Replacing the carbs? Kinda radical ain't it?
Yes, many say do that there. The problem being that the CV type carbs that come on them are problematic due to the fact the CV slides work based on that airbox and its' restriction, remove that and the entire carb metering is thrown off. It CAN work but often many give up, the absolute condition of the engine bearing on success there a WHOLE lot. You got a lot of miles on that engine and I'd say don't do it. Compression test before you do to indicate how hard it might be, looking for 150-170 psi but you may well not have that; most who say they 'run great' don't and then the problems begin.
Pods go on direct lift type carbs pretty easy, your right hand controls the throttle slide on those though. CVs you do not control what the slide does and these type are not rubber diaphragm ones and the worst kind (labyrinth type) to give trouble with pods. In short, the slides quit opening as fast as they should, and combined with slides not opening far enough already because engine compression is off due to old motor then becomes a deadly combination. The slides then open slow enough to mess the motor up bigtime. When one jets to correct for things like that, they are jetting for a slide in a certain place, but because the slide action has dropped off you have no idea of where that can be, it can be as bad as slide being jetted just for its' slow movement and then once it stabilizes then you need other jetting for it being stabilized. That kind of stuff can make you nuttier than Mr. Peanut.
As well, most toss that airbox without realizing it boosts low end torque a bit, you'll lose that small power hit with pods. The box will also help the slides open 100% at absolute top rpm, often a problem when pods are used, the slides don't open the last bit and then the engine can lose a thousand rpm up high or so at redline.
Buy the correct pods and simply dump the box, the pods bolt on in 15 minutes. Deceptively simple, with the accent on deceptive. Save that box, many go looking for them if you dump it, they already know.......................
FYI, Dynojet makes kits to do that but many had problems with those too, very hard to admit one has just spent all that money to not make bike any better than it was and often much worse.
