Hi

I have a shovelhead from 79. i'm rebuilding the motor and I have encountered a number of problems because the previous owner has not been so accurate.

The Cam is labeled Sifton 101 co. I have searched a lot on the internet but can not find much about it.

Is the Sifton 101 suitable for an 1979 stock shovelhead ?

Kind regards
Johan

 

The sifton 101 is a solid lifter cam only - lift is .400 -- 15 -- 55 inlet duration 250
54 X 15 exhaust --- duration 249
cruiser cam low and mid range = touring cam for solids only TDC lift .121 -- .135 its set on a 110 center line -- johnjzjz

 

so if I understand you correctly, you do not recommend this Cam for a stock shovelhead ?

can you recommend any good priceworthy cam for a stock shovelhead ?

 

cam choice has a great deal to do with what is in the engine, compression, is it stock , what exhaust / and what is fueling the engine ignition and carb wise

and what are you driving - what kind of riding do you do ???? all makes a difference - johnjzjz

 

Stock engine
super E carb
2 to 1 with Muffler exhaust

drive short distances cruising.

Maybe the cam that I have (sifton 101) is not even intended for the latter model of shovelhead Maybe it's made for models up to 77 ?

 

harley made changes to the gearing in the 1977 on bikes - the only difference to the cams is the gear on it, the later gear had a machined groove in it so no mistake could be made in the install - the early gear is just flat on the face no groove

the dynamics of the cam it self is actually the same and you can switch the gears for your app - that cam you have is an old design is it junk NO is it less in performance that whats available today YES -

we have used the AB andrews cam you can feel it when it comes on in a 74 inch motor with an S&S and the 2 into 1 is an add to the mix - in an 80 inch motor the hit so to speak and its mild anyway is less because the motor is bigger - But it allows hydraulic lifters to be used -

if your build is on the cheap and that cam is not worn than use up, what you have in stock shovels, they are not big on being fast - LOUD sure - if its a just to be on and go for a ride, and your ok with adjusting valves once in a while leave it -- johnjzjz

 

thank you very much ! much appreciated information !

you seem to have very good knowledge about shovelhead,maybe you can help me with my big problem that I describe in this thread :

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/engin...r-problem.html

Kind Regards
Johan from Sweden

 

ok the sifton 101 is a hyd cam -- in 1955 tom sifton was asked by the ca. police to grind a cam that would help the police accelerate real quick from behind a billboard -- tom made the 101 but then it was called the 55Q -- the 101 is the 55Q it can be run solid but its noisy -- its intended to be run with hyd lifters and requires no head work

CRUSIER - 101 Intake: 14/55 249 0.410 Exhaust: 54/15 249 0.410 Overlap: 29

 

 

also I put a 101 in a buds 1978 1200 this past summer -- hes got a big wife and hes small -- the point is - the cam is perfect as he says -- plenty of low end and it will scoot along the interstate @ 75 all day -- he swears its smoother -- his 74 is 8:5:1 cr he runs a belt drive 22 tranny and 48 rear Andrews gear set -- super E 2 into 1 pipes -- hyd lifters myself I like the sifton #116 if you look at the sifton old cam sheet its the 414 cam

the 101 is 410 in a shovel -- 422 in a panhead -- I also have an old 1+ its a hyd cam for engines over 90" its an old school cam for long stroke big inch engines