cams
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 92
From: clinton CT
cams
I am looking for info on cams for my stock 2008 ultra. Only mods done are air cleaner and rh slipons with vh fuelpack. What should I look for company and size of cams. Any and all info will be appreciated.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 9
From: Sunny Southern California
Need to how you ride to make reccomendations. Are you an aggressive rider (like the upper RPM area) or crusier (usually below 4500RPM)? Ride solo most of the time or 2-up? Planning any other upgrades with the cams or the near future? Lots of variables in cam selection.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 698
Likes: 50
Just my $.02 here; I ride an 08 Street Glide. Rode it for the first season with just a set of slip ons and no other modifications. Following year, I added the SE Super Tuner and the SE intake/filter. Noticeable improvement but nothing to write home about. At the end of that year I added a set of Head Quarters HQ-500 cams and a dyno tune along with it. Very nice improvement indeed. Bike was way stronger from about 2,500 rpm and up. Dyno came in at 83 hp/95 tq. Last year I added a Bassani 2-1 Road Rage pipe and change the air filter element to a Zipper's Max Flow deeper element. Again this was an even bigger improvement. The 2-1 pipe improved the torque tremendously. Either way you will not lose when installing a set of cams. There are many choices out there. Just consider your riding style, and if you plan on doing any future modifications down the road....good luck !
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 98
From: Colorado Springs
I personally would look for cams with intake closing B4 40 degrees and lift less than .555 or so. These spec are not carved in stone, but for me they are a place to start. These are my personal choices to keep the cam mild and not too radical IMO. Some guys think such a cam isn't even worth doing. They'd prefer a bigger cam. I disagree. Especially in a bagger.
Lot's of guys like SE255's, there's certainly a ton of them on the used market, but they are not for me.
Do lots of reading b4 you chose. Pay attention to WHY a person likes a particular cam. Disregard posts that say "I like XXX cams!" and nothing else. Too much brand loyalty in cams IMO. Where the cam performs in the powerband and why it acts that way are what is important. Once you've got that figured out, you can make up your own mind.
07' and up Twin Cams generally respond very well to any cam change. That said, there are better and worse choices based on your personal needs.
Read, Read, and Read some more.
Last edited by ocezam; Jan 1, 2012 at 11:24 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
If you don't run much over 4500rpm, the 255 is a good choice; it's a stump puller but falls on its face just past 4000rpms. If you like to spin her up past that, the Andres 48 will pull like the 255 down low and carry on past 4500. Either would be a good choice for a cam only upgrade in a TC96. Change innner cam bearings to Torrington B168s while your are in the cam chest. You should consider putting the Fuelpak on Ebay and upgrading your fuel management system and getting a proper dyno tune to take full advantage of the performance of the cam upgrade.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Ocezam is giving good advice when he suggests that you research, then research some more. It took me about two years to decide on cams for my 96" engine, and that perseverance put me at a performance level that suits me. That performance profile might not suit you or the next guy, however.
If you aren't concerned with performance below 3k RPM you have much more to choose from. The stock 96" engine has compression that's low enough to cause low-end torque issues when most performance cams are installed with no other mods. Among those bolt-in options that won't lessen low-end torque would include the SE255, S&S 551 Easy-Start, and Andrews 48H. If midrange and top-end power is the priority and you don't care about a modest loss below 2.5-3k rpm, I would look into the SE204, Wood 555, SE254e--just to name a few.
FWIW, I hate to continually dispel rumors to the contrary, but the TC96/SE255 combo in my 96" SG does not "fall on its face above 4k rpm." What constitutes a "fall on its face" sensation is obviously up to the individual butt dyno, but mine says it ain't so. The torque curve on this setup is very flat, although you won't get the surge or peak-HP that you would from most any other performance cams. That isn't their design goal, but even so they do pull up to the 6200 rpm redline without a perceived TQ decrease, and the HP curves I've seen climb until 5200 rpm or so, then gradually decrease. I'm assuming a well-tuned setup, of course.
If you aren't concerned with performance below 3k RPM you have much more to choose from. The stock 96" engine has compression that's low enough to cause low-end torque issues when most performance cams are installed with no other mods. Among those bolt-in options that won't lessen low-end torque would include the SE255, S&S 551 Easy-Start, and Andrews 48H. If midrange and top-end power is the priority and you don't care about a modest loss below 2.5-3k rpm, I would look into the SE204, Wood 555, SE254e--just to name a few.
FWIW, I hate to continually dispel rumors to the contrary, but the TC96/SE255 combo in my 96" SG does not "fall on its face above 4k rpm." What constitutes a "fall on its face" sensation is obviously up to the individual butt dyno, but mine says it ain't so. The torque curve on this setup is very flat, although you won't get the surge or peak-HP that you would from most any other performance cams. That isn't their design goal, but even so they do pull up to the 6200 rpm redline without a perceived TQ decrease, and the HP curves I've seen climb until 5200 rpm or so, then gradually decrease. I'm assuming a well-tuned setup, of course.
Last edited by iclick; Jan 1, 2012 at 01:15 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
I think there was another thread on this if you do a search... Lots of options as far as cams go, search here, other forums and talk to your local tuner. Call Bob Wood.... Whatever cam anyone has tends to be the best....
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 11
From: Southern Nevada (Pahrump)
I'm getting ready to install the SE-255 cams in my 08 Roadking. After reading many of the different cam threads I feel these will fit "my style" of riding. I'm NOT a top speed type of rider. I enjoy quick acceleration light to light & cruisin down the super slab at 70-80. From everything I've read, the 255s will fill the bill for my style of riding. Your riding style may however differ. Also, I don't think the price can be beat but new or low mile take offs. New, $300 used typically shipped to your door for $150+\-. Good luck on your choice.
Now if I could just get my friggin true duals already! Come on "Brown"!
Now if I could just get my friggin true duals already! Come on "Brown"!