Bubba can I get just as much out of race porting on my 1998 trailblazer than I could get out of the reed conversion kit? Do you think it is possible? thanks

 

OK, this all boils down to what you want out of your wheeler. The 250 Plaris engine is a piston port motor. The piston acts like the stopper to keep the primary compression in the crankcase. With this design you will get some bleedback into the carb which helps to kill some signal and drop low end. When a reed cage is in place, there is no way to lose any primary compression and that improves everything (as long as the reeds are good). Throttle response and HP is improved, but that doesnt compare to a race port job. When race porting, all the transfers, intake and exhaust gets reworked. I have nothing against the 250, especially since I've owned one. I believe that unless you have a specific purpose for having the smaller cc motor, it's not worth the money spent on these. The reed conversion done on the 250 even by Dennis at $600 would buy a pipe, clutch kit, and a port job on a 400, then the 250 wouldnt catch it for anything. Also you get liquid cooling on the 400. You cant ease around on a good modified 250 or your asking for trouble. Remember, your gonna have to start with a good pipe and clutching to get the most out of it. I would port it and have the head done, then go rip. If your really serious, strip it down. Remove the starter, machine the flywheel, remove the oil injection, remove the battery. Talk to talonhawk about doing this. He has already been down this road. But to answer your original question: Putting on a reed cage by itself will not make as much power as porting. Bubba