276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

In this thread I would like to share the assembly of a 276 cu in 8ba with a 4" stroke mercury crankshaft. My goal is a stock appearing flatheadf V8 to install into my shop built 1947 truck based woodie wagon. The wagon is currently running a 221 replacement block that I assembled from measured good used parts in accordance with the Ford Motor Co publication 'Repairing the Ford V8 engine'. It is a fine running engine, but I wanted more.....
I have been working on flathed V8s for at least 35 years now and have collected literally tons of parts. About seven years ago I happened upon a guy while visiting Friday Harbor, on a neighboring island who claimed to have a 4" virgin merc crank in his garage. He had retirered there from California and knew Jere Jobe who I had visited with many times on the phone about carbs and ignition matters. I bought his crankshaft and salted it away for the future. 3 years ago I had it ground and it cleaned up at .010 mains and .020 rods.
I have eleven blocks with very few visible cracks and so I built an electromagnet and bought what I needed for magnafluxing these blocks. I then built a kit for pressure testing our V8s. The first block I tested passed without a hitch and was very clean all around. I have two friends on the mainland who have had vintage engines rebuilt at Sedro-Wooley Auto parts and swear by the work of Les, who runs the machine shop out back. Let's just say, I'm a believer. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about flatheads, and a modest and soft spoken gentleman. Les urged me to let him install hard seats saying that even though I loaf along on an island, my heirs may want to hit the freeway now and then. (sounds scary). He hot tanked it,bored and honed it .125, as recomended by 'Barner friends. aligned and rebushed the rods, provided pistons and rings, installed cam bearings, surfaced the flywheel and three deck surfaces, and even the crank bores on the mains look like he attended to them. In this thread I will be seeking information about the condition of some of the used parts I intend to use and which parts make the most sense to enable the fitting of this later engine into my '47 jailbar 1/2 ton 'pickup'. I have a lot of preferences already and my desired end result may very well be miles away from what a 'normal' V8er is looking for in his build. 98% of my driving will be under 40 mph on a very hilly 58 square mile island. This woodie has very little to do with overdrive, high speed, hot cams, or any speed equipment for that matter. It has everything to do with serviceability, low end torque for the hills, smoooooth idle, and as always, that elusive 'built on a shoestring' budget.
Being 40 years self employed, living on a rock, raising 4 kids on one income, I'm very happily still working 1/2 time at 70, and loving that social security. There are many, many ways to finish this engine from here, but let's keep in mind, my hobby resources are finite,
I may not get this engine completed and installed into the woodie this season I have to deal with transmission issues in both of my beloved summertime jailbar rides. I will start with some pictures from yesterday morning's ferry ride and picking the block up from Les. My wife wanted to stop at her favorite designer nursery on the way home for plants for the deck. What could I say?

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...9&d=1710956200

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1710956316

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

You're going to have a great engine! Think about putting a mild cam in it - just so you can have a bit of a "hotrod sound" - maybe an Isky 1007B grind. I'd also put a two-carb manifold or a late Mercury manifold bored out for a bigger Rochester carb.

This is probably the only hotrod engine you're going to build . . . so have fun!

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Dale's got it right!:)

Plus a proper distributor.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Thank you Pete! The enlargements are always welcomed. I just got my first pair of perscription glasses on Monday and I'm seeing them loud and clear. And sheesh you guys... Right outa the chute I get two ideas for spending more money. :)

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Find a good stock 8BA era camshaft with no measurable wear on the lobe (measure lobe heights, all should be equal). You can't beat the stock cam for low end grunt and smooth idle.

I like the stock 3 bolt carburetors. Look through your collection and see if you have one with the larger diameter venturi. The venturi size is marked on the center section, will say 94 (indicating 0.94"), 1 (indicating 1"), 1 1/16, or 1 5/16. I avoid the last ones since there is a large mismatch in the more of the base, but the 1 1/16 should work great with the larger displacement and a stock ignition. Make sure the carburetor has the port for the vacuum advance unit of the stock 8BA era distributor, I have seen one large venturi carb without that port.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

As to camshafts, try to find a later Mercury cam; they have substantially more lift and a bit more duration than the 8BA units. Check this site out : https://www.tildentechnologies.com/C...rformance.html.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

If a stock 8ba cam gives the smoothest idle and best low end grunt, I'm all in. I have 3 cams, but two have been out of engines for a while and have surface rust. The 3rd looks good and is in one of my 8ba blocks. I will do some measuring tomorrow. I think I took one of the surface rust ones to my wire wheel with some decent results. I will post some pics tomorrow. Maybe someone out there has a nice one they removed to install a high performance cam.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

I also like the merc cam. Made for low end torque for the heavy merc, and the new in vogue automatic trannys. would be a good choice in the woodie

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Any of the stock 8BA cams will work, the shorter duration versions will maximize low end torque at the expense of mid and upper range horsepower. I would look for the best condition camshaft rather than a specific version. It will be important to identify the cam since valve lash changes depending on the factory grind.

