Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Hello! I recently picked up a great collection of vintage flathead stuff, including a full house 3/8 by 3/8 flathead with a 404A cam, radius lifters, etc. The works.

Also in the deal was an extra "special" custom ground cam that was done especially for the previous owner. The previous owner has passed away, so this information is coming from his son who sold me the parts.

His son said that his father knew Ed Iskenderian and Ed did this special grind for him to match the Harley Davidson profile. He told me that it should make the flathead sound like a 4 harleys running at the same time!

Going off the markings scribed between the lobes on the cam, I'm trying to figure out if anyone has any info or heard anything about this type of cam.

Written on the cam is

Z98L (or maybe Z981)
12436
ISKYc
011 (or maybe QN)
404A

Pictures below.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psc6lw51yy.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...pso4pdu5wh.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psyvvm0cc7.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...pshhsdbmyh.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psz6lspdym.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psimhxlwff.jpg

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Can't help you with the cam, but that set of new lifters for the 404A are worth quite a bit.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

That is a wicked looking "toe" on those can lobes, looks like the lifters going to jump from one edge to the other.
Maybe some of the cam grinders on here can ID that one.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I think Harley gets its unique sound more from the cyl bank angle and single crank pin than from the cam...just send it to me and ill evaluate it for you ....Seriously tho I was told that was designed for circle track racing...Not much streetablity

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

That to me looks like a lot of lift and very little duration! High ramp speed!

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Harleys get some of there sound from that but most from their unique way the cylinders fire one right after other. Almost like a radial engine would vs. A true twin.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

In order to get the cam, I had to buy a few other things.... :)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps2soh17ei.jpg

inside the engine

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps0gvwo4nv.jpg

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Now, that's a beautiful sight. Reminds me of my yout

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Wow :eek:.
Thats some real nice stuff you got there !

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Got stuck will all of that just for a cam! Musta really wanted that cam.:)

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

The Harley cam was a roller profile and used roller diameters of approximately .900 give or take.
The radius on the 404 lifter is 2.00.
The cam profiles are not similar.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

As noted, you have an Isky 404-A radius cam . . . probably one of the best cams that Isky ever made. The engine valley that you show - also has an Isky 404-A in it. Looks like you bought a great collection of parts - good for you.

As Pete noted - there is nothing similar in this cam to a Harley Davidson flathead cam/profile . . . completely different designs (not only in the lifter style, but the pattern, lobe centers - everything).

If you want to get into the specifics of what you have - drop me a PM.

B&S

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I see 2 pins in each lifter bore. Is that because that engine uses roller lifters?

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Yep, keeps em from rotating(I think it's one pin, bent like a u).
Is that an Italmeccanica blower?

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Radius lifters. The key keeps them from turning.
Here is a pic of a standard 404 lifter and of a drilled ones for lightening. Some have buttons on top, some do not.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I have a technical question regarding the blown flathead: The fuel system is setup with 6 - 97's which works out to be 900 CFM at WOT. Is it possible for a flathead to take advantage of that fuel charge? By comparison I've a supercharged 392 hemi with a 750 CFM Holley 4150 that dynoed 535 HP at 5200 RPM. It seems like there is too much carburetion on that engine for its displacement. What am I missing?

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Yea, but it looks really bitchn!

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Expavr - the blower came with that Weiand 471 6x2 bolted on top. When these Italmeccanica superchargers were sold for flatheads in 1949-1950, they were rated for 4500 Cc's, or 274 cu/in. They had mounts for 2 Stromberg 97s.

The engine is a 3/8 by 3/8 296 engine, huge ports and actually had the Evans 4x2 originally on it and was intended to run nitro. It's never been fired.

A Cfm calculator says about 430 Cfm should be plenty for a 296 at 100% volumetric efficiency. That's around 3 Stromberg 97 carbs. (150 Cfm each)

I wanted to see the blower on the engine. The blower won't have that many carbs on it when I put it to use. Sure looks wild doesn't it?

