Isky 404A cam - Harley Davidson grind?

Jason in TX

Jason in TX

Well-known member
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.

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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.
 
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
 
jetmek said:
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
Click to expand...

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

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