Searching for a Camshaft...

[Anonymous]

Here is the situation I need a cam fast. My engine is sitting and ready to be finished but I have had a snag in the cam I was planning on installing. Without offending anyone, I need some help on which way to go instead of the cam I was going to use...

This was my intended grind:
270D 270/280 @.50 204/214 .420/.442 Lobe angle of 110*

This is going into a built 200 with an Aussie 250 2v, Holley 5200 carb and T5.
The engine has 1.65 Roller rockers, ARP rod and head bolts, it has been balanced indexed, 4 angle valve job, porting and polish on the head... it has larger intake and exhaust valves... 1.75 intake and 1.55 exhaust. Running into Dual headers with Dual exhaust and 3.25 rear gears.

So today I spent a few hours calling around and here is what I have found:

First CRANE CAMS no longer offers cams for any of the Ford 144-250 engines, they have no cores and can only re-grind customer cams if they are in good condition.

Clifford has these three cams in stock:
254: 254/254 - 206/206 - .410/.410
264: 264/264 - 208/208 - .444/,444
272: 272/272 - 214/214 - .449/.449

Comp has had a busy signal for an hour... but they offer these on their website...
252: 252/252 - 206/206 - .425/.425
260: 260/260 - 212/212 - .440/.440

Now I have to possibly choose one of these cams to buy and get ASAP... I am leaning toward the Clifford 264 or the Comp 260.... since they seem to be my only choices.. I like the performance in the Cliffy 272 but I think the idle will be too lopey for me... I want a smooth idle but increased mid range and top end.... without losing the bottom completely...

Any thoughts from some of yu guys running these cams would be appreciated... I would hate to make a rash and wrong decision this late in the game...

 

[Anonymous]

did you try Isky? if i remember correctly they have cams for our engines

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim,

Have you considered getting a custom grind? Last time I called Isky they quoted me $130ish for a custom cam. I hope this helps.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ed Iskenderian Racing Cams
(323) 770-0930 16020 S Broadway St
Gardena, CA
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

DB.

 

[Anonymous]

Called ISKY a few moments ago....

NO CORES... this is turning out to be a problem...
Only re-grinds.... no new cores available.

Clifford is starting to look very good...

 

[CobraSix]

I had all sorts of problems with Comp cam as far as customer service goes. The cam appears to be really nice, but as of yet has not been on the street. I'll have more information later this week hopefully.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

Problem Solved.... hopefully.

Found one at Schneider Racing Cams...

They have one that matches the one I wanted almost perfectly..
And they answered the phone pretty quickly....

They offer four other patterns, but this one was recommended for my setup...
It is a 262/270 202/214 .420/.440 110* the part number on this one is 13723


Here is a link to the other cams they offer...

http://www.schneidercams.com/cams/65.htm


We'll see how this turns out....

Jimbo

 

[AzCoupe]

Jimbo,

Sorry I couldn't get a cam for you in time. But as you know, the problem is getting cores. My supplier has had them on order for a couple of months, but still hasn't got a date when they will be there.

I have sixty cores on order and am wondering if I should have ordered more. From what I have been told, only two companies still make the cores for our sixes, and one of them hasn't produced any for quite some time and has no plans to do so in the near future.

Schneider is a good choice tho, I talked to them a couple of times and they seem to be a good bunch. Marco is running one of their cams in his and is pleased so far.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, those guys were really nice on the phone...
asked all of the right questions and made the recommendation... I like that.

I will let you know how I like it, once everything is running again...

 

[Anonymous]

Jim,

"Chevytown" www.claysmithcams.com has used this shop too, I forgot where he posted this. The contact person is George.

DB

 

[addo]

Just choose the one with the coolest sticker included. That narrows it down to Crow or Clay Smith.

 

[FastRonald]

8) Has anyone inquired if there are roller cams out there for sixes?

 

[Anonymous]

As far as the clifford 272 cam goes, if you have a T-5, I don't think the idle will give you any trouble. Comp cams did me a custom 304 cam for my 200 with lifters and all for about $150

 

[MustangSix]

There are a couple of mad Argentinians who run custom one-off rollers, but it requres cutting a big hole in the side of the block to install the lifters and tie bars.

 

[Anonymous]

Like youre original chioce very much. I will be using this one for my next re-build in my 250 2V (204/214 at 50). I know Crow cams Aust make one with those specks. From making heaps of comparisons to different cams around this rpm range I reckon it would work very well and still offer pretty good economy. I think at 210/210 at 50 would give similar performance but may not be quite as efficient.

 

[Anonymous]

That cam was a copy of the Crow CAM.... only with 110* lobe centers instead of 112*.... to smooth things out a little more...

My new one has changed a bit...

it is now..

262/270 208/214 @.50 420/440 110*
(So I am not too far off from the original.. this one should have a bit more pep.
Plus add the 1.65 Roller Rockers and it wakes this up a little more....)


Plus the sticker is cool...

 

[Anonymous]

Aussie C.O.M.E cams have a cam that is 206/214 at 50 with around the same lift. The same cam (different lift off course) is made for a 351 2V Cleveland and and has been dynoed by them at 229kw 307hp at only 4750 then the power drops off.
In standard form torque comes in at the same as a 2V 250 at 2600-2800 rpm, 2600 for 351. With this cam it takes the torque peak up to 3500 rpm. Crane made a cam with similar specs which has also been highly recommended for this by many in the know.
A Good choice.

 

[Anonymous]

FastRonald
I know someone who has one and sells in this sort of thing but its for a crossflow Aussie six.

 

[addo]

I can't get into COME stuff. There's something about their jive that just turns me off - rings a bit high on the BS meter.

Crow I support for a few good reasons: They are focused on Aussie cars, they do a lot of six cams, don't overspec on springs/retainers to cover their backsides (compared to other makers), and have application specific lobe profiles. This last bit can be important as RPMs pick up. Plus they are well priced and helpful.

Well, they say patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel!

Cheers, Adam.

 

[xctasy]

Don't worry about it Adam. Chevy Off Road And Marine...why would you buy Ford cams from there?

I've looked at Issy and Sam Blumsteins C.O.M.E. Racing stuff for the last 12 years, and I figure its all provable Bovine Scattology. There work with Delco P4's where there are twin tables for nitrous or LPG, or a valey mode so your 500 hp small block only delivers 200 on the street is pretty cool. And there racing small and big block work is a legend. 1000 hp and 8.5 second quarters from a "street" 454 Torana happy enough for you? And, since Ford copied the cross flow six and 335/385 v-eights off the 1966 BBChe*y cylinder heads, I'd say they'd understand cam profiles more than anyone.

But I suppose you can have too much of other car mags saying Wham Bam Cam's By Sam, or Wham Bam Thankyou Sam.

Ray Spence and the crew are also equally qualified, but they are more mainstream. All of them are winners.

But the US cam makers had Australia in the bag with Heatseaker and custom roller grinds. Then Heatseaker whent belly up in Oz. Be funny if you diggers were carting them off to the states again. What a laugh.

 

[addo]

Remember that I'm pretty anti-V8, and everything they do is basically V8-focused. Horses for courses. Asking COME to grind a small six cam is like asking me to build a project home: why me - why them?

I'm pleased that Jimbo's finally found a machinist who gives a rat's backside. I cop a bit of good-humoured flak from my blokes, but when they look at a valve bowl for example, they forget how many more there are... It's simply another job to be done to top standards.

Whatever the cam, at least ol' Jimbo's a lightweight in the saddle. That car will move!

Adam.