Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?

[Jason in TX]

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.

[Tim Ayers]

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

[RalphM]

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.

[jetmek]

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

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by jetmek

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

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.

[Frank Miller]

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Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

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.

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.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Frank Miller

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.

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

[JSeery]

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

[Jason in TX]

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



inside the engine

[shansen43]

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

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

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



inside the engine

[Jason in TX]

You can still get the clips from Isky (I think). Call them: (310) 217-9232
http://www.iskycams.com/contact-us.html

There is a special tool to install them that I don't think you can get from isky anymore, but if your block is already drilled for the keepers, you don't need the special tool. You just hold the "staples" in there and bend the ends over.

Isky 404A was considered a full race cam. Usually used in dragsters. Some people say not streetable. Others have told me I'll be fine if I don't have too much spring pressure pushing on the lifters.

Originally Posted by shansen43

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

[shansen43]

Thanks Jason.

I did call ISKY yesterday and was told to talk to Ron. This was 1960's stuff and the tech didn't know if they had any of that stuff anymore. He said I needed to talk to Ron Inskandarian so that is the next step.

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

You can still get the clips from Isky (I think). Call them: (310) 217-9232
http://www.iskycams.com/contact-us.html

There is a special tool to install them that I don't think you can get from isky anymore, but if your block is already drilled for the keepers, you don't need the special tool. You just hold the "staples" in there and bend the ends over.

Isky 404A was considered a full race cam. Usually used in dragsters. Some people say not streetable. Others have told me I'll be fine if I don't have too much spring pressure pushing on the lifters.

[Ol' Ron]

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

[flatheadmurre]

Wow .
Thats some real nice stuff you got there !

[JSeery]

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

[Pete]

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.

[8CM]

Hi if you are still grinding i have a 8cm cam what can you do with that?? 1007b or potvin 3/8 its going in a 49 f100 .060 merc w. 350 holley 2 bbl... suggestions?? ive noticed the 8cm cam does pull prety good.... Rick

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by 8CM

Hi if you are still grinding i have a 8cm cam what can you do with that?? 1007b or potvin 3/8 its going in a 49 f100 .060 merc w. 350 holley 2 bbl... suggestions?? ive noticed the 8cm cam does pull prety good.... Rick

Not sure who this post is too . . . maybe Pete1? If so, contact Pete - you'll see him posting on this thread up above. I would recommend the 1007B - the 3/8 isn't needed for a smaller displacement engine like yours. You'll like the 1007B - great grind.

[Bored&Stroked]

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

[jonf]

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