Question about cams
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 699
Likes: 232
From: Batcave
Thanks! I asked for opinions and experience and I got it.
Back story, I inspected my tensioners on my stock stage 1 2001 FXD TC88 and they were past needing to be changed. I knew a close family member was heavy into modifying engines and I asked to use his tools to replace the inner bearings. We get to talking about his latest TC Frankenmotor project and he starts pulling all this SE stuff out...the cams mounted on the support plate with the oil pump, 10:1 (I think) SE pistons, high compression SE heads, jugs, all stuff that he had put on and then taken off and was just laying around. I took the cams and the tools. When I got home, he called me and said that if I wanted that other stuff to come and get it we would work some kind of compensation out later. Y'all convinced me that I cannot do this half-*** so I am headed up there tomorrow to get the heads and pistons.
He said that the heads alone should be enough compression increase for those cams if I didn't want to screw around with changing pistons (and I don't if I can help it). Any thoughts on that?
Back story, I inspected my tensioners on my stock stage 1 2001 FXD TC88 and they were past needing to be changed. I knew a close family member was heavy into modifying engines and I asked to use his tools to replace the inner bearings. We get to talking about his latest TC Frankenmotor project and he starts pulling all this SE stuff out...the cams mounted on the support plate with the oil pump, 10:1 (I think) SE pistons, high compression SE heads, jugs, all stuff that he had put on and then taken off and was just laying around. I took the cams and the tools. When I got home, he called me and said that if I wanted that other stuff to come and get it we would work some kind of compensation out later. Y'all convinced me that I cannot do this half-*** so I am headed up there tomorrow to get the heads and pistons.
He said that the heads alone should be enough compression increase for those cams if I didn't want to screw around with changing pistons (and I don't if I can help it). Any thoughts on that?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
All these parts were installed as an upgrade package on a carbureted 2004 TC-88 and were taken off after around 1000 miles when my nephew decided he wanted to go in a radically different direction and build a Frankenmotor. When he offered it all to me, I was thinking about all of what had to be done just to swap out to the upgrade parts and was looking for alternate considerations that I have no experience with.
I was thinking that I could just change the cams and ride on but that obviously cannot happen and that I should either just replace the tensioners and put my stock 88 back together and ride on or put the SE upgrade package back the way it was on his engine.
I am headed out tomorrow to pick up the rest of the upgrade parts. I will let y'all know how it goes...
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Texas
The outer one looks like it might have 28K miles on it, but I am not too sure the inner one has ever been replaced even though it was supposed to have been.
outer
this doesn't look like 28K miles...
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,763
Likes: 2,597
From: san antonio
As has been said, the OP would be well advised to find out if the nephew knows chamber volume, piston dome volume or the part numbers of the heads and pistons. HD has several SE head and/or piston offerings that are very different from one another. Knowing exactly what one is working with before bolting together a bunch of parts makes the difference between success and failure. The SE257 cams have a very late intake close and will require the right combination of piston dome and chamber volume to make any power below 3500 rpms.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
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From: Texas
As has been said, the OP would be well advised to find out if the nephew knows chamber volume, piston dome volume or the part numbers of the heads and pistons. HD has several SE head and/or piston offerings that are very different from one another. Knowing exactly what one is working with before bolting together a bunch of parts makes the difference between success and failure. The SE257 cams have a very late intake close and will require the right combination of piston dome and chamber volume to make any power below 3500 rpms.
Besides, my nephew has done this a few times and he is just right up the road if I get into trouble.
The parts are available and I understand what I am doing, I just have never done it before. I am in the middle of dealing with the worn out tensioners and waiting for a tool I ordered to come in tomorrow and exploring performance upgrade options.
When I asked him about using the SE heads and cams without the pistons, he went off on a discussion on compression and volume and gasket size and how to measure volume...in general, it depends.
That was the questions I posed here to see what other folks thought.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
If that is your attitude, then why come here and ask for help in the first place? We know a few things as we have been there before and are trying to help. Proceed with whatever it is you are doing, after all, trial and error is the best way to go...
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,763
Likes: 2,597
From: san antonio
I appreciate your candor but if knowing exactly what you are doing and what the outcome will be is a requirement before attempting anything, then nothing will ever get done...that's how we learn... Besides, my nephew has done this a few times and he is just right up the road if I get into trouble. The parts are available and I understand what I am doing, I just have never done it before. I am in the middle of dealing with the worn out tensioners and waiting for a tool I ordered to come in tomorrow and exploring performance upgrade options. When I asked him about using the SE heads and cams without the pistons, he went off on a discussion on compression and volume and gasket size and how to measure volume...in general, it depends.
That was the questions I posed here to see what other folks thought.
Besides, my nephew has done this a few times and he is just right up the road if I get into trouble. The parts are available and I understand what I am doing, I just have never done it before. I am in the middle of dealing with the worn out tensioners and waiting for a tool I ordered to come in tomorrow and exploring performance upgrade options. When I asked him about using the SE heads and cams without the pistons, he went off on a discussion on compression and volume and gasket size and how to measure volume...in general, it depends. That was the questions I posed here to see what other folks thought.
Can anybody offer any feedback on this setup? Any thoughts are appreciated.
The above was your OP question which has been asked and answered; no, the SE257 cams will not be compatible with a stock top end and the motor will be a turd. It might be a turd if you install the cams, heads and pistons; can't say for sure without knowing some of the other information that has been posted for your consideration. But, hey, if you are not interested in the results, have the extra $$ and the time to make the changes you might have to make to get the motor running right, then trial and error seems a good fit and you don't need any advice from this forum.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
I came here because I planned replace the tensioners and kinda fell into these performance parts, and I wanted to see what folks who would know thought about the different options I was brainstorming. I received positive feedback and that was what I needed to know to make informed decisions.
I did not mean to come off as if I already knew the answers to the questions I was asking or brushing aside the advice I was receiving. It wasn't, it all was important. I did not want to tear down the top end and wanted to know if the cam could be used without the top end work. The answer I received was unanimously no, it would not work. I really did not expect that my continued considering to go ahead and do it anyway would offend anyone.
Anyway, I have the tools and the cylinders, heads, pistons, cams, and carb from this upgrade but I am going to take my time to check them all out, and put in the research, make sure I have all the bits and pieces on hand, and try to get it right the first time.
In the meantime, I will just change the tensioners and inner bearings and ride.
Thanks again to those who respectfully offered their honest opinions.
I did not mean to come off as if I already knew the answers to the questions I was asking or brushing aside the advice I was receiving. It wasn't, it all was important. I did not want to tear down the top end and wanted to know if the cam could be used without the top end work. The answer I received was unanimously no, it would not work. I really did not expect that my continued considering to go ahead and do it anyway would offend anyone.
Anyway, I have the tools and the cylinders, heads, pistons, cams, and carb from this upgrade but I am going to take my time to check them all out, and put in the research, make sure I have all the bits and pieces on hand, and try to get it right the first time.
In the meantime, I will just change the tensioners and inner bearings and ride.
Thanks again to those who respectfully offered their honest opinions.
Last edited by skinman13; Mar 13, 2017 at 06:24 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 627
Likes: 47
From: Nunda
If you are taking the whole upgrade kit from the previous motor, and it ran good.
Why the concern?? If you truly believe it ran good then go with it.
It almost sounds like you are second guessing how well it ran before??
Why the concern?? If you truly believe it ran good then go with it.
It almost sounds like you are second guessing how well it ran before??