flathead cam
 

found a cam 59 block marked offy 4 180 copper plated dist. end of cam any help what it is ?

Re: flathead cam
 

Hopefully cam grinder Pete will answer.

Re: flathead cam
 

If it is what it is stamped, it is a #4 Meyer Drake 270 Offy grind for short tracks.
The "180" could be it was for an engine with a single plane crank.
It was originally designed by Ed Winfield in the 30's.
It is similar to an Isky 404A and requires radius lifters.
It is one of the best all around grinds that was ever put in a flathead Ford V8.

I have quite a few out there running in winning cars but you probably won't get the owners to admit it. (none with single plane cranks)

Re: flathead cam
 

Say Pete, Did they use the Farmall model "M" crank for the flathead flat crank?? Just something i heard.

Re: flathead cam
 

I have never heard of that but it probably could be done with some creative welding and machining.

All of the ones I heard of had Norden cranks. Norden made all kinds of neat race car stuff.

Re: flathead cam
 

Here is a clip, regarding the 180 cranks and also, using the Farmall H crank to build one.

Re: flathead cam
 

I love hearing about things like the Farmall crank "tricks".

Re: flathead cam
 

Pete:

What would be the advantage of copper plating the end of the cam snout?

Re: flathead cam
 

I had a Howard F 11 for a flat shaft, and I think that's where I got the idea. Strange how you remember things like that.

Re: flathead cam
 

Originaly the steel billet (mostly SAE8620 in the old days) was copper plated between the lobes and anywhere they did NOT want it to be hardened. The hardening process is a surface type and is usually about .090 deep.

Re: flathead cam
 

Keep in mind that Pete is talking about a custom made billet cam core - usually made out of AQ/BQ 8620 steel. The initial operation is to make a cam core (lobes, journals, etc) - but oversize in the journal areas. The journals and lobe areas are just round pieces of steel at this point, no "lobes" yet exist.

The cam core is copper plated (the whole core), then it is "rough ground" (lobes and journals) to about .030 oversize (on everything), then it is heat treated to harden both the bearing journals and the lobe surfaces.

The copper plating prevents the hardening from going into the core of the shaft - such that it doesn't become brittle. After the rough grind and heat treat, then the cam is finish ground to the final profiles and journal sizes. This multi-step process is one reason why custom billet cams are much more expensive than typical cast-iron versions.

Here is a cam "core" that has been copper plated - it is for a Flathead Cadillac engine that I built:

Copper Plated Core:

Attachment 445504

Finish Ground:

Attachment 445505

Here are two Flathead Ford cams: An Isky 404A (cast-iron core) and an Isky 505 custom billet core - .505 lift and large bearing journals (only way to get that amount of lift!). Pete did the finish grind on the 505 - thanks Pete!

Re: flathead cam
 

Question: Did the cam come in an engine that had a crankshaft in it? Would love to know if it had a 180 degree (flat) crankshaft? There were some guys that did this (usually in dirt track cars) - sounded really different, but also would vibrate your teeth out! LOL

The setup that I have seen the most of was offered by "Norden" back in the day, he produced flat crankshafts and the necessary 180 degree cams to go with them. In order for a 180 degree crankshaft to be used - you also needed a special 180 degree camshaft (and visa-versa).

Can you post some pictures of the CAM you have? Thanks!

Re: flathead cam
 

i just wanted to know about the cam was it a high rev. cam or not i have the engine it is a flat crank or we called them a crossfire

Re: flathead cam
 

We turn them 7200. We use titanium valves and lightweight lifters.
We know for sure they will turn over 8K with no valve float.
One of our engines had the dog clutch coupling break coming off of a turn and the engine free wound.

Re: flathead cam
 

hi when the daughter comes over i will have her take pics.