• Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

SSI Head

Allseasons

Well-known member
Premium Member
Feb 2, 2014
238
130
43
Rocky Mtn House AB
I added a mountain performer head to my 2016 m8000. I will list the things i was warned or told about, then i will reply with my findings.

1. May not or will not actually cool, or larger cavities will cause hot spots from lack of circulation. Reply- i have shot the motor with a heat gun before and after while running hard at elevation, have not found a difference either way

2. Doesn't create more power, actually loses. This was pm'd to me from a fellow forum member who was performing dyno runs at or close to sea level. Reply, now i have not performed dyno runs, but i can say without doubt, i not only felt a remarkably better throttle response, it cleaned up and eliminated hesitation due to over-fueling in low to mid range. Also, i added 1.4 grams per cam of weight to clutching. To me, this means more power regardless of dyno. This statement can be backed up from a good friend of mine who is a doo rider. His response was wow, what a difference in the bottom end

People can say what they want, i like the "bolt on" head and would install again just to clean up the bottom end and throttle response as it did. Did it propel me to new heights or surpass my buddies by measurable amounts, nope. Is it worth it in gains to the price tag? Probably no, but thats for you to decide. For me, i like a clean performing motor that doesnt stumble or bog, which it helped my 800 there for sure
 
Last edited:

armey37

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Jan 30, 2008
380
113
43
Richland,WA
Thank you for the honest real world results. This head sounds like a great bolt on performance mod. I’ve added reeds,can, y-pipe and some clutching. I’m just wanting a little more out of the Cat. A bonus would be no more low end bog!!
 

Frostbite

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 15, 2007
4,738
721
113
Eastern Washington
Very cool! Now you have me interested, thanks! :eyebrows:

The price isn't too bad either. Tell me there is a 10% off Military or Snowest discount and I will buy one!

My question would be, what if anything has to be done for fuel flow changes?

Is it something I can adjust on my Power Commander or maybe it doesn't need anything adjusted?

I added after market heads to my Mountain SRX and it made a big difference as well.

Another option is to send your head, cylinders and power valves to SLP and have their stage III kit done. They modify these items for a substantial power increase but, it's not cheap. I had that done on my M8 and it made it a great sled and the good thing is they send you a Power Commander fuel map to adjust for the for the changes.
 
Last edited:

Allseasons

Well-known member
Premium Member
Feb 2, 2014
238
130
43
Rocky Mtn House AB
I am not running a fuel controller. However I am running 50/50- av/91 for about a 95.5 octane level. Not once have I gotten a DET code from lack of octane, and from my "Lean" post you can see plugs look good.
Changes I've done to date, and I'm not doing anything else this season as she is pulling strong.
1. Boards, clutching and gearing, then
2. Y pipe and can, then
3. Reeds and warranty oil pump, then
4. Head domes and clutching, then
5. 50/50 fuel for spring runs, (engine ran cooler so sticking with it)
This season 6. 2018 Clutching, ssi pipe mod and 2.5 degree timing key, moved my air temp sensor. 2 days on hill now. Pulls 72.4grams like a freight train. May try to go back to stock 48 secondary, 42 in now.

I did small changes monthly last season to give changes more of a chance to feel things over various conditions and altitude of different riding areas.

Edit: I know SSI has all the adjustments for PC. It may seem like I wave a huge BD flag, but I personally have gotten great service from them from my 08 m1000 to this 16 m8000, so I use and respect their products/advice. So take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Another Edit: the highest elevation I see is 8400 and mostly ride 6500-8000 ft. At 72.4grams, I'm pulling 8300rpm at 6800ft, long almost vertical pulls in early season snow, so I'm trying to hit 8100-8150rpm which I believe I will be close now in steep and deep
 
Last edited:

bgraff1

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 29, 2007
894
323
63
Lloydminster, Alberta
Very cool! Now you have me interested, thanks! :eyebrows:

The price isn't too bad either. Tell me there is a 10% off Military or Snowest discount and I will buy one!

My question would be, what if anything has to be done for fuel flow changes?

