I have a 2002 Kawasaki meanstreak 1500 with a blown engine, I need to find one but can't anywhere...
Ive found a 2003 kawasaki vulcan nomad 1500 and the engines seem to be the same, and the bikes even look very similar...except that mine had the hypercharger and the nomad engine doesnt...
does anyone know if the engines will fit back and forth? and what the differences are between the two bikes?
thanks for any info...
Cory

Yep, those engines are exactly the same.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2002models/2002models-Kawasaki-MeanStreakVulcan1500.htm
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2003models/2003models-Kawasaki-Vulcan1500Nomad.htm
Same bore, stroke, compression ratio, valves, everything.
As far as the hypercharger, don't worry about putting it on the new bike, at most it adds 5 h.p. at 100 mph. At worst it allows more dirt to enter and could have been the cause of your blown engine.

Seems like the only difference is the mapping of the ECU and the fuel injectors, so you'll probably have to swap them out. Pretty easy job if you're transplanting the whole engine.

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Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha

the 2003 was fuel injected, and mine of course had the carburetor with the hypercharger, the new engine doesnt come with the fuel injection system,
can i just have the mechanic thats doing this surgery have him put the carburetor and everything else from my old bike on the newer block?
thanks
I ride, but have never torn down a bike or had to work on them...sorry for my lack of intelligence...

Hmmm, you said yours was an 02 and the transplant bike is an 03 right? From the specs they're both FI, just with different throttle body sizes.
As far as whether or not you can use the old carbs on the new engine, I don't see why not. They ought to have been the exact same engine just with different boots to seal the throttle bodies/carbs.

In other words, everything from the old bike ought to fit just fine with the new engine.

And don't apologize! At one point less than three years ago I didn't know how a 4-stroke engine worked. Now here I am working on them.

_________________
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha