I need some help on deciding the right cam for my 1990 fxsts and I've narrowed it down to a woods 6, or a dave mackie 530 or 580. Heads will be ported and polished possibly bigger springs if needed and I'll be running 10:1 wiseco pistons, s&s super e carb, dyna ignition and 2-1 exhaust. I dont know enough about the lift, duration, etc... numbers to know how to make the right decision. I dont want to go too big or too small. Fyi, I don't usually like riding 2 up and I like light-to-light racing with my buddys. Please help. Any info or suggestions are appreciated.

 

Woods 6 gets a lot of good reviews around here.

 

Woods cams are are known to perform but are more touchy to lifter depth settings because of the steep lobes, the W6 hits hard down low and midrange. There are several cam/compression proven Woods cam formulas that plain out get the job done, the only ill affects of a steep lobe Woods cam is SOME, not all engine produce noise, my W6H was undetectable and was dependable for 6 plus years.

The Dave Mackie 580 is a old school power cam using higher lift, bigger duration but earlier intake timing to keep the bottom end, Woods uses this design in it's W6H except the Mackie has more duration, Mackie just had this design years ago. I gave a friend a Mackie 580, it is in a 80" Evo 10.0-1 with slightly cleaned up heads in a light bike, he embarrasses bigger cubed engines and a handful in a street race. The Mackie doesn't use steep lobes to get it power and not as brutal on the valve train.

Hotrod should be along shortly to give you a formula for a W8 cam setup, in a light bike you can jump the numbers up and move the power a little deeper in the rpm's. If you want short hard power then the W6 will do it but a engine set up like the W8 or Mackie 580 is going to go around you in 3rd or 4th gear. Don't mention anything about 3hp to Hotrod, he gets touchy.

 

Thank you for the Intro... LOL....

Bagger is right on. The w6 at 10.2:1 with stage II heads and the E with a good 2-1 will manage 90/90 and maybe a tad more and will out do a lot of the Bigger motors currently available... with the right gearing..

The w8 build at 10.75:1 Stage II, E carb and 2-1 will manage 95/95 maybe a tad more and a little harder on the valve train but nothing that can't be adjusted out.. And from 3200 rpm up, HANG ON BABY....

Loved both those builds...... And yes with Wiseco pistons..

Give Scott a call he's been building this combo for many many years...

 

Best advice is to consult an expert and Scott at Hillside is just that man, with tons of experience with Woods cams. He can port your heads to match and no doubt supply everything else you need.

 

On your cam numbers, you can run a 580 or 590 lift cam with beehive valve springs installed and still be dependable. The higher lift cams with more duration can carry power deeper into the rpms where a basic Harley engine is done at 4500. If you have no desire to run into 5500-6000 rpm's then the 580-590 cams would be a waste.

The Mackie 530 would need new valve springs because lift over 510 isn't considered bolt in, new beehives valve springs would still be a good install because sometimes a little extra power turns into a little more power and may install a bigger cam in the future plus peace of mind from a spring breaking and eating a piston, maybe more.

Cam choices can drive you crazy, V-Thunder has good cams easy on valve trains 3020 in a light bike, Andrews EV27 is a hall of fame cam, Woods is known to perform, S&S has dependable products, Mackie stuff isn't advertised heavily but works. At your targeted 10.0-1 pistons and a 40-42 intake timing cam you are in the right direction, if valve to piston clearance is known and OK, adding .030 head gasket is a plus, this is where good head guys come in.

 

Hey just curious I have a 1999 heritage softail with a evo motor
i recently just did screaming eagle high compression 10:1 pistons bored .10 over with bigger stainless 141 valves and all new seals and guides and had the heads fully ported and polished runing a Samson sidewinder pipes and Arleness air cleaner. It has a Andrews ev27 cam and I have the stock cv 40mm carb that has been jeted
it only has 300 miles on it. Is there a bigger cam I could be running for more power without causing any damage to my motor and should I put a Makuni 48mm carb on there or s&s super E
any advice is appreciated it as I’m stuck on what to do from here

 

Welcome to Evoland. Lots of good info here, but it's best to start your own thread.

 

EV27 is a W6 in numbers, W8 needs more compression.

At 10.0-1 a cam at 42 or less intake closing is a good target or it will be lazy in the 2500-3000 rpm range where a Harley runs most of the time. Assuming
you have 600 lift springs, Andrews 46 works well in a light bike, that Mackie 580 is a old school dark horse, Woods W6H is a W6 with a 590 lift - it hits hard like your EV27 but carries to 5600-5800 but fades from the smaller duration, many cam choices not listed. What I like about the Mackie is 42 intake closing(keeps compression) 250+ duration allows upper side power and a 580 lift which isn't a killer on the valve train and perfect for a light bike. EV46 is proven also. If you don't have 600 lift springs then EV27 or W6 is your friend.

Mikuni 42 is all you need for a 80", 48 is for a 120 hp motor, 45 is for 100 hp engines but can work with some jetting if a steal comes up on one but the 42 is catsazz with throttle response.