Another cheap effort that will be felt in the seat of the pants is to get the piston to head clearance to about 0.050. I keep a used head gasket around so I can bolt a head down and measure the clearance with tin foil balls, then surface as needed to get where I want.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Today I will measure the three cams I have. I will of course mic the journals, next I expect I'd measure at 90 degrees to the lobe, then at the lobe, right? One more thing this morning. I woke up thinking about the original post and talking about the machinest Mel. Well it dawned on me that his name is Les, not Mel. I have edited the opening 'novel' for that. When we picked up the block my wife pointed out that he'd neatly stamped my full name onto the intake surface.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Glad to hear that another motor is coming together.

Man, I know I'm in the minority here, but I would not go with a stock cam. While you have a the chance, go with something that can accomplish what you are looking to do while also giving your flathead some added gow.

Life's too short to use a stock cam. LOL!!!!!

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Yeah, I'm like Tim . . . I like hot-rodded flatheads! LOL

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Gary, I often get asked about who to have machine a flathead block. I am happy to know about your guy. There are getting to be fewer people around to do that work correctly.
I too would recommend a Merc cam for your intended use.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Here's what I found at the shop. I pulled the cam that was in an 8ba block. It looks to be in nice shape and is marked 8BA, next was pretty badly pitted on the lobes and marked 8CM, last has dull brown surface rust without pits and marked EA with another A directly below. A quick hit on the wire wheel seemed to clean it up nicely. Journals were similar, and I didn't write them down. 1.794-5 sound right? My phone was dead, so I will get pics in an hour.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Here's pics of the three. I have searched EA and EAA for cam info, but zilch. The 8BA looks best, but the EAA not bad, The 8CM is out of the running as I see it. But then there's the Portland Swap Meet looming! Set up in my lathe with a dial indicator shows some runout. About .003.I would expect some at the 3 jaw chuck, but also at the tailstock. Middle a bit more.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Cam grinder Pete will know for sure, but I believe the "EA" is the same grind as the EAB cam which came out in '53. From what I understand, it was the "hottest" factory cam.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1711044056

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1711044084

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...2&d=1711044113

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

The EA cam is almost certainly an EAB cam. The BA cam is almost certainly an 8BA cam. The specifications for each are:
8BA intake - 0.305 gross lift; .013 / .015 lash; 0.291 net lift; 229 seat duration
8BA exhaust - 0.305 gross lift; .017 / .019 lash; 0.287 net lift; 238 seat duration
EAB intake - 0.328 gross lift; .013 / .015 lash; 0.314 net lift; 269 seat duration
EAB exhaust - 0.328 gross lift; .017 / .019 lash; 0.310 net lift; 247 seat duration

The EAB cam has a smooth idle and good mid-range.
The 8BA cam has a smooth idle and probably more low end grunt.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

That 8BA cam is a dog. If the EAB cam is good, that's the best of what you have. Unless you are pulling tree stumps, you don't need low end power. Mid-to upper RPM is where most people drive.

One more pitch, go with a better cam. Now is the time.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

From the condition of the three pictured choices, and keeping the intended use in mind, I'd go with the 8BA.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

This brings to mind the issues of new lifters on a used cam. This is generally considered to be OK as long as the cam is in good shape. In the final analysis, you can try anything, but using mixed parts can sometimes end up in not a good way.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

'Repair Manual'
'Ford and Mercury V8 Engines 78-81A-59A series
1937 to 1948 Pass. Cars
1937 to 1947 Trucks' 3666-48D

Printed June 18. 1948 by Ford Motor Company, lists the fits and tolerances, along with their recomended wear limits when repairing their V8 using various combinations of used parts in conjunction with new parts. This book was intended for use by Ford service mechanics in their facility. I plan to use this book as my reference, as I have many times in the past when dealing with using new parts alongside old parts. I will venture that many engines today are built with brand new shiney parts from the the major supply houses that might very well have come in from all over the globe. There is always the chance that the materials and workmanship might not be as good as what Henry specified, so for me, I prefer a measured and inspected used Ford part.(not to mention I have buckets of them). When asked about valves, Les told me the Ford valves are excellent and what to look for when I dump out my 2 coffee cans full.
I still have a lot of questions about oil pumps, truck oil pans, truck water pumps, tin foil balls, original Ford lifters and grinding stems, cleaning out the crank oil passages, cam gears (I have seven), crank gears, baffles, etc. I'm quite set on a stock merc or 8ba cam, though many have tried to sway me into being a 'hot rodder', I happily remain a 'brown shoed square'. Your's truly, GB

