Technical Cadillac Flathead Chronicles - Tell Us How You Are Doing.

Anybody out there who has experience with grinded cam for the 346 engine?
Any years back I find a NOS and the box look like original from the 50th.
She came from Clay Smith California.
The Cam has 260 Grind.
Instead of original cam, what makes 260 grind with the engine?
I have a 2 carb setup, open headers and Cyclone Heads on engine.
Any good tips?

 

Here ist the carb setup

 

He there! Nobody from the Flat-Cad-Gentlemen out there who can give me some intension?
...or any other engine expert?

 

Sorry for no response to your request, but you are probably a bit late to the party.
The hay day has passed in many regards.
I would love to help and advise you, but I have very limited knowledge in the cam dept.
Personally, I found an old family cam grinding business near to my home years a go and just too it to them and it was done.
Sadly, these kind of family business's are no longer around much any more.
I guess with having electric cars forced upon us now, anybody still in business would be considering their future or already gone.
If you do source any information please post it here for the good of others.

Best wishes, Russ.

 

Changing spark plugs looks like fun........

 

That cam with the carb setup and heads you have should run good. I have a potvin cam in my Flatcad but I haven’t got it running yet hopefully it will run soon I will have to check the specs when I get back to the shop in a week or so

 

Very thankfull for yours response! Will wait what you check out wrenchbender.
Russ, you are right, would be more difficult to find good machine shops here in Europe too.
Change spark plugs is easier like it looks on my picture .
The carbs are 2 x Carter WCD 581s. Both are NOS from the military cadillac engine.
The 581s are with bigger main jets and without lot of lever and arms.
I have the Edmunds intake and also the Burell intake.
What do you think brings the better performence in horespower and torque?

 

North, I'm only guessing but I'd say both manifolds would be pretty close to each other.
I'd the Burrell maybe a touch better but that is just a gut feeling and because I own one.
From what I know Burrell made these intake manifolds for the US tanks and I'm guessing maybe a little more science went into them.
With the Edmunds, I dont know how they came about.
Both are stylish and look the business.
Others out there may have something to contribute regadring intake manifolds...

 

Thank you Russ for your assessment. Deep in my mind my hope was similar and you confirm.
My assumption is also that the Burrell has any more science in development, because it is made from Cadillac engineer Frank Burrell. I will test this intake in the race season what begins on May here.
Best time in 2022 with actually setup on 1/8 mile was 9.4s

Dirk.

 

I've always wondered why they weren't as popular as the Ford flathead v8 as they made more power to start with.

 

Caddy weight: 900 lbs
Ford flat head: 550 lbs
(Figures from Rex Schimmer)

Plus, Ford engines were also way more available AND cheaper.

 

One more camshaft question.
Is there any difference on cam between a civil car 346 FlatCad and the 346 military version used in Stuart Tanks?

 

However, that didn't stop Ak Miller from putting one in his '32 roadster.

 

UPDATE!
The 260 grind NOS Clay Smith cam is installed and also the Burrell intake instead the Edmunds intake.
Last week I was on Dynapack testing station.
Setup brings +34 horsepower and +85 torque.
The engine runs perfect with the both carter WCD581s carbs.
I am very happy with this result!

 

Thanks for the update, very cool. Was there any port or bowl work done?

 

I may be a little late to the party here but I think that kind of hp and torque out of what I think is a mostly stock Flatcad other than a cam with intake and carbs is real good my question is what car are you running it in to run a 9.4 in the 1/8 mile I have a potvin cam in my Flatcad but I have a 4-71 blower on it as well gonna start with a carb on gas but plan to switch to a 2-port Hilborn and alcohol

 

Right, the engine is a stock 42` with complete overhaul. Bore is third version, sorry do not know how to say it right.
No porting or so is done, but cyclone heads fom Kevin. Electrical fuel pump installed, Pertronix ignition, self made open headers, 55` Chevy rear axle and 3 speed caddy stick shift.
The car is a 34` Ford Pickup Truck.
Wrenchbender I read you posts in the past, very cool engine setup.
Thanks to all!

 

I've been back at it with the FlatCAD Racing engine rebuild. It has been in a slumber for about 6 years - about time to get it ready to rock again. It took ages to get the custom pistons - they fubared them the first time, had to wait for the second set. Here is the block (after redoing the porting):

 

Here is some port work . . . . I figure between the original porting and the "redo" here, probably have over 300 hours in it:

 

Here are a couple more block pics:

 

Here are the new pistons - custom made by Diamond - from my SolidWorks designs:

 

Here is the lower crankshaft girdle:

 

Cleaned up the cylinder heads and resealed the clamshell areas:

 

If you want to see a bunch of assembly videos with some good descriptions or the process, just checkout my InstaGram posts:

Dale Hays (@vintagehorsepower) | Instagram

 

Dale, this is amazing! A very cool inspiration for the next winter period. I was thinking about port work, as I change the cam, but have to much respect for this. You will not find a caddy block often here in Europe. So if I make mistakes, its not easy to find a new engine.

 

OMG that's beautiful!

 

The other flathead with the bigger head..

 

Well I finally got some runs in on my blown Flatcad dragster beat pass so far is a 8.501 in the 1/8 mile when I ran it last weekend in Texas at the freedom drags it definitely made a good impression on all the racers especially when it was the fastest flathead there and yes there was more than one or two cars there were a half dozen flathead cars running in the class and I will say there were some real rowdy sounding cars @okiejoesauto and champion superchargers sponsor the class with a real bitchin trophy and a $500 gift certificate for parts I was floored when I was given the award because there was a t roadster there that I really thought was faster than mine I hope more folks come out next year to take the crown from me lol the event was put on by cheater slick culture and was the inaugural event and it’s on for next year not sure of the date just yet