Howards Cams

A Racing Legacy Built on American Performance Since 1945

Howards Cams & Racing Components traces its roots back to 1945, when founder Howard Johansen launched the business as Howards Power & Racing Equipment — a small but ambitious manufacturer dedicated to producing precision racing camshafts. Over eight decades, that singular focus has grown into one of the most respected names in performance engine building, covering everything from street machines to top-level competition vehicles.

When Howard and his wife retired in 1965, his son Jerry took the helm and carried the brand forward through 1985, earning a reputation as one of the top engine builders of his era. Under Jerry's leadership, the company ran a series of "Howards Cams Rattler" and "Howards Cams Special" top fuel drag cars as real-world test beds for new product development — a philosophy of on-track validation that remains central to the brand today. Howards has drawn on the expertise of racers competing in circle track, drag racing, road racing, mud bog, and marine events to inform every product it designs.

In 1998, Howards Cams relocated to an all-new, fully retooled facility in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and rebranded as Howards Cams & Racing Components. That transition brought an expanded product catalog that now includes precision American-made forged steel connecting rods, crankshafts, billet main caps, forged pistons, and a comprehensive range of valvetrain components to complement its legendary camshaft lineup.

What Makes Howards Cams Stand Apart

Every engine camshaft that leaves the Howards facility is manufactured on dedicated high-precision CNC cam grinding machines, using the highest-grade race-quality cores available. Hydraulic and mechanical flat tappet camshafts are 100% Rockwell hardness checked and Parkerized to ensure exceptional quality control standards. The brand's signature Max Certified Cam & Lifter Sets go even further, incorporating batch testing and verification on an Adcole 911NT — widely considered the premier measurement instrument for camshafts in the industry — and are backed by a 5-year warranty.

Matching the camshaft to the right engine valve lifter is equally critical, and Howards offers an extensive selection including hydraulic flat tappet, hydraulic roller, solid flat tappet, and solid roller lifter options. The brand's RaceMax mechanical roller lifters feature taller lifter bodies for added performance clearance, while its Direct Lube lifters are engineered for dependable oiling in high-demand applications.

Rounding out the top of the valvetrain, Howards produces a full line of engine valve springs — from inverted conical designs to triple Pro-Alloy mechanical roller springs — as well as convenient engine valve spring kits that bundle springs with matching retainers and locks for a complete, properly matched installation. Whether you're building a budget-friendly street performer or an all-out race engine, Howards Cams provides the components to get the most out of every revolution.

Applications Spanning Street to Strip

Howards Cams supports an impressively broad range of platforms, with particular depth in classic American V8 applications including small block and big block Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Ford, and AMC engines. The brand's cam selection extends to V6 applications as well, ensuring that enthusiasts across the spectrum — from novice builders to the most sophisticated professional race teams — can find the right combination of lift, duration, and lobe separation to meet their power goals.