Is it possible to get around 80 horsepower out of a twin cam 88 with just cams, carb, and pipe without breaking the bank? If so what would be some good setups as far as which cams, carb, and pipe?

 

Chasing those numbers is in IMO useless, it is called 'bar Power' as in power only useful to talk about hanging out, the Maximum Power usually occurs around 5000 RPM, way out of our usual riding habits which is anywhere between 2200-3500 .. or 4000 if you are aggressive.

So, just my 2 cents, it is possible to get 80, but it does not mean anything, a Softail with 70 Max with the proper low end torque cam and Pipes can still spin circles around that 80 HP bike.

 

Call fuel moto they can recommend a cam to suit you and tell you what to expect also excellent customer serv

 

Torque is where it's at. A good torque cam and some head work will put you where you want to be. Check my sig, the engine and head work ran about $1000, but some labor was covered by warranty for the valve seal issue.

 

Short answer is maybe and depends very much on your definition of breakng the bank. A stock TC88 makes about 60HP/70TQ in round numbers and with a Stage I upgrade (pipes and air filter) about 70HP/80TQ; round numbers. As someone said, torque is what you should be looking at; horsepower is a function of torque.

It will be a challenge with cams, carb and pipe but you are looking at about $1200 and keeping the OEM carb but rejetting. Throw in a Mikuni carb and you are looking at another $300-$400. Cams would be Andrews 26 or SE204 and pipe would be V&H Propipe; rejet the CV40. This might not get you there but with a good tune, maybe. You would need to pull the heads and have a competition valve job and about .040" shave off the heads to get compression up a bit to even have a chance.

Another approach would be boring cyliknder to fit a set of SE cast pistons to increase displacement to 95"; this alone will boost compression. Throw in the cams and the competition valve job (no decking), get a good free flowing slip on(s), rejet the carb and your done. All for less money and more HP/TQ.

The devil is in the details but I think you get the picture. Don't bother trying to squeeze 80HP out of 88". For the same cost you can do have more with 95". A bit more $$ involved to replace cam tensioners and inner cam bearings which should be done while you are digging around in the cam chest. JMHO

 

Ur new and I don't think U even know that there is a thread in the Softail section and another one in the Touring section that has over 3k dyno sheets and each one will tell Ur what size motor they have, Their pipes, their cams, if they did cams and Ur be able to look at them to see where the TQ is, so It'll help U pick out Ur cams..


HERE;S the one in the Softail section..
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-softails.html


HERE's the one in the Touring section.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...r-baggers.html


If U read through this two threads U surely find some thing U like

And U'll see what it took others to do to get the TQ and HP where they wanted it.

U want TQ not HP on a harley motor, as U increase the TQ the HP will follow.

 

Great read, thanks everyone for the input.