1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

I'm in the process of building a flathead V-8 which will have an original Ardun overhead valve conversion on it. The preferred cam for the way I'm building this particular engine is the Ford V-8 steel cam used in 1932 and I believe also during the 1933 production. If anyone has a used cam they would be interested in selling please let me know by sending me a personal message.
Ronnieroadster.

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Ronnie, I have a used Potvin Eliminator Camshaft that I do not need. They were ground on the steel billet 32 cams. Would this help? Stan 1 775 265 5333

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Thanks for the offer Stan. The Eliminator is an amazing profile unfortunately its to radical for what I need.

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Ronnie, our old stock 33 Babbit engine has the steel cam ,( its currently powering our 34 3w) , it s one VERY nice engine,I see the timing is different than the later games,is that why you want it?
I always look fo them min any old engines I get.
Lawrie

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Why Ronnie wants it is because it is steel billet . . . the only one (and some early 33's) that came this way. He will be regrinding it to whatever Ardun profile he is going to use.

Potvin liked to use the steel 32 cores for his 425 Eliminator grinds - as his profile had a pretty "pointed tip" and he liked a steel core for the smaller base circles his 425 grind ended up with. Also, the thought was that the nose of the lobe wouldn't wear as much as with a cast core. In most original Potvin 425's the journals were ground to .010 under. In later years I also saw some cast core 425's with hardface overlay welds on the tips of the cast core lobes.

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

I've always been curious as to why the cam journals are turned .010 under on an Eliminator. What is the reason for this?

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

They’re ground .010 under to make sure the cam is straight to grind......I think I read that somewhere?....Mark

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Could it be because welding was used to build up the lobes, and may induce warpage?

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

I don't think they welded the steel cam cores. Only the cast ones.

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Is there some quick and easy way to ID a 32/early 33 steel cam?

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

They are machined all over. No casting/forge lines.

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

The easiest way is look at the center cam bearing journal you will see an X grove shape made by grinding the grove radiates outward from the center of the journal. This grove allowed for additional oil to flow between the block and cam. The rear cam bearing journal will also have a similar ground X pattern in the bearing surface. And as Andy posted above the entire cam is machined so it shows none of the typical casting lines.
Ronnieoadster

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

I run a steel cam in mine [37 block] cant recall seeing the X grooves.. Tap it with a steel tool and it will ring, thats another way.. Brian should see this .

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

Take one look at the core . . . and you'll now it is a steel billet and not cast . . . is immediately obvious. Also, all original 32 cores have a press-on timing gear. I use the later aluminum press-on gears - gives you infinite timing adjustments. ;)

Re: 1932 V-8 original steel cam
 

I have an old dusty cam labled as 32 cam with gear attached.. calif 7609382250