This is interesting, I waffled back and forth for the last two days on whether i would pop on a wildcat. Its a really nice engine, with the strength added and a ft piston. But ultimately, I decided to get me a new predator 224 (ducar block). They were on were on sale and really I just wanted to ride the bike.
Go around and check all bolt torque specs on the pred 224, including the rod bolts.
It is a ducar block, but I seriously doubt ducar put them together. It is not even close to a TRUE DUCAR engine. The clearances, specs and bolt torque are all over the place.
I tore 3 NIB pred 224's apart, summer of 22', and they ALL 3 were different. 1 had the flywheel nut so loose, it spun the starter cup on the first pull. Lucky I was tearing it down to check specs when I noticed it.
Once you get ALL the bolts torqued to spec, check crank end play, coil air gap, and valve lash, then you should be safe to fire it it.
Heres engine and bolt torque specs I use for all honda/clone ohv engines.
https://www.arcracing.com/blog/box-stock-project-196cc-engine-and-torque-specifications/
I kept 1 pred 224, built it up, spec'ed it out, wouldn't trade it for anything else, but it took alot of time and money to get it this way. The only thing left from the stock pred 224 is the block, crank, head and valves. The head has a lil port work and valve unshrouding.
The pred 224 uses the same flywheel, rod, and cam as the honda/clone. That's a big plus to me, makes finding and changing parts easier.
I'm not a fan of the WC 223.
The piston sits .050" down in the cylinder at TDC. The only rod available (+.050" longer then stock) for it to get close to the deck using the stock ft piston, cost $85, and only ECCarbs has it. Nothing against eccarbs, I use them often, but that's more cost to the build to me.
https://www.eccarburetors.com/8182-3353-forged-connecting-rod-for-wildcat-223cc-clone-engines.html
Then there's the hemi head, which leaves a person with a limited cam selection. Of coarse anybody can spend more money for a custom piston and head work, but again more money for the build. And it might be hard to find a piston for that new $85 rod. Wiesco pistons starts at $100, again more money.
Here's some beginner builds from ECCarbs, they don't keep that stock hemi head very long before they change over to the non hemi head.
https://www.eccarburetors.com/wildcat-223-hemi-builders-guide.html
That'll make a man scratch his head a time or 2, lol.
Now if I had a customer that needed a engine with electric start and charging coils, then MY 1st choice would be the WC 223 electric start. I would keep it governored and set it up to turn no more then 4200 rpm.
Good luck with your new purchase, it is a stump pulling lil engine and don't need to be reved to the moon to get weight moving. That 58mm crank makes a big difference.
