Potvin 3/8 cam ?

[1934calkid]

has anybody ever run this camshaft ?

[Ronnieroadster]

Great cam I ran one for many years got mine from Dean Moon a long time ago. My flathead was supercharged using a 671 GMC blower and two holley 600 CFM carbs. Ran that combination until I went to an ARDUN conversion. Oh and my 8BA block was relieved for much better performance all around both on the street and on the track.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Well 1934 calkid, there you go, all you need to is put a million $ in your flathead and you can relieve it, then you can get from one street light to another. You've all ready said it's just a street rod, no drag racing, no salt flat. Your a hard man to tell anything. Walt

[deuce lover]

I had the 3/8 super in my 36 5W with a 59AB,4" crank.Great on the hwy but idling in town at 15-20 mph drove me crazy.

[Bored&Stroked]

Fantastic Cam! If you need a really nice one ground, let me know . . . can get 'Pete' to make you a very nice one. He just did two of them for me - his work is exceptional!

Dale

[JWL]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It depends on what you like and want. I have tested this cam in a basically stock displacement engine with 4 barrel and Offy heads. It was a poor overall performer. Poor low speed performance and no better than a Max 1 HP on the top end. If your desire is a salty idle this is a good cam.

[42merc]

As a street cam, The Potvin super 3/8 is what I call a 'Lazy cam', weak lower & mid range performance.
This was in a 276 c i 8BA with all the usual stuff.
Installed an Isky 400jr that woke up the 'Lazy' flathead, decent low end & great mid range.
The Potvin is a waste on the street, unless you just want to listen to the idle.

[Tim Ayers]

Man, how can the opinions on one thing swing so much. I know a lot more goes into making an engine than a cam, but one guys great is another guys junk.

[Bored&Stroked]

Here is an AV8 with a 276 cubic inch motor that I helped Chris Daniels build - you'll probably like the sound of the Potvin 3/8. I've driven this car and it runs really nicely!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9akeT4Ua9lU

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Man, how can the opinions on one thing swing so much. I know a lot more goes into making an engine than a cam, but one guys great is another guys junk.

Now isn't this the truth! That is why one needs to form their own opinion in the end - as there are no shortages of opinions and perspectives on these old engines. One thing I've found is that how the cam is installed/timed can make a huge difference. Sometimes I'll find a certain cam is advanced, another one of the same make/model . . . a bit retarded, etc..

Certain combinations seem to run for one guy . . . and not for another. One truly never really knows the details of the complete 'package', how it was put together and how it was tuned.

Guess this is why one needs to have a bunch of flathead cams - so you can try em' all!

[Ol' Ron]

Before I became a suporter of the L-100 cam, I had run quite a fer cams in both a racing and street environment. At first look at the timing numbers I told the customer that the cam was to hot for a street engine.. He said he was told it would work just fine, so I installed it in a 276 block with Kong heads (7:1CR) a single 94 carb and with less than 10 miles on the engine headed for York Pa. The preformance of that engine in a 5500 lb ambulance on the street was fantastic, and the sound was perfect. When we opened the hood and people saw the engine for the first time, they were disapointed, thinking it shuld have been a HEMI. Today, I have no idea why this cam runs as well as it does. The numbers on the card tell me it shouldn't. I've installed dozens of them and nobodys ever asked me to remove them. So I guess you just have to try a bunch of them and pick the one that suite you best,

[lonewolf]

I have one in a 50 mercury overdrive car and it has amazing low mid range power I shift at 5500 rpms

[rodderbilly]

I have one in my 255 french flathead,2 holley94 on weiand intake and mid porting job,i love this cam ...engine sounds killer and has the right power....

[Bored&Stroked]

One man's beer is another man's poison! Good to see that a lot of guys like this cam - cause I sure do!

[jetmek]

+1 for Potvin cams

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by jetmek

+1 for Potvin cams

I had the pleasure of talking with Bill Jenks before he passed. The guy forgot more than I'll ever know. He loved the 3/8ths. I was a bit surprised when I told him other grinders were copying it.

He got all pissed off and said it won't be the same as mine. Glad I still have that one the Bill ground for me.

