Recently got a 1988 XT600. Bike is in good shape other than carb from sitting for so many years. XT600 forum has been very helpful and i have read where somebody has put a Raptor '05 660 carb and had great performance. I have an '05 Raptor carb and started with the change over. Does anybody know if you have to change intake manifolds and what throttle cable in control works best? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have the raptor carb on my XT and I love it. However you do need to do a few mods.
For one, you do not need to change the intake boots that bolt to the head. You do need to fab new intake runners from the air box to the carbs. I was able to go to the local auto store and get some radiator hose. I used this becouse they have just enough flex in them. Cut the air box so that the new runners fit quite snug. Becarefull and go slow once you go to big you are ****** . Rout the runners on each side of the frame to the carbs, witch should bolt on just fine. The next thing is to fab the hoses that go from the intake runners near the air box to the carb. Becouse the raptor carbs are constant velosity you need to get pressure to them from the runners. What I did was to use some hose again from the auto store. Just put a hole in the runners near the air box, but not in the air box. and run them to the top of the carbs. I was able to use the original throttle cable from the old carb. I did need to come up with a few parts so that the leanth worked out right. Also I left the 2nd cable on the bike running to nowhere, I figured it might come in handy if I ever broke one out in the woods. And lastly you will need to change your petcock, the original on my bike was to long and hit the carbs. I used one from an old YZ, bolted up just fine but I no longer have a reserve.
I know I rambled on a bit but I hope this helped. I really wasn't a big deal, and it only took maby one hour. Most of that was drinkin with my buds.lol

Used to live in Fernandina Beach, just bought some property in a place called Nassauville. Gonna build a house there. perhaps we could ride some time? Yea I know