I just checked my cam chain tensioners at 61K miles and they both needed replacing. Immediately.

I got a crazy good family deal on a cam support plate with SE 257 cams and new cam bearings and tensioners mounted, along with new inner bearings and SE adjustable pushrods, and with less than 1000 miles on it. The support plates are the same and I have fitted it in, so I am just waiting for an inner bearing puller/installer to come in to swap it all out.

My question...are these SE 257 cams going to be compatible with a stock top end? I really didn't want to upgrade the top end right now, just use the cams with the stock top end for awhile and then upgrade later. Other than rejetting, is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Can anybody offer any feedback on this setup? Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

I wouldn't use the SE-257 in a stock motor. There's not enough compression for the cam to do what it needs to do and you'll end up with a dog for a motor . You'd be much better off with the SE-204.

 

The would be a bad move. A se257 barely turns on with 10.5 compression let alone stock.
Stick with stock unless you find a deal on a tw21 or something.

 

I agree with above comments. No use getting a great deal on cams if they don't suit

 

Thanks for the input. There are tweaked SE heads and pistons with the package and it was too sweet a deal to pass by plus I have a CV44 for when I put it all together. I just didn't want to tear the top end down right now and since I was already having to replace the cam tensioners and inner bearings, I thought about just putting the cam in now and do up the rest later...

As long as it will not damage the engine, I think I will just go on and put them in and see what happens...experience is the best teacher. Besides, I can always finish with the top-end if it doesn't work.

 

It's your bike dude. It's not going to damage anything but I wouldn't install them just to turn around and take them back out a day later because that's what you're going to do.

 

You will damage the motor. There's too much lift for stock heads.

 

Do it right your cams have to match your compression numbers and you get your heads done to youp cams specs. If you what a turd throw anything in it and even a canned map it might run...Find your self a a set of andrews48 or something the will do you justice with stock compression. Good luck been there done that..

 

OP, is this the 2001 super glide in your signature? If so, you'll need to upgrade your valve springs, and you will be seriously lacking in compression for those cams, as has been mentioned before.

 

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?