Which cam grind will go with the HD Hydraulic Conversion kit ?
Brand new cams, but it seems the Andrews kit is coming to 850$ shipped cheapest (including cams) and this is from AmercianClassic which I get very bad response from other members here.
The Harley kit would be 450 and I can pick up a cheaper set of cams I will save a 100$ probably ! I think.
I already have the SE tappered EZ install pushrods .
Last edited by oct1949; Feb 14, 2018 at 03:53 AM.
Brand new cams, but it seems the Andrews kit is coming to 850$ shipped cheapest (including cams) and this is from AmercianClassic which I get very bad response from other members here.
The Harley kit would be 450 and I can pick up a cheaper set of cams I will save a 100$ probably ! I think.
I already have the SE tappered EZ install pushrods .
I hate to quote a price,as this is his product. but I will say it is less than 850.00. Give John a call.
American Classic Motors Andrews Kit + N Cam = 790$ shipped or 850$ shipped including the 2001 Ignition trigger sproket.
Hekro Kit + NCam = 840$ shipped or 909$ shiped witht eh 2001 Ignition trigger sproket.
They are the same price except for American classic charging 50$ less for shipping.
I like to support the working man usually and not a big fan of American Classic motors as they pushed around many members here, and this is why I have been trying to avoid them, but the Harley kit can be had for 400% shipped and the Cams can be done under 300$ shipped for sure ..
I think the Harley kit wins if you are having your mechanic do the work for you.
Check with Chicago HD the tensioner kit with their 20% discount are about $ 350.00 there are SE Kits listed on E Bay for $ 365.00 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harle...Q5fAccessories) and cams are about $ 239.00 from Chicago HD
Last edited by XARAN; Oct 19, 2010 at 10:36 AM.
Don't want to muddy the waters but might want to talk to Ralph (Hogmaster) at Racengineering@gmail.com. I put a set of his RACE .520 lift cams in my 88" Softy with the hydro conversion parts. Bike pulls very strong and consistently all the way through the RPM range.
Cost was comparable or less than the kits quoted above. For the hydro conversion parts I basically put together my own kit using OEM parts from 07+ Softails. Oil pump, support plate, tensioners, a few screws, spacers... I have all the part numbers for anyone interested in going this route.
You can purchase the parts for the '07 and later hydraulic conversion package from Zanottis for $370. Just order the parts from the Andrews parts list. The only parts not clearly addressed in that list are the fasteners used to attach the tenioner holders to the cam plate; I get mine from a local hardware store but anybody with a later parts manual can cough up the part numbers for those screws. That should bring your upgrade cost down to less than $700.
Nothing wrong with the hybrid kit but there have been some problems with the billet plate. You can also order the hybrid kit from Zanotti's and save some money.
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
American Classic Motors Andrews Kit + N Cam = 790$ shipped or 850$ shipped including the 2001 Ignition trigger sproket.
Hekro Kit + NCam = 840$ shipped or 909$ shiped witht eh 2001 Ignition trigger sproket.
They are the same price except for American classic charging 50$ less for shipping.
I like to support the working man usually and not a big fan of American Classic motors as they pushed around many members here, and this is why I have been trying to avoid them, but the Harley kit can be had for 400% shipped and the Cams can be done under 300$ shipped for sure ..
I think the Harley kit wins if you are having your mechanic do the work for you.
I thought the last time I priced the kit it was less than that Sorry.
On the Harley SE conversion setup, its not really a true conversion. The inner link belt chain on the inner cam sprockets is not replaced, only the tensioner. The link belt chains are not really a good design. They require 35 lbs of pressure to keep the chains on the sprockets. Thats one reason why Harley went to the hydraulic setup in 07+ models. There is parasitic power loss in the drive train for bikes using the older chains and tensioners; it takes power to slide the chains under the pressure of the tensioner shoes.
In contrast, the new hydraulic tensioners and roller chains only require 11 lbs of pressure. After some research, it was determined that Harley could get away with using the new hydraulic tensioners but retain the old link belt chains on the inner cam sprockets. Why? Marketing! So you could use your stock cams or any of the SE cams with the conversion setup. One of the downsides to the Harley conversion setup is noise. 11lbs of pressure trying to keep the inner chain tight when the original design called for 35 lbs; translates to chain slack slapping around and being noisy.
The Andrews kit changes both tensioners to hydraulic and both chains to the roller design. Of course that means you must select cams with roller chain sprockets. If you go with an Andrews cam, any of their N series cams will fit. The N series are their popular grinds with roller chain sprockets. Both the 21s and 26s are decent choices.
To give you a third option, I mentioned in my earlier post what I did with my cams. I bought the individual HD stock 2007+ cam parts from the inner cam bearings out. The kits are certainly easier to source (its all in one box), but piecemealing allowed me to save a few bucks and also the opportunity to tailor the parts selection if I chose to. Cam selection is the same for this option as it is for the Andrews kit. I can use any N series Andrews cam, or other cam with roller sprockets.
I chose Ralphs RACE 88 cams with .520 lift. They are made with the same materials as the Andrews cams. Racer quality and superior to the HD SEs. The 520s are true bolt-ins. I did not have to change pistons, springs, lifters, or rockers. Other than the conversion parts, everything else is stock. See my dyno sheet and the cam specs for my .520s and for comparisons to the 21s and 26s.
The 21s and my 520s are similar except for the lift. But I think the 520s are better performers. My TC88 dyno numbers are on par with what oct1949 pulled with the 26s in his TC96. And to steal strokerjlks term, I have centerfold pipes on my bike (Hooker Troublemaker Radius aka VH BR look-a-likes). Could have done better with better exhaust.
My recommendation would be the Andrews kit or buy pieces like I did. Couple with either the 520s or the 26N. You are saving a few bucks with the HD kit but Im not sure the savings is worth what you give up in terms of a full conversion setup. If you are going to convert, go all the way. Good luck and post final selection and results. Im interested to read how it all works out.








