Technical Cam regrind core question

Do any of the cam regrind companies buy flathead ford V8 cam cores?

 

Good question - I have some new ones from Sears I bought at an estate sale along with a bucket full - actually a sack - of new oil pump gears and some other odd new flathead Y block stuff.

 

Some time ago I sold several 8ba cams to @KiWinUS

 

Schneider racing cams buys cam cores. They reground one for me and gave me credit for a core.

 

I believe Oregon Cams does- I remember they would give you a discount if you would purchase a reground cam as opposed to a new core. IIRC they will also regrind lifters

 

Please forgive my inexperience, but I’ve never used or seen a reground camshaft. When the regrinding process is finished, do they re-harden the lobes? Is the same thing done with reground lifters? Lastly, can they take a stock core and regrind it into a “performance” camshaft? Thanks for the information!

 

I would like to know the answer to Truckdoctor's question

 

Hi Andy ,
No,,,,,regrinding doesn’t cut through the hardness .
The same with regrinding lifters,,,,it’s deeper than what is removed .
If you have ever seen it done,,,,,,most of the material removed is from the base circle .
Very little is removed from the nose of the lobe,,,,unless severe wear is present .
And yes,,,,,performance profiles can be put onto stock cams,,,,,within reason .
Very radical profiles are usually incompatible with stock cams,,,,for the simple reason that you also have to grind the shaft between the lobes to clear the lifters .
So much is removed from the base ,,,,that the shaft core will get thin .
And since high lifts require high spring pressure,,,,,it is too hard on the core itself,,,,,which might cause a failure .
Regrinds work very well,,,,,and many shops offer that service ,,,,,you just have to check .
And really it makes sense ,,,,,all of the hard work has been done.
They clean it ,,,check it,,,all the critical dimensions are already there ,,,,,set it up and grind away .

Tommy

 

Here is a pic of my Flathead cam that Pete reground for me .
It is a 3/8 Potvin profile,,,,and should be a super good cam when I get around to putting it together .
He also ground the shaft between the lobes,,,,,stock flathead cams don’t have much meat available at the base circle to start with .
Isn’t it a thing of beauty,,,,,great job in my opinion !

Tommy

 

Back in the day, many performance cams were reground on stock cores, that's how most of the big cam companies started. By reducing the base circle, lift is increased and the ramps are extended for more duration. Lifter/pushrod length needs to be adjusted to make up the difference in the cam circle.

 

learn something new every day

 

"they" also used to add a lot hard face weld to the lobes for the big grinds, still do for the one-offs, hold up well untill they don't.

 

I don't see how you would gain any lift, but do see the increase in duration. I guess if the base circle is smaller, it would make it seem like more lift, but wouldn't the top of the lobe still be the same distance from the center of the cam?

 

The lift is determined by what is happening around the cam. I/e the difference between its open and closed position.

 

Lift is the difference between the bottom of the base circle and the top of the lobe. After you adjust the valves to match the reduced base circle they will open further when the lifter is on the tip of the lobe.

 

OK, that makes sense. I didn't think about that.

 

exactly. try using stock flathead valves with an isky 400jr!

 

I have two sets of OE Hemi lifters at Oregon cam. I should get them back pretty soon.

 

Much appreciated. Thanks again.

 

PM me with what you have. The condition of each one to include what fuel pump lone looks like & what you want for them. Pics would help. Thanks

 

Here is one of my KiWi-L100 cams ready for shipping. Note “Parkerized” finish on lobes just like a new cam from one of your big name grinders.

 

Been done thousands of times.

 

Looked at mine today and that's what's on the lobes. Thinking I might run one over to Bass to check out.

 

Thank you to all of the Guys that responded to my questions! Once again, the HAMB rocks, and teaches!

 

With all the complaints of flat tappet cams failing during break-in, I wonder if it would be worth a few extra bucks to go with one that's been "parkerized"? The process doesn't seem to be used as commonly in recent years as it was years ago. Is it a terribly complicated or expensive procedure?

 

It doesn't hurt anything to Parkerize FLATHEAD cams but it doesn't help anything either. (assuming the finish is adaquate)
The lobe and lifter loading is far less than in an overhead valve engine.
As an example, the very popular 404A radius lifter grind has one of the highest velocity rates of any flathead cam. Only the 505A is more. Properly installed the journals will wear out long before any of the lobes wear out.

The Parkerizing process is quite simple. You mask the journals with some kind of tape and dip the cam in hot water for about a minute. Then dip it in the juice till it stops bubbling. You lift the cam out and dip it in hot water. (the 2 hot water tanks are separate) You lift it out, let it dry and polish the journals. Then squirt it with some kind of lube oil while it is still warm. The lube oil is essential. Contrary to popular opinion, Parkerizing WILL rust if not oiled.

 

Little known or noticed facts. On all of our flathead cams, the oil grooves in the front and center journals are deepened and widened for more oil flow. All side surfaces including journals and lobes are machined parallel for less oil drag. The paralleling was not noticable on the dyno with a street engine but made a difference worth doing in an engine with a dry sump or vacuum crankcase. Oil does not like to stick to a smooth surface.

 

1007B ground by Pete1 for the 59 engine going in my 41 p/u. Very nice!