67 L36 Crane Camshaft

[Lawrence S.]

I am considering buying the Sealed Power CS 1093M camshaft from Napa to replace my original cam or this Crane camshaft from Summit. Summit grind number is 3883986 The part number from Summit is part number 969391. The cams have the same exact specs but the Crane cam is $146 and the Sealed Power is $209. Looks like the exact same cam. I know that the Sealed Power has been recommended any reason not to use the Crane cam?

Thanks

Lawrence

TCrane Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshafts 9693

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I am considering buying the Sealed Power CS 1093M camshaft from Napa to replace my original cam or this Crane camshaft from Summit. Summit grind number is 3883986 The part number from Summit is part number 969391. The cams have the same exact specs but the Crane cam is $146 and the Sealed Power is $209. Looks like the exact same cam. I know that the Sealed Power has been recommended any reason not to use the Crane cam?

Thanks

Lawrence

TCrane Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshafts 9693

Lawrence------


I would check to confirm that the Crane cam has a parkerized lobe finish. You can check on this by calling or e-mailing Crane. If it's parkerized (as is the Sealed Power and the original GM cam), I'd say it's equivalent.

One thing to be aware of: the 1966 and possibly early 1967 L-36 cam was GM #3883986. This cam had an annular groove in the rear journal. The L1967+ camshaft, GM #3904359, did not have the groove. If your engine uses the camshaft with the groove, then you must be sure the replacement camshaft has the groove (or, have the groove machined into the camshaft) (You MUST also then use the correct rear camshaft bearing). If your engine uses the camshaft without the groove (which is most likely for 1967), then you can use either camshaft with or without the groove. However, if it were me, I'd GREATLY prefer one without the groove.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Lawrence------


I would check to confirm that the Crane cam has a parkerized lobe finish. You can check on this by calling or e-mailing Crane. If it's parkerized (as is the Sealed Power and the original GM cam), I'd say it's equivalent.

One thing to be aware of: the 1966 and possibly early 1967 L-36 cam was GM #3883986. This cam had an annular groove in the rear journal. The L1967+ camshaft, GM #3904359, did not have the groove. If your engine uses the camshaft with the groove, then you must be sure the replacement camshaft has the groove (or, have the groove machined into the camshaft) (You MUST also then use the correct rear camshaft bearing). If your engine uses the camshaft without the groove (which is most likely for 1967), then you can use either camshaft with or without the groove. However, if it were me, I'd GREATLY prefer one without the groove.

Joe my engine was assembled Feb 1 1967. VIN is 10957. Do you know if my cam would have the groove? I will have to check the cam to be certain but was wondering if you knew.

[Michael F.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I had a car early vin than that back in the day and did not have grove, I know because I redid engine in 71 and ran into the grove issue with chevy when buying new cam. better to look at one in car before ordering to be 100% sure.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Joe my engine was assembled Feb 1 1967. VIN is 10957. Do you know if my cam would have the groove? I will have to check the cam to be certain but was wondering if you knew.

Lawrence------


I HIGHLY doubt it will have the groove. However, I can't be 100% certain.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I got my engine torn down and it had the 3883986 camshaft in it. It has "883" stamped on the end of the cam and also the oil groove cut in the end of the cam. I was surprised to see this cam in the engine. I would had expected the later 67 cam? The block has the oil groove in the end of the block. The camshaft was completely worn out with a few worn lobes.
It also had the original nylon timing gear set still in the engine.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I got my engine torn down and it had the 3883986 camshaft in it. It has "883" stamped on the end of the cam and also the oil groove cut in the end of the cam. I was surprised to see this cam in the engine. I would had expected the later 67 cam? The block has the oil groove in the end of the block. The camshaft was completely worn out with a few worn lobes.
It also had the original nylon timing gear set still in the engine.

Lawrence------


Does it have the the numbers "3944" cast between two of the journals? If not, does it have any other numbers or letters cast between two journals?

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Hey Joe,

It has "6223" cast in the crank. So the correct forged crank. I did not look for a date code like the sbc cranks have in them. Not sure they do?

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Hey Joe,

It has "6223" cast in the crank. So the correct forged crank. I did not look for a date code like the sbc cranks have in them. Not sure they do?

Lawrence------


I should have used the term LOBES instead of journals. However, I was referring to the CAMSHAFT, not the crankshaft.

[Keith B.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I had two of those crane camshaft fail in my 396 rebuild in my Chevelle. Both times the proper oil and break in were done. And both camshafts were made overseas.

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

I had two of those crane camshaft fail in my 396 rebuild in my Chevelle. Both times the proper oil and break in were done. And both camshafts were made overseas.

I was under the impression that Crane grinds cams. The "made overseas" sounds like NOT.

[Duke W.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Yes, Crane grinds their cams from blanks supplied by the CWC division of Textron that I believe are cast in North America - just like everyone else, including GM, Federal Mogul, and Dana Corp. Also, the several custom cams they have ground to my specifications were all Parkerized.

Though Federal Mogul or Dana Corp. manufactured cams are my first choice, I consider Crane to be the best aftermarket camshaft supplier and essentially equivalent to the big Tier 1 suppliers when it comes to camshafts for vintage engines.

It's not clear to me what camshaft was in the engine, but considering the price difference, the Crane copy of the OE L-36 cam is okay to use IMO.

Since you state the block has a groove cut in the rear cam bearing bore, you can use either a grooved or non-grooved cam, (along with the single hole rear cam bearing), but my preference would be for a non-grooved cam.

Duke

[Keith B.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

The box and instructions clearly said made in Turkey

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

The box and instructions clearly said made in Turkey

"made in Turkey" says to me return it. No way would that go in my car. It's getting bad when top name brand American companies making performance parts for our American classics are putting their name on foreign stuff from china, turkey and other less than desirable countries. Camshafts in the past 10 years are a hit and miss. Quality, where is it, what happened? It's all too common for name brand cam to fail on initial break in even when all procedures are correctly followed with good flat tappet oil and break in lube.

And I'm not talking about race cams, just replacement grinds. I've been lucky no recent bad cams. I can honestly say in my entire exposure I had only one cam go bad. It was a Crane mild street performance grind with stock GM valve springs. Not bad mouthing Crane but prefer they sell only American made.

[Duke W.]

Re: 67 L36 Crane Camshaft

Maybe the box was made and the instructions printed in Turkey (who knows why), but their cams are ground in Florida. How else could a custom design (using existing lobe masters in their library) be ground and received by the customer in the Northeast in a week. Another one got to Washington (state) in two weeks, and a third got to Maryland in about a week.

All were Parkerized and passed basic dimensional and lobe indexing checks. In addition to good quality, Crane is FAST, especially if you order a custom grind in late November after the end of the racing season.

Duke