Looking for some input on the quietest running easiest on valve train highest output cams for a carbureted 95" bagger, Mackie heads,Samson slip ons. Possibly going to bassani or fat cat 2-1 this winter?

 

I have had very good results with the Andrews 48H cams. Very good torque. I haven't had anyone come back complaining of valve train noise.

 

I'm running the Andrews 54H cams. Fairly quiet and lots of power.

 

Screamin Eagle-204

 

What does Mackie, your head man, suggest? Well worth asking.

 

598g., ran them after build, great power, hard hitting down low, good power to limiter but noisy and hard on valve train, cams showed a lot of scuffing after about 8K miles. Running 31g's now and they have been almost as noisy for 25K now.

 

Wow I would have thought those cams would be quiet, but if another set are as noisy then it aint your cams , its something else. 590's would be easier on the valvetrain than the 598's for sure.

 

Did this 95 build about 48K miles ago, been rattling ever since, has gotten somewhat louder over the miles but about the same with either cams. Hasn't come undon yet so?? Crank was hobanized 3 yrs ago, to rule that out. Have checked all tolerances but nothing out of spec.

 

Did you check the valve spring to lower rocker box clearance? Mine rubbed, we didn't know it and it made noises that I thought it shouldn't. We took it apart to put new seals in and we saw witness marks. If you got big springs they are probably hitting. We ground 'em for clearance, I found out afterwards SE makes 'em that way now and I coulda saved all that mess and time by spending $90. Amazing how much quieter it was after that, LOL!

 

High output and quiet valvetrain are pretty much on opposite ends of the spectrum. What's an acceptable balance for you might be different than what's acceptable to me. An early torque curve is obtainable with a low lift, easy ramps type design, but will be limited on the hp side of the equation.


You can get early torque, high horsepower cams, but they're generally the noisy ones. My TW8 cams tend to sound like a handful of pebbles in an empty beer can.


With stock cams, your twinkie valvetrain should sound a lot like a sewing machine. It's a pleasant sound. Andrews 21s are pretty close, but not well suited to high compression motors. You might want to look into some of the lower lift SE cams, like the SE204s or SE211s, depending on your compression.