Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-04-2018, 05:15 PM   #21
Ol' Ron
Senior Member
 
Ol' Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chester Vt
Posts: 8,842
Default Re: Used camshafts

Used cams and lifters is a crap shoot, However considering the light spring pressure on a stock cam, you'll probably be oK. Unfortunately, i the past I've had a cam failure because of this on a race engine. Tha was an expensive education.
Ol' Ron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 06:17 PM   #22
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,260
Default Re: Used camshafts

I would like to thank "flatheadmurre" for his to the point response. I am kind of disappointed that "Pete" did not offer his advice on what to do in such a situation. The quatrain he posted is cute, but not very helpful.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-05-2018, 06:39 PM   #23
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Used camshafts

Quote:
Originally Posted by tubman View Post
I would like to thank "flatheadmurre" for his to the point response. I am kind of disappointed that "Pete" did not offer his advice on what to do in such a situation. The quatrain he posted is cute, but not very helpful.
Along the same lines, I often hear him offer as to how knowledgeable he is, along with his ability to point-out the shortcomings of others. MOST folks here are pretty open with help, advice and experience. DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 06:50 PM   #24
40cpe
Senior Member
 
40cpe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Star, MS
Posts: 4,022
Default Re: Used camshafts

Pete said that his observations over 65 years in the business were that 30 percent of mixing used and new cams/lifters failed (paraphrased). It has to do with wear-in. So, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I take it from what he said his advice is not to mix them. Maybe you are questioning used cam AND used lifters. I think it is common knowledge not to re use lifters without resurfacing them. Reinstalling used lifters on the same lobe of the same used cam in a different engine could be risky because of how the cam sits in the engine (end play). I've PM'd Pete for advice and gotten timely responses from him. I think we are fortunate for having him contribute.
40cpe is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 07:31 PM   #25
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,260
Default Re: Used camshafts

I didn't start this thread to find out what I shouldn't do. I was looking for some positive useful advice.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 07:41 PM   #26
Talkwrench
Senior Member
 
Talkwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
Default Re: Used camshafts

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Olive oil is expensive......
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"
Talkwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 08:22 PM   #27
40cpe
Senior Member
 
40cpe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Star, MS
Posts: 4,022
Default Re: Used camshafts

Quote:
Originally Posted by tubman View Post
I didn't start this thread to find out what I shouldn't do. I was looking for some positive useful advice.
Well, excuse me! You took offense at something not meant to be offensive. I'll stay out of your threads from now on.
40cpe is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 09:05 PM   #28
Kahuna
Senior Member
 
Kahuna's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NorCal
Posts: 2,617
Default Re: Used camshafts

Like others, I take Pete's advice as gospel on the cam subject.
He has ground cams for me and they have been excellent. I have never
used a used cam in any engine, only because I wanted something more than
stock re performance.
If I wanted to use a used cam, I think I would just send it to Pete, have him check
it out and do what he recommended. It is so expensive to build a good flathead
that to me, it's not worth taking a chance.
I have had an engine totally destroyed due to a set of bad lifters.
Just my opinion
Jim
Kahuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2018, 09:14 PM   #29
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,144
Default Re: Used camshafts

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kahuna View Post
Like others, I take Pete's advice as gospel on the cam subject.
He has ground cams for me and they have been excellent. I have never
used a used cam in any engine, only because I wanted something more than
stock re performance.
If I wanted to use a used cam, I think I would just send it to Pete, have him check
it out and do what he recommended. It is so expensive to build a good flathead
that to me, it's not worth taking a chance.
I have had an engine totally destroyed due to a set of bad lifters.
Just my opinion
Jim
Jim,

What size motor are you running that Eliminator in? Still happy with it?

I'm so tempted. I still have about 2 months to change cam choice on this build.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 06:02 AM   #30
George/Maine
Senior Member
 
George/Maine's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mid coast Maine
Posts: 1,878
Default Re: Used camshafts

I have used a cam from a 351 into another engine and made a template of the lobes and all looked good got 40k mile and blow a piston.
When your cheap that's what you do.
George/Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 07:02 AM   #31
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,260
Default Re: Used camshafts

Quote:
Originally Posted by 40cpe View Post
Well, excuse me! You took offense at something not meant to be offensive. I'll stay out of your threads from now on.
My remark was not intended to "offend" anyone. I am just looking for "positive useful advice". Too many times, people respond to a thread without reading it completely. Please reread my original post; it is asking a specific question. As to some things being "common knowledge", I think the responses to this thread show that to be far from the truth, on this subject at least.

