Flathead cam recommendations???

[Chris Wiehle]

I am looking for a cam to throw in my '53 8ba flathead. I do not want to do any valve/headwork so I will probably just want to stick with a stage 1 type. I am putting on a 2x2 and headers also. Anybody have any suggestions for me?
Thanks Chris

[286merc]

WTF is a Stage 1 Type? Your talking flattys here boy so use the correct terms http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ive tried many brands and now use Schneider. They have possibly the largest selection plus excellent tech support. Call them for suggestions on a stock displacement engine but I would think a 270F/365 would be the absolute max without destroying low end torque. No head work required.
Reds also carries Schneider.
Been thinking about trying a Litero(sp) L100 but that is a bit hairy for a stocker.

You realize you also need adjustable lifters which means pulling the valves anyway. So you might as well put in hi flow Chevy 1.5" replacements. Also probably a good idea to put in new springs unless you have the means to test what you have.

You just dont "throw" a cam in a flatty!

[Smokin Joe]

So 286merc, what do you think of the Isky 88 cam. That's what I chose for my 276. Using Chevy 1.6 valves. Was hoping for a little more low end than the standard 400Jr. Someday, I'll catch up and get this thing out of the machine shop. LOL.

[FLAT6]

I was thinkin about using a schneider grind like that as well. I was gonna try an L-100 as Ol' Ron suggests, but am a bit nervous to have such a lopey cam since the flatty will be in a daily driver that will hit some bad stop and go traffic. I also have questions about using the chevy valves, they can be ground on the stem to to help clearance problems, but the bottom of the stem has a hardened tip only about 1/8 of an inch. If you grind away at the hardened tip, you get closer to the soft steel on the shaft, weakening the valve, right?? Sorry to steal the post, but I just wanted to talk to 286merc about this since he is very knowledgable. Thanks
Mike

[Flat Ernie]

[ QUOTE ]
I also have questions about using the chevy valves, they can be ground on the stem to to help clearance problems, but the bottom of the stem has a hardened tip only about 1/8 of an inch. If you grind away at the hardened tip, you get closer to the soft steel on the shaft, weakening the valve, right??

[/ QUOTE ]

Mock it all up & see - many cams are ground on a smaller base circle than stock & consequently, there is plenty of adjustment in the lifters to accomodate the longer valve stem. Last one I built used an Isky 400Jr & 1.6 Chev valves on the intakes & didn't need any trimming.

If, however, you do need to trim the valves, consider using lash caps...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[286merc]

So 286merc, what do you think of the Isky 88 cam.

I havent been an Isky fan for ages. They lock you into using their spring kit and current thinking is that stock springs are more than adequate for all except flat out racing. I like the option of being able to swap cams at minimal expense plus I have my doubts of the lobe longevity with such high pressures.
The 88 is an oddball grind for them with very little lift but long duration. Compares closely to the Schneider 260F/326.

Ive heard (rumor?) that Isky has redesigned their profiles by computer but havent talked to any users yet.

Check out this page, that is just a fraction of grinds they have on file.

http://www.schneidercams.com/ford-flathead.htm




I was thinkin about using a schneider grind like that as well. I was gonna try an L-100 as Ol' Ron suggests, but am a bit nervous to have such a lopey cam since the flatty will be in a daily driver that will hit some bad stop and go traffic. I also have questions about using the chevy valves, they can be ground on the stem to to help clearance problems, but the bottom of the stem has a hardened tip only about 1/8 of an inch. If you grind away at the hardened tip, you get closer to the soft steel on the shaft, weakening the valve, right?? Sorry to steal the post, but I just wanted to talk to 286merc about this since he is very knowledgable. Thanks
Mike

Mike, are you planning on doing it the old way with stock lifters? In that case you will need to have the stems rehardened. Not expensive, just a big pain to pull everything apart again.
If you use adjustables you have more than enough range to compensate for the .010" longer stem.
Even Ron doesnt suggest the L100 on anything under his trademark 258's.

[fuel pump]

[ QUOTE ]
I havent been an Isky fan for ages. They lock you into using their spring kit and current thinking is that stock springs are more than adequate for all except flat out racing

[/ QUOTE ]

Carl,
I used Red's Lincoln Zepher springs with an Isky MAX-1. Is that a no no?

[286merc]

Rich, Isky requires dual springs with 115 # compressed to 1.687". Special retainers also. If that is what you got from Red, should be OK. I havent used Isky cams or LZ springs since the 70's. And that was in the 36 5 window I drove to Peoria when I lived just outside Chicago.

