03-14-2023, 06:08 PM | #1 |
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merc cam price
guess i should have done this 1st, what is a good price for a good 8cm cam? i found one for $150.
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03-14-2023, 06:45 PM | #2 |
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Re: merc cam price
Seems high to me. I would think $50-ish
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03-14-2023, 07:01 PM | #3 |
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Re: merc cam price
Tim has it. Used $50 to include shipping.
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03-14-2023, 07:07 PM | #4 |
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Re: merc cam price
thanks guys, kinda where i was at.
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03-14-2023, 07:24 PM | #5 |
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Re: merc cam price
New or used? After seeing the price of aftermarket and reground cams (which both should have adjustable lifters) these days, I wouldn't be surprised to see NOS cams (especially an 8CM) go for significant money.
Things are very different now than they were even 5 years ago. New Offenhauser heads (if you can even find them), go for $1800. |
03-14-2023, 08:23 PM | #6 | |
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Re: merc cam price
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$150 for a CHEAP stock regrind. $200 for a good STOCK regrind. Any NOS core should be reground at this point. There is NO preservative in existance that could keep it's surfaces good for this long except a full vacuum chamber and think of the cost to have operated a vacuum chamber since 1953. A lobe surface that appears good to the naked eye will easily be rejected under a microscope. It is far cheaper to use orginal steel lifters than adjustables. They are far better quality, not to mention they make a far superior finished product. |
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03-14-2023, 08:29 PM | #7 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
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03-14-2023, 09:27 PM | #8 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
Now Pete, since YOU brought it up, I'm gonna let you show us just how dumb I really am. Please help me understand how a 70-year-old, NOS cam core is going to be "all messed-up" looking at it under a scope, whereas an ORIGINAL (70-year-old) steel lifter is going to be of better quality than an adjustable? How zat work? Coop . |
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03-14-2023, 09:41 PM | #9 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
And how do you control valve clearance then? When a cam is reground, you're going to lose material. Granted, maybe just a few thousandths, but you are still opening up the clearance. Do you sink the valves (not good)? Do you buy new valves and grind to proper clearance (not cheaper, and labor intensive)? I'm genuinely asking here, not trying to poke. |
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03-14-2023, 09:54 PM | #10 | |
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Re: merc cam price
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03-14-2023, 10:20 PM | #11 | |
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Re: merc cam price
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Comparing an old NOS cam lobe oxidized surface to a freshly ground one it very obvious the oxidized one is rougher. The mountains and valleys are still about the same height on both but the old ones are more random and rougher. As to the lifters, the original steel lifters are better for several of reasons. 1 - They are much lighter than cast iron. 2 - They are much stronger than cast iron. 3 - They are faster and easier to install. 4 - NO MANUFACTURER OF ADJUSTABLE LIFTERS HAS YET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO 100% ASSURE THE SCREWS WON'T COME LOOSE. Coop, I have to comment on your statement about "dumb". You just lacked info on the subject. Same as I have very little info on round motors although I love to hear them run. I think you are one of the most knowledgeable people on here. |
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03-14-2023, 11:11 PM | #12 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
Hey, I LOVE round motors, too! So here's one for you. WHY MUST ALL ROUND MOTORS HAVE AN ODD NUMBER OF CYLINDERS PER ROW? Coop . |
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03-14-2023, 11:23 PM | #13 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
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03-15-2023, 12:12 AM | #14 |
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Re: merc cam price
There's no way that would be cheaper, as claimed. And I'd have to wonder how well the welded tip would hold up unless it was properly re-heat-treated. I like the idea of using the steel lifter; fewer pieces means fewer related problems, but is this actually the way guys are doing it? |
03-15-2023, 06:15 AM | #15 | |
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Re: merc cam price
Quote:
From what I recall Walt Dupont explaining, you add length to the valve stem by welding and set the correct height by grinding. This is what I understand is done when using a reground performance cam with a smaller base circle due to the regrind. Stock cam may be a different process. |
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03-15-2023, 07:02 AM | #16 |
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Re: merc cam price
Years ago, I had a flathead cam from an old 59A that I tore down for parts. The cam had what looked like air pockets, bubbles, pores throughout the whole cam. It was that way on the lobes and brg surfaces. I could not believe that it had run for years that way and still looked like it was still usable. Has anybody ever seen anything like that? How could that make it through "quality control"?
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03-15-2023, 07:55 AM | #17 | |
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Re: merc cam price
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03-15-2023, 08:20 AM | #18 |
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Re: merc cam price
Various valve clearance setting fixtures for measuring and using with valve grinder, the grinding machine has a micrometer type adjustment that controls how much is removed from the stem
the one on the top i think came with a B&D machine, it will do T,A,B,60hp, and regular flathead V8, the others won’t do 60hp, one of those sets is Snap On blue point brand |
03-15-2023, 09:02 AM | #19 |
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Re: merc cam price
Yes, grinding tips is nothing new. It's been done for many, many decades. All the old machines that I've ever seen had that function. But welding them first? Never heard of that, and I have to question it's viability.
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03-15-2023, 09:12 AM | #20 |
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Re: merc cam price
Like I said, I hope Pete, Ronnie, Kiwi Tony or others chime in to explain.
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