The Ford Barn

chuck stevens · 10-27-2019, 07:11 AM

I have 8BA in a 40 deluxe and would like to change cams in the car. I would love to hear all your tricks. Oh I don't want to take the heads off, thanks Chuck

marko39 · 10-27-2019, 08:49 AM

I believe this was in a thread last week. Most agree it is easier to pull the engine.

JSeery · 10-27-2019, 02:07 PM

Not easy to do and lots can go wrong! But, it can be done (even if it is doing it the hard way!).

Brian · 10-27-2019, 02:19 PM

Chuck, I told you how to do this last week when you asked....

chuck stevens · 10-28-2019, 07:26 AM

Brian, thanks for the come back, I have more than one flathead so I completely forgot about the 49 cam question. Both of these cars have freshly rebuilt 8BA's and they both have low oil pressure, 5lbs., at idle when warm, sometimes 0. The cams were reground and I think they may have turned the journals. The machine shop replaced the bearings with standard bearings so there could be extra clearance there. It is my fault, for not checking the cam. The engine is totally quiet , no unusual sounds, i have two oil gauges on each of them. I have about 5k on both of them with no changes, thanks for your help, Chuck.

Ronnieroadster · 10-28-2019, 01:59 PM

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Usually when a cam is reground a polishing of the cam bearing journals is done once the lobes are finished. Prior to the decision to use a cam for grinding the cam bearing journal dimension prior to the work should be measured. Fords minimum cam bearing journal dimension is 1.7955 usually a worn cam will measure below this dimension especially on the rear and center bearing location. The proper way to save a cam that measures under the Ford dimension is to grind the bearing surfaces to .010 undersize and of course install the new undersize cam bearings in the block.
Ronnieroadster

Brian · 10-28-2019, 02:26 PM

When I get a camshaft reground, because the grinding operation takes place between centres, I then get the journals ground undersized to fit the measured dia of the newly installed undersized bearings. This ensures perfect concentricity of the cam lobes.

10-27-2019, 07:11 AM	#1
chuck stevens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate new york Posts: 758	in the car cam change I have 8BA in a 40 deluxe and would like to change cams in the car. I would love to hear all your tricks. Oh I don't want to take the heads off, thanks Chuck

10-27-2019, 08:49 AM	#2
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,114	Re: in the car cam change I believe this was in a thread last week. Most agree it is easier to pull the engine.

10-27-2019, 02:07 PM	#3
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: in the car cam change Not easy to do and lots can go wrong! But, it can be done (even if it is doing it the hard way!).

10-27-2019, 02:19 PM	#4
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,998	Re: in the car cam change Chuck, I told you how to do this last week when you asked.... __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

10-28-2019, 07:26 AM	#5
chuck stevens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate new york Posts: 758	Re: in the car cam change Brian, thanks for the come back, I have more than one flathead so I completely forgot about the 49 cam question. Both of these cars have freshly rebuilt 8BA's and they both have low oil pressure, 5lbs., at idle when warm, sometimes 0. The cams were reground and I think they may have turned the journals. The machine shop replaced the bearings with standard bearings so there could be extra clearance there. It is my fault, for not checking the cam. The engine is totally quiet , no unusual sounds, i have two oil gauges on each of them. I have about 5k on both of them with no changes, thanks for your help, Chuck.

10-28-2019, 01:59 PM	#6
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,697	Re: in the car cam change Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Usually when a cam is reground a polishing of the cam bearing journals is done once the lobes are finished. Prior to the decision to use a cam for grinding the cam bearing journal dimension prior to the work should be measured. Fords minimum cam bearing journal dimension is 1.7955 usually a worn cam will measure below this dimension especially on the rear and center bearing location. The proper way to save a cam that measures under the Ford dimension is to grind the bearing surfaces to .010 undersize and of course install the new undersize cam bearings in the block. Ronnieroadster __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead, Focus and Finish "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 First Ford flathead roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH reset the record in 2024 to 211.830 running to mile four. Top speed 2024 mile five 220.672 exit speed 221.587

10-28-2019, 02:26 PM	#7
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,998	Re: in the car cam change When I get a camshaft reground, because the grinding operation takes place between centres, I then get the journals ground undersized to fit the measured dia of the newly installed undersized bearings. This ensures perfect concentricity of the cam lobes. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!