Part 3 First Performance Mods and Build of the Harbor Freight 224cc Predator Engine, 224 is Alive!

This has been Part 3 of the 224 Predator engine performance build. If you liked the video, and enjoyed this build series, consider a Subscribe and Comment. I'm not sponsored nor monetized so if this type of content doesn't appeal to subscribers, I'll have to stop posting the engine build videos. I did purchase this engine and performance parts to share the details with you and to have some engine building fun. You're welcome to join me if this kind of stuff interests you, if not, I still much appreciate you stopping by and of course you're welcome back anytime.
Thanks, Chris

The Predator 224 engine is one of the best harbor freight engines to ever come out in my opinion. The 58mm stroke crankshaft and the DUCAR reinforced block are worth the price of the engine alone.

Full disclosure: I did misalign my plastic cooling fins when I installed them on the flywheel. I was in a hurry and it was getting late in the evening. That's what happens if you're not paying close attention to your work and I wasn't. It was a silly mistake on my part that luckily I caught in time. (Don't Y'all tell nobody.)

I purchased most of these parts online from EC Carburetors in Dickson TN. I'm not sponsored by them nor affiliated with EC. I paid full price out of pocket for these engines and parts. I always suggest everyone search online to find the best prices on parts. I've included the part numbers and the best current prices I've found and paid for the parts below at the time of this video. I'll list a few parts I purchased from Amazon, you can also find the same parts on Ebay in many cases at a lower price.

Parts list from EC Carburetors:
70mm Flat Top Piston Kit: Part# 34004-00075-00-K $19.99

Tillotson 70mm .045 Head Gasket : Part# 138210129 $5.50

Harbor Freight 70mm .054 Head Gasket : Part# 1231-Z530120-00 $5.50

You'll need to choose your head gasket thickness based on the amount of quench you want for your engine. (The distance between the top of the piston and the bottom of the cylinder head)
Some guys like around .030 to .035, I prefer .020 to .025 on a billet bearing rod engine but on this one I'm probably gonna stick with .035+ as the crankshaft is pretty soft and will likely flex quite a bit. I'll be using the .045 head gasket on this one.

The Stock Predator 224 rod and dished piston combo is below the deck. Mine measured out at .003 below deck (in the hole .003)


Tennessee ThunderStix Banzai 265 Race Camshaft Kit with Lifters and 26lb Springs:
Part# TTS-265 $54.99 **IMPORTANT** I have verified that this camshaft does fit without grinding for rod clearance on my block anyway. Always check your clearance to verify the distance between the camshaft and the connecting rod on every engine.

Connecting Rod: EC Pinnacle 3.353 Forged Rod with bearing Part# 8281 $79.95

I have verified this billet rod does work with the 70mm Flat top Wildcat piston kit above. There is .008 pop up of the piston above the deck on my 224 Predator block. Some guys are reporting as little as .006 and as much as .010 above deck. Be sure to check yours and adjust your gasket thickness to match your chosen quench distance. The .010 gasket will not work for this rod and piston combination so I have removed it from the parts list and updated to a few better choices for this piston and rod combo.

EC Rod bearing inserts for Rod: Part# 8394 $17.50 (if you want a spare)

If you plan on using a stock type connecting rod for a governed 224 Predator engine application but still want to run the flat top piston:

WildCat 223 Stock Connecting Rod: Part# 20008-00005-00 $6.99
This rod fits without any clearance work to the block and has the correct pin size for the flat top Wildcat piston kit (.709) I would shorten the dipper a bit.
The Wildcat rod and piston measured in excess of .030 below the deck with my 224 Predator block. It'd be better to go with a longer rod than the stock Wildcat for the 224 Predator block. A 212 Predator Hemi block has a lower deck height FYI.

26mm Mikuni Clone Carburetor Kit with intake. $54.99
Some carb tuning is required for these, video is out now.

Twist type Mini Bike Throttle Kit $15.99


This 224 Predator engine build with the parts combination used is a mild high compression build. It will require Race Gas 95-100 octane. Methanol would be better but this build will work fine on high octane Race Gas or Aviation Gas. Timing needs to be kept around 28 degrees. This can be tricky as most aftermarket billet flywheels are around 34 degrees at "0" or "stock" timing key position. You may need to retard the timing by moving the flywheel counter-clockwise a few degrees by reversing an offset key or like I do, delete the timing key and move the flywheel counter-clockwise a few degrees as an offset flywheel key would.

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