will a 59a cam fit into an 8ba

[farmerdick]

Whoever was following my post post about engine not idling down, well the engine is toast. Having a difficult time finding a 59a. Was wondering if the cam in the 59a would fit into an 8ba?

[alanwoodieman]

yes and if you use a bolt on cam drive gear you can even run the 8ba distributor

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by farmerdick

Whoever was following my post post about engine not idling down, well the engine is toast.

What was the outcome, cracked block?

[farmerdick]

There is a crack in the water jacket getting into the exhaust port. Can not get at it to repair. Bummer.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by farmerdick

There is a crack in the water jacket getting into the exhaust port. Can not get at it to repair. Bummer.

Was it pressure tested before the machine work?

[Pete]

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Originally Posted by farmerdick

Whoever was following my post post about engine not idling down, well the engine is toast. Having a difficult time finding a 59a. Was wondering if the cam in the 59a would fit into an 8ba?

Yes, that is done frequently.
Use the 59a cover, cam drive gears and ignition.
You can use the 59a water pumps also.
59a heads can be used by blocking a small hole in the front of each deck.
You can use the 59a intake manifold by shortening the draft tube in the valley 1/2 inch.
Modifying the early oil fill tube and pump push rod has been covered in other threads on this forum.

[rotorwrench]

If you want to convert an 8BA to 59A front components and heads then the cam would be a requirement but you should use the timing gears from the 59A so that the front mounted distributor will work as is should. You can't use the 59 series oil pan but you can use a Mercury 8CM or an 8RT truck pan & half bell and use a Mercury Borg & Beck clutch or a 10-inch Long type clutch if the flywheel is right for it. Crankcase breathing can be converted to a PCV type system since the road draft tube would be out of place. The 59 series intake manifold can be used to keep it looking original. 78 series water pumps and a 59 series crank pulley & fan will keep things fitting as usual.

[farmerdick]

I am assuming that it was pressure tested.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by farmerdick

I am assuming that it was pressure tested.

Ya, that is concerning, if a pressure test can miss a crack that bad. These blocks are so prone to cracks because of the age and misuse or poor storage that a good check is needed before costly machine work. I always thought pressure testing was a little more foolproof than that.

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by farmerdick

I am assuming that it was pressure tested.

I would not assume the shop pressure tested the block. Most shops magnaflux blocks that are known to crack, and most do heads the same way,and most check cranks as well...but pressure testing is not routine for most places unless they specialize in flatheads or other known crack-prone castings.
Pressure testing is time consuming and difficult if a shop isn't equipped to do it on a specific block,and that makes the price quite high...so it doesn't get done without specifically requesting it.

Magnaflux is a good test,but cannot alert the mechanic to hidden cracks like pressure testing can.

[38 coupe]

Not all shops check at all. One of our local members had all the machine work done on an 8BA. We went to assemble the engine and noticed the oil pan rail was cracked big as life and twice as ugly. That was a bad evening.