fitting the kit… It’s a short and sad story…

I have bought a House, thus I’m absolutely fricking broke. Racing in 2007 is on hold.

I’ve had my 600SS since it was 3k miles old, now it’s done close to 40K (and last years racing!). I have always changed the oil every 3K and measured the valves every 6. The result is that for a bog std 583, she goes really well, great oil pressure and uses no oil between services either. But she don’t half slap that Horizontal piston about!!!

Hence the thought of utilising the 674 kit in my garage. Unless anyone else has any ideas? Like selling the kit and getting a new 583 piston ring set?

To be honest I’d rather run in the 583’s again, but I have a kit for the 674, already paid for and doing nothing…

As I was running std cam timing… what is this staggered key business about? Can I get some? Recommendations?

Racers - Missing our monthly meetings already you Mo-Fo’s! ;-)

Priest

"Staggered keys" are used to "blueprint" the timing as there is a degree of tolerance on the valve timing in standard form. You could use the keys to alter the timing slightly but it seems that by ensuring the standard timing is spot on you can expect improved engine performance.

I know of an injected 900 lump coplete with loom and ecu

Sell the kit, its **** for racing.
As for rings - dont bother, cos they wont make any difference unless you're burning oil, as its the pistons that wear and cause the slap - get better earplugs, cos slappy engines are faster.
If it blows up, I've got a spare full bottom end and a full spare engine ;)

The problem with the valve timing is that lack of quality control on the pulleys meant that they can be at different timing on each cylinder !
That definitely loses power.
To get best performance on almost all older ducati engines it is best to advance the inlet cam timing by about 3 degrees from the factory spec - they decided on it in about 1989 and didnt look at it again until about 2002
But ! If you do that it is also best to get your squish set up cos that also varies as standard, and you again lose power if the two cylinders are different ;)
Starts to add up doesnt it :)
If you're not at the front, just work on your cornerspeed, and you'll get much better value for money ;)

mate of mine has a complete 900 lump with injection ,loom and ecu