The first thing that pops into my head is Dave Mann’s “Ghost Cowboy” and then Berry Wardlaw dressed as a cowboy. What does that have to do with an article about the hottest engine to hit the motorcycle industry this year? Well hang on and you’ll see.
Berry Wardlaw, of Accurate Engineering in Dothan Alabama, has been a biker, motorcycle mechanic and engine builder for as long as I can remember. Yup and a modern day cowboy too! When you’ve been a biker for any amount of time you build a reputation, and Berry’s is distinquished. He’s the man when it comes to Panhead engine work. Well that and Knuckles and as time went on the newer mills also. His Signature Series Engines are legendary for performance and reliability!
For a long time this information was tightly shared with people inside the industry, who used his engines in their personal rides. Eventually the motorcycling public became aware of him as he supplied people like Billy Lane and Indian Larry engines they used in the Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off’s. Having an Accurate Engineering engine adds class to any ride as well as performance and dependability. You continue to see them in most of the winning bikes in the shows and magazines for these reasons.
Accurate Engineering is a complete engine building facility using state of the art Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machinery and state-of-the-art technology. Full Dyno testing in their 12,000 square foot building is also available. Barry is a classic builder who constantly teaches himself the latest in performance innovations, metallurgy, engineering and component testing.
Though Accurate Engineering builds many different style engines their Panhead is still the most popular. Since some of Accurate’s customers requested bigger cubic inch engines, and Berry knew how to build them, the Outlaw 120 was born. The availability of top quality components and Accurate’s own product line allowed for a reliable performance package in the classic Panhead package.
The 7.960 length connecting rod combined with the 4.500 stroke gives a 1.769 rod to stroke ratio which reduces the piston thrust face load, this along with the added .750 to the crankcase decks also allows for a lot of the piston skirt of the coated forged piston better stability in the 4.125 bore Ductile Iron Cylinders.
Other features include billet aluminum rocker arm bearings, roller rockers, internal top end oil feed, billet pan and gearcase cover, chrome oil filter adapter, .540 lift camshaft, 32-amp charging system and 3-bolt exhaust flanges. The compression ratio is 9:1 so it is not prone to detonation and starts easily with the stock compression releases. The air/fuel mixture is fired with four Autolite spark plugs connected to a four tower Dyna coil.
The engine comes complete with carburetor, ignition, coil, wires, spark plugs and charging system. Every engine is hand built to Berry’s exacting specifications and pre-run before being shipped.
Even with the added height of the engine it will fit in any frame that can accept a stock 80-cubic-inch Evolution engine.
NOW ain’t this the Bad Boy for your next bike build. Better contact them quick though at accurate@accurate-engineering.com or by phone at (334) 702-1993 as they are going as fast as they can be built.
Yep he is a modern day cowboy, and I say that for a lot of reasons. Shit, he dresses like one when he and his son Jennings do their Cowboy Action Shooting. Berry is a single parent who spends time with Jennings, who also happens to be one of my buddies. One of the things they do together is the cowboy action shooting.
Wanting the finest guns they could get he contacted Larry Crow, the Master Pistolsmith at Competitive Edge Gunworks in Missouri.
Well Berry was so satisfied with how the gun worked out he and Larry struck up a unique friendship. Berry told Larry about the 120 Panhead and they discussed how Bikers and Handguns Go Together. They decided to build a special pistol to commemorate the Outlaw 120.
The basic gun is a Ruger Vaquero with all the parts discarded but the frame. The top strap is welded and reshaped for the classic Smith and Wesson rear sight. The barrels are machined octagon from Shelin XX Match blanks to 4-inch. The front sight is McGrinin gold bead for a clear fast sight picture. Cylinders are custom CEWG chambered in the timeless 45 Colt. Birds head grips and frames, Bisley hammers, free spin pawls, with all internal parts fitted and tuned. They are stainless steel with a matte finish, sights, hammers, pins and screws are polish blue with micarta grips.
The Outlaw 120 is signed by Master Gunsmith “Larry Crow” of the “American Pistolsmith Guild”. A special feature of the gun for those who purchase the 120 Outlaw engine is the engine number can be engraved in the barrel.
For many years Accurate Engineering built all the Panhead engines for Panzer Motorcycles. Berry had a Panzer in his shop. It was freshened up and the 120 Outlaw was installed. I was invited to go with Berry and Jennings to deliver the bike to Larry in Missouri. He was going to use it in the filming of a television show called “Shooting Gallery” hosted by Michael Bain, which is aired on the Outdoor Channel. The plan was to ride the Big Inch Hog while he fired his Big Bore Pistols and blew up watermelons, cinder blocks and exploding targets. Yah-hoo my kind of stuff. It reminded me of the old days.
Not only did Berry bring the bike to the show, they used it in one of the segments. Berry then gave Larry the motorcycle. Talk about one happy gunsmith. There will be some modifications made to the motorcycle to make it the Larry Crow Gunsmith commemorative custom bike in the near future.
Look for Larry, his motorcycle and guns at various events around the country.
— ROGUE
Connection:
Accurate Engineering
128 Southgate Road
Dothan, Alabama 36301
Phone: 334.702.1993
Fax: 334.702.0196
Email: accurate@accurate-engineering.com
accurate-engineering.com
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30
Closed Saturday & Sunday
(Central Time Zone)
