Mix match 8Ba & 59A pulley/distributors etc

[Bored&Stroked]

Couple very important things to know about that adapter:

1) If you're running a 59A style cam, you'll probably find that when you put the stock bolts into this adapter, that they might hit the timing cover. When this happens a bunch of metal gets ground off and thrown down into the oil. You may need to modify the adapter to use different fasteners with countersunk heads on them. Something like this:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/sc...head-screws-9/

2) IMPORTANT: Stock 49-53 cams had an oil-pressure port/hole in the front bearing journal - that fed positive oil pressure to the front of the snout of the cam. The front surface of the cam is a "thrust surface" - if you don't provide a reliable amount of oil-pressure, then it will gall over time. Again - more metal filings in your oil and a cam that is now walking back and forth.

a) CAM: You need to look at a 49-53 CAM, see what was done with the pressurized oil port and replicate it with your 59x type cam. It can't be done with the cam in the engine! You have to drill the cam in two places ---> one in the journal and another through the front of it to hit the journal oil hole.

b) Adapter: It needs to be drilled to allow pressurized oil to reach the front thrust surface. You also want to make sure there is a good fitment on the backside of it (such that you don't have a big pressure leak between the 59X cam front surface and the back of the adapter.

The above usually requires some machine tools (mill, lathe, etc) and knowledge to get it right. If it is not right, then you'll most likely cause damage to the engine.

It is a SHAME that folks like Speedway sell products like this without instructions and warnings like the above.

Best of luck!

B&S

[Jeep09]

Thanks' for the input. I have picked up Motor City Flathead (8BA) motor with a few parts robbed off. I would like to use the 8BA front items, water pumps & a pass side distributor as I already have these items. Thanks for this valuable input

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Couple very important things to know about that adapter:

1) If you're running a 59A style cam, you'll probably find that when you put the stock bolts into this adapter, that they might hit the timing cover. When this happens a bunch of metal gets ground off and thrown down into the oil. You may need to modify the adapter to use different fasteners with countersunk heads on them. Something like this:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/sc...head-screws-9/

2) IMPORTANT: Stock 49-53 cams had an oil-pressure port/hole in the front bearing journal - that fed positive oil pressure to the front of the snout of the cam. The front surface of the cam is a "thrust surface" - if you don't provide a reliable amount of oil-pressure, then it will gall over time. Again - more metal filings in your oil and a cam that is now walking back and forth.

a) CAM: You need to look at a 49-53 CAM, see what was done with the pressurized oil port and replicate it with your 59x type cam. It can't be done with the cam in the engine! You have to drill the cam in two places ---> one in the journal and another through the front of it to hit the journal oil hole.

b) Adapter: It needs to be drilled to allow pressurized oil to reach the front thrust surface. You also want to make sure there is a good fitment on the backside of it (such that you don't have a big pressure leak between the 59X cam front surface and the back of the adapter.

The above usually requires some machine tools (mill, lathe, etc) and knowledge to get it right. If it is not right, then you'll most likely cause damage to the engine.

It is a SHAME that folks like Speedway sell products like this without instructions and warnings like the above.

Best of luck!

B&S

Dale, do you happen to have any pictures or diagrams on doing the modifications that you have recommended here? Pictures speak a thousand words & make it a lot easier to understand for any of us wanna be machinist types that like to do as much on our own as possible.

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Couple very important things to know about that adapter:

1) If you're running a 59A style cam, you'll probably find that when you put the stock bolts into this adapter, that they might hit the timing cover. When this happens a bunch of metal gets ground off and thrown down into the oil. You may need to modify the adapter to use different fasteners with countersunk heads on them. Something like this:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/sc...head-screws-9/

2) IMPORTANT: Stock 49-53 cams had an oil-pressure port/hole in the front bearing journal - that fed positive oil pressure to the front of the snout of the cam. The front surface of the cam is a "thrust surface" - if you don't provide a reliable amount of oil-pressure, then it will gall over time. Again - more metal filings in your oil and a cam that is now walking back and forth.

a) CAM: You need to look at a 49-53 CAM, see what was done with the pressurized oil port and replicate it with your 59x type cam. It can't be done with the cam in the engine! You have to drill the cam in two places ---> one in the journal and another through the front of it to hit the journal oil hole.

b) Adapter: It needs to be drilled to allow pressurized oil to reach the front thrust surface. You also want to make sure there is a good fitment on the backside of it (such that you don't have a big pressure leak between the 59X cam front surface and the back of the adapter.

The above usually requires some machine tools (mill, lathe, etc) and knowledge to get it right. If it is not right, then you'll most likely cause damage to the engine.

It is a SHAME that folks like Speedway sell products like this without instructions and warnings like the above.

Best of luck!

B&S

I’ve never used one myself but what happens if you use the timing gears for the 59A that thrust the cam towards the block and not the front cover like the 8BA. ?