If you are "offended" by my remark, I apologize. I do however, recommend you develop a little thicker skin; you seem to be much too easily "offended".
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 08:49 AM   #32
Mart
Senior Member
 
Mart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,732
Default Re: Used camshafts

Ok, I guess the thread has been derailed, but I suppose it boils down to this. As a private individual, you can just give it a go. Used cam, mismatched lifters. You weigh up the risk. As said it's a crap shoot. Like Ron said, stock cam, light spring pressures you may be all right. But a professional engine builder could never recommend that. He has to recommend something that will work 100% as it goes to the customer.

I've just fired up an engine with a good used 59A cam and the pick of my used French lifters. With the (notoriously) soft French valve springs I'm crossing my fingers and trusting that with just a little bit of luck it will be ok.

A professional or anyone building the motor for someone else can't afford to do that. Too risky. His name as a builder is at stake.

So wish me luck.

Mart.

Last edited by Mart; 03-06-2018 at 08:54 AM.
Mart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 11:09 AM   #33
Walt Dupont--Me.
Senior Member
 
Walt Dupont--Me.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gardiner Me.
Posts: 4,200
Default Re: Used camshafts

Hi Guys. I haven,t punched keys in quite a while. I just want to say i been building Flatheads for 70 years and used alot of Cams. Pete has built cams for me for a long time and I love all of them. The Potvin 425 Eliminata in my dragster is awsome. I want to thank Pete for the cams he has ground for me. Walt
Walt Dupont--Me. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 01:46 PM   #34
dude
Senior Member
 
dude's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kansas
Posts: 334
Default Re: Used camshafts

on that olive oil deal , Make sure it has a little zink in it ..
__________________
[QUO[/QUOTE]no matter where you are,or where you're at, there you are...
dude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 01:52 PM   #35
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,260
Default Re: Used camshafts

I think "Mart" hit the nail on the head. What we can do as "Hobbyists" gives us much wider choices than a pro builder can even consider. Also, some (maybe a lot) of us are on a limited budget and wouldn't be able to build an engine if we had to run out and buy new components and first class machining whenever we had to do something. Luckily for us, flatheads are forgiving enough that we can get by with this most of the time.

I think I now understand why "Pete" never gave a direct response; as a pro builder, I think he has to say "Don't do it!". He probably also remembers the old, low budget days when you either used marginal components or stayed home. Thus my question is essentially unanswerable for him. "Pete" has a great reputation and I am sure he would be the first guy I would go to if I needed a special cam and had the funds for it. Sadly, that's not the way it is in my world; I go with what I have and quite frankly, I have had quite a bit of success (or luck).

Which brings me to another point. I believe this is a forum for hobbyists and not pro engine builders. Thus, I believe my original question was appropriate and I appreciate the responses I got from guys like "Russ/40" and "Seth Swoboda". In the end, what may be a bad decision for a pro builder might turn out to be the completion of an engine build for me.

Last edited by tubman; 03-06-2018 at 06:37 PM.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 01:58 PM   #36
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
Default Re: Used camshafts

On the helicopter engines I cut my teeth on, we replace the cams and follower assemblies 100% at O/H due to the high strung nature of that particular engine. The lighter duty engines for regular airplanes can have the cam and followers ground but it's usually a one time deal. The Lycoming engines didn't oil as well as the Continentals so they have a tendency to spall out anyway. Definitely don't take any chances on this stuff. They even put tricrestyl phosphate (TCP) in certain types of aircraft engine oil due to that. You can get away with a lot more on the flathead V8s as long as your easy on them.

Last edited by rotorwrench; 03-06-2018 at 02:04 PM.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2018, 02:02 PM   #37
leon bee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 611
Default Re: Used camshafts

I spent a long year riding around in helicopters. My Ford feels safer.
leon bee is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:53 PM.