[Pete]

The 3/8 Potvin grind was designed for 276 ci or larger engines.
It has 280 degrees of duration and a fairly high lift rate. It is obviously going to be a "lazy" or a poor performer in a near stock street engine.
It is a race grind. It is going to lope along at 20 mph on the street with normal street gears. Get used to it. Drive faster. Have more fun.

[Pete]

"He got all pissed off and said it won't be the same as mine. Glad I still have that one the Bill ground for me."

Rest assured Tim, they are the same, just like every Ford engine of the same model that comes off the assembly line is the same.

[Bored&Stroked]

Truth be told . . . I have an original Potvin 3/8 and a Potvin 425 . . . and I also have Pete's variants - no question who ground a better and more consistent profile. Guess Who???

[hotrodcbx]

I have this cam in my 296" blown flathead running about 5 lbs boost. It pulls like a freight train from idle on up and I run this engine to 6000 rpm on occasion. Not sure about this cam on a unblown flathead.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Truth be told . . . I have an original Potvin 3/8 and a Potvin 425 . . . and I also have Pete's variants - no question who ground a better and more consistent profile. Guess Who???

Dale

Could be, but its not unlike an original Andy Warhol silk screen v. a print copy. I feel honored to own something that Bill worked on himself. The note he wrote on the back of the timing card after he remembered our conversation was something I'll certainly hold on to with fondness for the man. He was certainly a legend.

Tim.

[Cool Kat with Hot Car]

Will let you know how it works in my car in a month or so. I'm putting the car back together now. 4 1/8 Merc. crank, billet main caps, Edelbrock heads, Edelbrock slingshot w. two 97's etc. Car is fendered 32 cpe. 28 tooth 39 trans, 3:54 r&p 6:50X16. Will post on this thread with report....stay tuned oh yea, sounded awesome on test fire

[HotRodmicky]

I used a 3/8 with a 276 ci engine in a 32 roadster with 3.25 gears and a 3-speed.
Runs great and makes good power.
Like pete wrote , 276ci and bigger engine

[Kahuna]

I know nothing about cams and how they relate to engine displacement. BUT, everyone I ever asked told me that I could not run a Potvin 425/Eliminator on the street.
Everyone except PETE, that is!! Pete ground (2) 425's for me, after the first failed due to really bad off shore lifters. To me, Potvin cams are the best. If I ever build another Flathead, I'd run a 3/8 just to try it out.
Oh, and the 425 runs real nice on the street in a 290 CI engine
Just my experience
Jim

[Ol' Ron]

I still have the Potvin 400, I'll never uz it.

[rodderbilly]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I still have the Potvin 400, I'll never uz it.

Wow! first one i hear that has a Climax....nice...really curis how it performs.

[Ol' Ron]

It's gone, looking forward to a reply on it's performance.

[HOTROD_WILLIE]

I have a good friend that is regrind cams check it out
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...61#post1194061

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I have the Potvin 425 in my dragster, one of Pete, I think i't awesome and it screams on the track and idles good around 1100, 276, wicked port and relieve job, three 94's, 1.600 intake valves, I've driven it up and down the lane where I live, I think it would be fine on the street, You have to get used to those engine on the street. Walt

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

I have the Potvin 425 in my dragster, one of Pete, I think i't awesome and it screams on the track and idles good around 1100, 276, wicked port and relieve job, three 94's, 1.600 intake valves, I've driven it up and down the lane where I live, I think it would be fine on the street, You have to get used to those engine on the street. Walt

Yah Can't Beat Pete!

Hey . . . maybe I should make some T-Shirts for him - make him rich, make him famous.

Yo Pete - couple shirts, couple Martoonies, we'd think we were the 'Cat's Ass'.

[40cpe]

Make it, I'll buy one

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Yah Can't Beat Pete!

Hey . . . maybe I should make some T-Shirts for him - make him rich, make him famous.

Yo Pete - couple shirts, couple Martoonies, we'd think we were the 'Cat's Ass'.

My wife told me once a long time ago that I was the cat's meow but I'm not sure about being the other end of the cat.......LOL