NOS Cam ID

[Shoebox]

So I came across an NOS flathead cam while digging around in the back building at SOCal speed shop in Cave Creek, AZ. I believe it to be a Merc cam but would greatly appreciate it if some of the cam gurus here could verify what I have. I've attached a pic, it appears to read 1CM. Any info most appreciated.................well, my attempts to up load the pic failed, and I've done this a lot. Anyhow it does show 1CM, with a 3 below it.

[Pete]

The number would indicate stock Merc but who knows what has been done to it since the 50's.

[Shoebox]

Pete, thanks for the response! I hear what you are saying, however it is completely coated in what appears to be very old rubber like coating, I tend to believe that as I was told, it's an original cam.

[tubman]

You mention you have a "1CM" cam. I assume that this is a slight change from the previous "8CM" to accommodate the new for 1951 Merc-o-Matic transmission. The '51 Mercury engine (that appeared to be very original) that I have in my car had an "8CM" cam in it. Does anyone know if they only put the "1CM" in the automatic equipped cars and kept using the "8CM" in the sticks?

The "8CM" appears to be an improvement over an "8BA" cam (.338" lift vs .307"); I would expect the "1CM" to be similar.

[cadillac512]

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10155


Check out the thread above,particularly post #8. Good info there.


Terry

[40larry]

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Originally Posted by Shoebox

So I came across an NOS flathead cam while digging around in the back building at SOCal speed shop in Cave Creek, AZ. I believe it to be a Merc cam but would greatly appreciate it if some of the cam gurus here could verify what I have. I've attached a pic, it appears to read 1CM. Any info most appreciated.................well, my attempts to up load the pic failed, and I've done this a lot. Anyhow it does show 1CM, with a 3 below it.

These NOS 1CM cams were quite common years ago. I bought a bunch from Joblot in NY and they were all coated as you describe and and in boxes stenciled with 1CM. What I discovered later was that some of them were out of spec on the bearing journals causing more clearance than desired. This added clearance will cause a loss of oil pressure but with a new 80 lb pump they never caused me a problem. Good luck. 40larry

[mfirth]

My worn out 8ba ran better with the 8cm than the rebuilt with an Isky Max 1.

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by 40larry

These NOS 1CM cams were quite common years ago. I bought a bunch from Joblot in NY and they were all coated as you describe and and in boxes stenciled with 1CM. What I discovered later was that some of them were out of spec on the bearing journals causing more clearance than desired. This added clearance will cause a loss of oil pressure but with a new 80 lb pump they never caused me a problem. Good luck. 40larry

Another option is to have your crank grinder regrind them to .010 under - then you can buy .010 cam bearings and you're good to go!

No reason to have the cam "flopping around" with loose clearances. LOL

[Shoebox]

mfirth, Interesting, any details on how the performance differed?