Norton 88ss top end help

I would go with what you can get. The CR on dommies was generally raised by alterations to the heads,with the same pistons used .If you can get near 8.5 or close I would settle for that, Concentrate on getting pistons that fit the small ends properly,Some issues with tolerances there. . Don't rebore unless its really necessary, Barrels are pretty unobtainium, Rings can be found.

Absolutely right Robert. Don't even consider higher than standard compression ratio pistons. My tame engineer who builds race and veteran engines advises strongly against anything higher than 7.5:1 for normal road use these days - all down to our wonderful petrol.

The 88 is a much underated machine, It will happily whizz along with the motor revving its nuts off ,and will cover the ground just as fast as its bigger brothers and be less wearing with its smoother motor.

Previously dawson_strickland wrote:

Thanks for your replies. Do any of y'all have a supplier you could recommend for the rings and head gasket? I am in the southeastern United States and obviously not many Norton parts where I live.

Thank you.

I live in the North East USA and I have ordered parts from UK suppliers as well as the club and it has gone very well every time. Don't expect to find a store you can just walk into and buy Norton parts.

The pistons and rings stocked by RGM and Andover for that matter are the Italian version GMP or GPM (Can't remember) but I found their rings worked well with original pistons with some wear in the bore. RGM also stock AP pistons, these are excellent quality, though tend to be a little heavy.

Don't know how far South, state side you are but there is a business called MAP that might be able to help you. They are based in FL. Good luck.

Dawson:

Do you have the Norton part numbers that you are looking for?

I will check my local suppliers here in CA for you.

Mike

Previously robert_tuck wrote:

The 88 is a much underated machine, It will happily whizz along with the motor revving its nuts off ,and will cover the ground just as fast as its bigger brothers and be less wearing with its smoother motor.

This is JohnPowell, branch sec Northumbria, UK. I would endorse the above. Without wishing to boast, my cooking grade slimline 88 cruises happily on the motorway at an (indicated) 70 on 1/4 throttle, with ready acceleration to 80. Will reach 95 but that is cruel. Ridden all over Europe and, 10 years back, trans-Canada, often with wife and loads of luggage. Unless you want to constantly blast down the fast lane of the motorway, how much performance do you wantfrom an old bike? I have standard pistons and the head is the later post-1960 version with increased fins in front of the exhaust ports and a bit more compression that the earlier head, but not "down-draft". Single monobloc though actually sized for a "99", which is what came on the bike when I got it in 1998 about 120,000 miles back. Oh, gearing? - 19 tooth engine sprocket.

Nice one John, when I got my 99 I was dissapointed at the bikes ability to cruise with a relaxed feel at motorway speeds ,something I took for granted with the 88. A well set up downdraught head twin monoblock 88SS in the earlier SS green/white colours would be my favourite rider. The extra punch of the 99 is nice but the 88 was such a good balance of power to handling ,in the day a good one was a match for most other bikes and the police could not catch me with their 650's on Kent A roads!!.