Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Is there any problem with this? I have a reground B cam and want to put it in my rebuilt A engine. It looks the same except for the fuel pump lobe. This is my first experience opening one of these up and I didn't notice the lobe until I pulled it apart.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Yes you can.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Sure, It will fit just like an A cam.

Gar Williams

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

The fuel pump lobe won't be a problem. You will need to use adjustable lifters. The stock model A lifters won't be long enough. The best lifters are the self locking or sometimes called single lock. The self locking lifters have a larger base where the cam meets the lifter and is very important. I use lifters from Bratton. Page 42 part number 9160 price $71.00 for a set of 8 .

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

It's got adjustables in it already. I'm taking out the stock cam on a never run rebuild for a winfield SU-1A

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

I see they recommend a model b grind cam on an engine built for touring . Is this because of more lift and duration? I was wondering about sound,do they still have the chug-a-ty chug-a-ty sound that the model a has?

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

The original stock Model "B" cam used a larger diameter lifter than the "A" cam, but with a regrind follow the reccomendation of the cam grinder

I have a stock (not reground) "B" cam in my car, still sounds the same, still same low end power, better fuel mileage and top speed

How good a reground cam comes out depends on the regrinder and what the condition of the cam core started with was.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Also does anyone have any input on bronze vs aluminum timing gears? I am going to need to order one as my fiber one is +3.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Get the gears as a set--cam and crank, I have had the alum gear for 40 years, crank gear new at same time, no noise

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

I'm worried about getting the crank gear off. How hard are they to do? I'd be worried about heat near the babbit.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

I have a stock (not reground) "B" cam in my car, still sounds the same, still same low end power, better fuel mileage and top speed. Thanks Kurt for the info. Beautiful coupe,great job on it.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Pictures can be deceptive, it's the first car I painted, now after 40+ years the paint is starting to come off the fenders

The crank gear can be quite tight, I have had to drill a row of holes to weaken the gear, then wacked the area with the holes with a chisel to pop it loose---off the car I have a 40 ton press

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Hitch if your installing a Winfield grind even the new single lock lifters may not have a large enough base they were ground for B lifters which were bigger again

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

I'm running a Winfield super street 3/4 race cam in my roadster and use the self locking lifters from Bratton. It runs good and has for the past seven years.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Hmmm how do I tell what lifters I have? What ones do I need? I guess I will take one out.

I've read a few places that the SU-1a is mild enough to be okay.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

The SU1A will work fine at Bonneville.
It is a 280 degree cam.
It is designed to run with a 1 inch diameter lifter so you should be ok on that count.
A lot of those grinds are running on the street but the gas mileage and the low end performance sure isn't what it could be.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

Depends on who ground the cam
Check by putting Prussian blue on the lifter base and turn the engine over a few times remove and check you must not have contact near the edge of the lifter base

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

What if it was a SU-1R instead? This is all new to me. I have both. I get them confused. Or is there another you could recommend?

My engine is counterbalanced and has a lightened flywheel. I have a 6.3:1 head super winfield head and am messing with a bb winfield or a stromberg 97 for carburetor.

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

In the first post I should have qualified that to an original Winfield SU1A grind. There are many cam grinders out there now that stamp most anything SU1A just because it has become a magical number.
The SU1R is slightly less timing at 272. Still too much for street use. (unless you do several other mods)
A good grind that will give good street performance and mileage is a 77B.
Originally it was ground for the flathead Ford V8. In the 50's it was found to work very well in a mildly modified A or B. It has a stock idle and noticeable improvement in performance.

"Been in the cam business 60 years"

Re: Can I put a b cam in an A block?
 

My engine is counterbalanced and has a lightened flywheel. I have a 6.3:1 super winfield head and I am messing with a bb winfield and either a single or duel stromberg 97 for carburetors. I basically bought a whole collection of parts together so can try many different combo's. I am trying to make a good hot rod engine for my traditional pickup.

...don't worry guys it could be back to stock in a weekend....

I appreciate your input Pete.
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