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

"Sure looks wild doesn't it?" That it does....... Congratulations on your score..!!! What is the CR of the Edelbrock heads?

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Get a hold of Ron Iskenderian and se what they say about that particular cam as to the special grind.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

They don't fire one after another but they are not 360 degrees apart. As said earlier the single pin will not allow this as when one piston is at the top on compression the other is almost at the top on exhaust.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I would roll that whole engine stand complete with the flathead, blower, and carbs, into my living room, just to look at it every day. ;)
OOPS, never mind, I forgot I am married. :( You did good Jason. :cool:

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Frank

Thanks for the clarification. You are right. It's something like 315 degrees apart causing that pop-pop sound. Must have had a brain hiccup.

Tim

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Harley tried to get a patent on that not too long ago.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I think more like 12 yrs ago!!!!
Time flies when your old !!!

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

That is some collection of stuff right there!!
Is that four boxes of tipped radius lifters? I see the slots in the front three packs?
Question for Pete here,
those lifters the "tipped" one's, you've stated in earlier posts that welding on the lifters is a big no no. And that the needed length should be added to the valve stem. I've seen in old books and magazines pics of these lifters, with that added on pad on the top. Were these pads welded on? Or some other process? Did these lifters have issues?
Look forward to you thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Martin.
Sorry for hijack, but I feel relevant.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

The buttons were silver soldered on. They were put on as a convience for back yard engine builders so they wouldn't have to do either that or weld the valve stems at home.
Overall they worked good. I did see a few that showed sagging on the top due to loss of heat treat during soldering process..
I wouldn't be afraid to run lifters with buttons. We have much better springs now.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Ah! Silver soulder, makes sence.
What were the pads made of?
Thanks for reply,
Martin.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Not sure but a guess would 4130.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Thanks Pete,
Martin.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Ed Iskendarians 404A Constant Acceleration Camshaft is actually a copy of a #2 Offy Grind which is actually a copy of a Miller Grind.
If you get a chance ask Ed himself and he will tell you the story like he told me.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I run the 404A in my Dragster. I made the Radius Lifters from an old set of Hollow Johnson Lifters.
I actually show them and the Entire engine build up in the Video "Fullrace Flathead".

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Very good cam , need to watch spring pressure .The duel springs can give up #125 pressure ,hard on cam ware.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Finally! A flathead that may actually need zinc additive!!

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

I believe Isky's 404 grinds are an adaptation of Ed Winfield's number 4 profile for Offenhauser 4-cylinder engines. Offenhauser engines used radius lifters.
Potvin called his version "Eliminator", and uses flat lifters.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Hi all; I see a Power Master starter there. They engage front to back, the opposite of a Ford stocker. So the ring gear bevel is for the stock type stater. Does the ring gear need to be flipped or rebeveled for the Power Master type?? Newc

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Hi Jason , i built a 304 ci with a 404-a cam flathead and after 20k miles its still running!
Best cam i ever used .
Better than a potvin 425 eliminator.
I can compare as i built another 304 ci
With an eliminator cam .

Do you sell your spare radius lifters ?
I could use them
If so , drop me an pm

Michael

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Just a quick FYI Isky made the Radius Lifters from Original Ford Lifters.
There is enough material on Originals to do it. Be careful of lifters that may have been reground on their bottoms before making a new set of Radius Lifters.
I made mine from an old set of Johnson Adjustable's to have the ease of lash adjustment.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

Pete sometimes does sets of radius lifters for the 404-A . . . just ping him if you need a set.

Re: Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?
 

My boss has a flathead they just torn down and it has a set of lifters just like in this picture. He wants to know where a person could get a set of the pins/retainers for the lifters as well as other valve train parts.

Also on the cam it has Iskandarian Rack then 404 A. On the shaft there is a CWC but nothing else - where could I get information about the cam etc.

Thank you