[FLAT6]

Thanks for the info Carl, I was wondering because an old machinist I know wasn't too keen on the idea of grinding those hardened tips. I was goin to run stock lifters, but I don't feel like having to grind the valve stems, so I am gonna pay out the $160 for adjustability. My motor is only gonna be about 250 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif, so I will stay away from the L-100, but I do have a secret plan to use that grind in another flatty I have in the works http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif. You may know me from the Fordbarn, my name over there is Mikey , you turned me on to this forum and it is as great as you said it was. Thanks again
Mike

[DrDano]

I have been running an Isky 77B. I'm pleased with it so far. I'm running dual 94's and aftermarket offy heads. It idles really nicely and makes a decent amount of power. Might be worth a look.

[Flatdog]

A Isky MAX 1 with lincoln or Isky single springs will work just fine .Great street cam went 15.59 in my coupe.I have tryed double springs with a crower roller cam .Lot of work to use double spings, no reward that I see .I see no need to use double springs ,I have run 400jr ,MCF 7/8 grind, MAX 1 and crower roller all with good results to 5200.

[av8]

Thanks for the Schneider link, Carl. I just ordered a cam for my new truck motor yesterday from Edgers, a young, local cam grinder who has one of John DeLong's machines and most of his old patterns. The young man is dedicated to his craft and is very good. Ed Binggeli has checked a number of his cams and says he's dead-bang on target every time.

The 400 Jr. in my roadster was considerably out of spec, and that in combination with not needing that much lift and wanting better bottom end led me to try something different. The cam Edgers is grinding for me has 264 degrees duration (seat to seat), 0.343 lift, and 112 degrees of lobe separation. The design is based on duty -- daily driver, plus tow/push for the salt roadster and Fuller's 'liner, and good highway cruise with decent fuel conomy, all in a 255-plus Mercury. I'll let you know how it does.

[286merc]

Mike, Im continually amazed at how much stuff keeps getting recycled out your way. Around here they recycle buildings but scrap all the machinery!

Does your friend have patterns for a 324 Olds or Ford Y Block? Ive got a few backburner projects.

[Chris Wiehle]

Turns out the guy that used to build our circle track motors used to be a Flathead afficienado. Anyways I'm gonna have him grind the seats and valves and that crap.

[av8]

I'll ask him, Carl, and let you know what I find out next week. I'm thinking that there's probably a good and interesting story in what Earl Edgers is doing, and I'm going to talk to him about it when I pick up my cam.

BTW, Earl's cams retail for $175, including Parkerizing. Beats the ass off of Isky and most other grinders as well.

[22 track]

Who is a good source for adjustable lifters? A friend who is building a flathead was quoted $223 for adjustable lifters from one place. Another sold them for $139, but had none in stock or schedule for getting any. $160 sounds good to him.

[Psychobilly Boi]

hey 286 / others,

anyone can give me an idea of what to expect with this cam on an otherwise stock 8ba:
intake
26-59 at .012" valve clearance ,
Duration 265 degree ,
lift at valve .319"



Exhaust
70-12 at .014" valve clearance
Duration 262 degree
Lift at valve .317"

Danny

[av8]

Borrowing on an old joke, 22 track, a fellow asks "How much are your adjustable lifters?"

"$223," the fellow replies.

"$223!" the buyer screams. "The guy down the street sells 'em for $139!"

"Then buy 'em from him," says the seller.

"He's out of stock," says the buyer.

"When we're out of stock," says the seller, "our lifters are $120!"

[286merc]

Danny, I think that you have the exhaust opening backward http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

With not much above a stock 52-3 cam lift I'm assuming that is gross duration which would put the .050" duration around 220-230.
End result is barely noticable over a 52-3 stocker but good for a slight boost over earlier ones. Maybe 15 hp with the EAB heads.

[thirtytwo]

i have a 49 merc motor bored to 3-5/16 ,offy heads ,intake 2-97 running 39 trans and a 3.00:1 8''had a stock cam in it,

switched to reds zepher springs and a edggy (santa rosa)400jr copy thought it would kill the bottom end, but the car pulls way harder than the stock cam, and sounds like a hotrod now....

i was getting 19mpg now its around 16-17,but it sounds cool now!!! a little kiss was all the heads needed on a few cylinders, so dont let the headwork worry you

[Psychobilly Boi]

Hey 286,

I probably do... i copied that from an email sent to me. A fellow HAMBer and goo friend described it as a mild 3/4 cam whilst another said it would be a waste of time.

I was looking for somehting to spice up the stock mill whilst i build me better motor.

danny

[ QUOTE ]
Danny, I think that you have the exhaust opening backward http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

With not much above a stock 52-3 cam lift I'm assuming that is gross duration which would put the .050" duration around 220-230.
End result is barely noticable over a 52-3 stocker but good for a slight boost over earlier ones. Maybe 15 hp with the EAB heads.

[/ QUOTE ]