56 225 hp cam needed

[Duke W.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

I remember contacting or attempting to contact that outfit after Crane folded, looking for cam grinders that had the requisite OE lobes to grind my camshaft designs.

As I recall, I was never able to actually get it touch with them. The phone number was either no good or nobody answered it.

No loss in my opinion. I didn't particularly care for the idea that my designs were made by "Thunderchicken".

I'm really glad Crane came back.

Duke

[Alexander C.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

Back when I used to design performance cams for SC'd TPI & LT1 engines I had "Cam Motion" do all of my grinds. At the time, all of their cores were top quality only 2nd to Crower.

[Duke W.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

Did you design your own lobes or use lobes from the vendor's library?

AFAIK none of the cam vendors produce their own cores. There is only ONE available core used to grind all Gen I small block flat tappet cams - mechanical or hydraulic lifter - all vendors including whatever GM sells. It is made by the CWC division of Textron.

Duke

[John S.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

i have purchased camshafts from ebay vendor "chevyssbest". buy it now price was $60.00. it is a solid lifter camshaft, part #3711354 casting #3711355 known as the 355 hi lift. solid lifter cam with 264 int. dur. 266 ex. dur. .404 int lift and .413 ex lift. Valve lash .012 int .018 ex. Cam has notch in rear journal. vendor mentioned he been doing this for 35 plus years and could duplicate any 50's or 60's chevy camshaft.

has three in stock.

[Alexander C.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

Did you design your own lobes or use lobes from the vendor's library?

AFAIK none of the cam vendors produce their own cores. There is only ONE available core used to grind all Gen I small block flat tappet cams - mechanical or hydraulic lifter - all vendors including whatever GM sells. It is made by the CWC division of Textron.

Duke

Original designs using some advanced software at the time. I specialized in forced induction and being street legal/Smog legal while being well mannered and drivable down low with good idle characteristics. It wasn't rocket science but people seem to lack basic knowledge of port velocity and overlap and just look at lift and duration. Granted though I had computer software and these were all roller post-1988 stuff, not flat tappet.

That's a real shame there is only 1 source now for all cores. I suppose supply isn't what it used to be for old school SBC components.

[Duke W.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

i have purchased camshafts from ebay vendor "chevyssbest". buy it now price was $60.00. it is a solid lifter camshaft, part #3711354 casting #3711355 known as the 355 hi lift. solid lifter cam with 264 int. dur. 266 ex. dur. .404 int lift and .413 ex lift. Valve lash .012 int .018 ex. Cam has notch in rear journal. vendor mentioned he been doing this for 35 plus years and could duplicate any 50's or 60's chevy camshaft.

If that's true then he must have lobe masters for all the OE lobes, in which case he should be able to grind the McCagh Special camshaft.

...don't know where he is located, but if we can find out, maybe someone can pay him a visit and check it out.

Duke

[John S.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

If that's true then he must have lobe masters for all the OE lobes, in which case he should be able to grind the McCagh Special camshaft.

...don't know where he is located, but if we can find out, maybe someone can pay him a visit and check it out.

Duke

the 265 camshaft is still available from this vendor. my question is why not go with the 1957 283 camshaft. knock the rear camshaft bearing out and notch the block to get proper oiling to the heads. even with the original camshaft i would think a good mechanic would redo the oiling system. the 265 lifters are also obsolete so 283 lifters are now being used.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 56 225 hp cam needed

the 265 camshaft is still available from this vendor. my question is why not go with the 1957 283 camshaft. knock the rear camshaft bearing out and notch the block to get proper oiling to the heads. even with the original camshaft i would think a good mechanic would redo the oiling system. the 265 lifters are also obsolete so 283 lifters are now being used.

just drill a hole from the groove in the block into the main gallery and use a later rear cam bearing to use a later cam.