Is it something I can adjust on my Power Commander or maybe it doesn't need anything adjusted?

I added after market heads to my Mountain SRX and it made a big difference as well.

Another option is to send your head, cylinders and power valves to SLP and have their stage III kit done. They modify these items for a substantial power increase but, it's not cheap. I had that done on my M8 and it made it a great sled and the good thing is they send you a Power Commander fuel map to adjust for the for the changes.
could always buy one of my auto tune kits I have for sale for the power commanders :face-icon-small-win
hook up to the PCV and it automatically tunes/adjusts fuel mapping in the PCV by the live O2 readings
 
L
Jun 7, 2013
36
11
8
38
Iowa
I ran the SSI high altitude head on my 16 last year and it ran great with 91 pump gas. sled is all stock except head, silencer, and venom adjustable weights. I had to add almost 3 grams vs a stock 16 I ran with. As mentioned above it wasn't a night and day difference compared to stock but it definetely ran stronger and had more bottom and mid range pull. I got mine on their black friday sale last year for 16% off and at that price would recommend it. Only real down side to the high altitude head is if you come back down to sea level you need to swap it out or run race fuel
 
Last edited:

Frostbite

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 15, 2007
4,738
721
113
Eastern Washington
I am waiting for Black Friday to see what kind of smoking deal they have on these heads. I suspect that I will have one on my sled in the not too distant future.
 

Suzzy-Q

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 2, 2007
548
174
43
37
Mackenzie B.C. Canada
I’m running an SSI head (low psi)(2k-6k elevation) y-pipe, can, timing key and boysen reeds, sled is definitely more responsive off the bottom, just missing some legs up top compared to my old sled, so I’m adding the pipe this year and a belt drive
 

Frostbite

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 15, 2007
4,738
721
113
Eastern Washington
I went ahead and ordered the SSI head and a super lightweight brake disc that saves 1.15 lbs of rolling resistance off the track shaft for my sled on the BDX site. If you use the special code listed on the site you will save 17%. The head ended up being $315.26 if my math is correct. Here are some Christmas gift ideas for you:

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=227&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=236&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=31&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=662&controller=product
 
Last edited:

sno*jet

Well-known member
Premium Member
Dec 13, 2007
2,820
1,283
113
i might do the brake rotor too, is it a pretty quick job or a pita? how many beers?
 

kidwoo

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 28, 2008
2,630
1,875
113
i might do the brake rotor too, is it a pretty quick job or a pita? how many beers?

two beers unless you follow these directions..


take the brake pads out before you try to move anything after unbolting the caliper from the tunnel


Now it's a one beer job.
 
L
Jun 7, 2013
36
11
8
38
Iowa
If anyone is interested in one of these heads I am selling mine with only 400 miles on it. Going with a turbo this year so no need for the head anymore.

$250 obo plus shipping
 
L
Jun 7, 2013
36
11
8
38
Iowa
Tell us how great the head was luggnut!

So everyone will want to buy it.

I want to hear your thoughts as well.



My review is posted above. It was a good improvement over a stock 2016 I rode against and needed almost 3 grams heavier weights over stock at 10,000 ft.


The thing that sold me on the head vs other mods was no need for a programmer. But I test rode a turbo last year and got hooked so working on that installation right now lol
 

armey37

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Jan 30, 2008
380
113
43
Richland,WA
I went ahead and ordered the SSI head and a super lightweight brake disc that saves 1.15 lbs of rolling resistance off the track shaft for my sled on the BDX site. If you use the special code listed on the site you will save 17%. The head ended up being $315.26 if my math is correct. Here are some Christmas gift ideas for you:

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=227&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=236&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=31&controller=product

http://www.bd-xtreme.com/index.php?id_product=662&controller=product

How’s the head performing?
 

Frostbite

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 15, 2007
4,738
721
113
Eastern Washington
Sorry, I don't have anything for you. I have been a slacker!

Our snow pack this season is just now starting to build so I am trying to save my sled from the inevitable impact with some unseen object under the snowy landscape.
 
Premium Features