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

It also has to do with spring pressure. If you're running a stock cam, you only need about 45 -50 lbs (max) of spring pressure . . . so that tends to be a bit more forgiving when using older lifters. BUT, you want to check the bottoms of the lifters - they should have a very slight convex "crown" on them. If not, then you might want to get them resurfaced.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Thanks, I'm still a bit up in the air about lifters. I have 2 complete sets of old Johnsons. One from a cracked block tear down and one set from a swap meet. I ended up with 2 of the same sioux valve face surfacers (both were given to me) I have been swapping parts around and will end up with a really nice one. Been experimenting with the stem grinding and it is very satisfying. I can see this becoming like a 'which cam?' thread, so in the end I alone will have to decide. I have been out in the shop this morning messing with cleaning up cams on my lathe. Ford's book says to discard a cam with journals less than 1.7955. My new inserted bearings are 1.799. Right now I am of course walking the line between nicely polished journals and too small. Lastly, what does anyone know about an 8RT cam? NOS Ford in cosmoline are available for less than 200 bucks. (military?) Very little written about them on the web, but most say they think it's same as 8BA.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

I had Les, great guy to work with, do all the machine work on my 59a block. He sourced the same pistons in the your photo for my build. I highly recommend disassembling them for a full cleaning. My had a large amount of aluminum chips under the wrist pin area. It hard to see but check with a finger.

Rick

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Now that you have the cam selected ( I like the EAB cam) find a set of EAB heads and mill for 40/45 piston to head clearance, Lot of things tot hink o f here. Good luck
Gramps

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Quote from Gary's initial post:
" I have a lot of preferences already and my desired end result may very well be miles away from what a 'normal' V8er is looking for in his build. 98% of my driving will be under 40 mph on a very hilly 58 square mile island. This woodie has very little to do with overdrive, high speed, hot cams, or any speed equipment for that matter. It has everything to do with serviceability, low end torque for the hills, smoooooth idle, and as always, that elusive 'built on a shoestring' budget."


Based on that, any cam other than stock would (in my opinion and experience) be a waste and quite possibly detrimental. An 8BA or 8RT will run beautifully in that application. :) Getting piston to head clearance as close to .040" as I could?....I'd be all about getting that done.



Terry

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Thank you Rick, I will certainly do that. Once again 'Offshore' parts, rear their ugly heads. Les has a sign in the shop that says they will only build with parts sold by the 'Carquest' store out front. Let me be the first to welcome to the barn, neighbor! And Terry, thanks for the quote and 'getting' what I am planning to build here.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

I suspect the 8RT cam is either the same as the 8BA cam, or is the older 37-48 grind. I would check the 8BA and the EAB cams for condition and if either are good use them first, with preference on the 8BA cam. No need to spend another $200 you don't need (that will be used for water pumps, gaskets, or some other necessity). Post the journal diameters and we can keep offering opinions. You definitely want good cam to bearing clearances as that directly affects engine oil pressure.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

And I watch my oil pressure like a hawk. Ask my kids... On long driving vacations (every family car we owned had high mileage), my mood would revolve around the oil pressure I was seeing on the aftermarket gauge. Here are some photos from this morning's adventure in cam cleaning. I mic'd the heel/toe dimension before and after sanding with 600/800/1000/1200 wet dry with MMO for lubricant. This gave a surface I could live with for the lobes, The journals took a lot less work. I downshifted the lathe into back gear on the lowest of 4 belt speeds and was at 35 rpm. The journals remained constant at 1.795-1.796. But get this..... Using my dial indicator with cam in the lathe(not running) I found .341 gross lift on the ones I had not surfaced, and gross lift on the two I completed to my satisfaction I had a gross lift of .338 and .339. I knew my method would take more off the toe as the oak splint exerted the greatest spring pressure at that point. Must be why someone altered the EA designation. Anybody want this thing? Unfortunately the other 2 cams have similar sized journals. I already have gaskets, can I buy that nos 8rt cam? :)

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

It don’t matter where you live……..I’m calling that Yankee Ingenuity! …….Mark

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1711237647

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1711237496

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1711237527

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

I have never seen a cam with 8RT markings on it.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Wow Pete! You make me look like a photographer. And Mark, yes I was born in Seattle soon after my YANKEE parents moved there from SE Massachusetts, leaving behind many generations of Sissons. My dad had a little sign in his workshop that read:

Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without

He claimed it was the true New England yankee creed.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Sounds like the same thing my Dutch Dad told me

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

I now see that someone got the last one of those cosmoline coated camshafts this morning. Oh wait, it was me, earlier today. And flatjack, I don't know if it has '8RT' markings on the camshaft itself. I guess we'll find out. https://www.ebay.com/itm/393197818167

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

Thanks Ron, I dug out a couple sets of those from my stack last winter. I set aside the best looking pair on a dedicated shelf where I have been stockpiling everything I need for this engine. It's starting to get exciting.

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts
 

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rrsAA...8td/s-l500.png
https://www.fordbarn.comhttps://www.fordbarn.comhttps://www.fordbarn.com

Re: 276 stroker from 35 years of parts