purchasing flathead camshafts who do we turn to?

[4tford]

Well I am not sure how to word this but here goes. We all know the excellent job Kiwi Tony has done in getting the L-100 back on the market but if this is not the cam we want or need then where do we turn? Speedway, Isky, etc?? Many of us know that Pete also provides cams but I am sure very few of us are really aware of his vast and many years of experience. I am aware that Pete is not one to blow his own horn so I would like to ask him in a nice way to please step in here and tell us about his business, what his most popular cam grinds are and maybe give us an idea of what to look for in the way of a cam when designing a new motor. I for one need to learn more. Thanks Bill

[texas webb]

I'll second this,as many would like to know what's available.Of course depending on how you build your engine.

[Ol' Ron]

I find the Speedway cams to be very expensive, including adj, lifters. A reground cam for the street can save you a buck or two. However, choosing a street cam?? is near imposable. Most hi lift cams require head work or new Edelbrock heads. Offy's won't clear an L-100.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by 4tford

Well I am not sure how to word this but here goes. We all know the excellent job Kiwi Tony has done in getting the L-100 back on the market but if this is not the cam we want or need then where do we turn? Speedway, Isky, etc?? Many of us know that Pete also provides cams but I am sure very few of us are really aware of his vast and many years of experience. I am aware that Pete is not one to blow his own horn so I would like to ask him in a nice way to please step in here and tell us about his business, what his most popular cam grinds are and maybe give us an idea of what to look for in the way of a cam when designing a new motor. I for one need to learn more. Thanks Bill

I will try to word this post so that it meets forum rules but answers Bill's questions.
I know of a shop on the west coast that builds vintage circle track race cars for various venues. They build engines for these cars a also. They used to do the complete engine machine work in house including hot tanking, crank grinding and align boring.
When the owner semi retired several years ago they sold off the crank grinder (Van Norman), align boring machine (AMC2500), dyno (Clayton), and got rid of the hot tank due to the EPA.
They kept the cam grinder, valve equipment (Serdi), and the boring bars (Kwikway).
The owner spends a lot of time now shooting, building guns and fishing. He keeps the shop busy to pay the taxes, power bill and the hobby expenses.
In a long talk recently about cams, he told me most of the cams he does now are for flathead Fords. About half are all out race grinds and half street grinds. He said the most popular race cam seems to be the 404A with the 425 a close second. He said he is the only one left in business making lifters for the 404. He said he is the only one left furnishing drilled lifters for race applications. They are 10 grams lighter than stock.
He said the 1007B is by far the most popular street cam he sells and while many people don't completely understand why it is superior to other grinds in the same class the simple answer is it has a higher RATE of lift. It was designed to make horsepower in the low and midrange rpm's but still not flatten off at 5000.
He told me he has several other popular street grinds such as the Potvin 3/8 and the H&C 6372. He said he has several proprietary race grinds but declined to discuss them. I asked him about 4 banger cams and he said he does quite a few so called "touring" cams for street applications, the most popular being the 77B.
I asked where most of his sales come from since he "semi' retired and he said the internet. He said about the time he retired he moved way out in the sticks to get away from the noise, the rush of the masses and walk in customers. He enjoys talking to race people and either knows or has met just about all of the well known people connected with all forms racing. He has over the years participated in just about all forms of racing on wheels, even a couple of years in hydroplanes.
He still puts on an occasional seminar/get together on cam grinding but usually limits it to about 5 people.
I asked about his pet peeves. He said the biggest was getting up in the morning and hearing about another highly knowledgeable racing friend croaking.
Another one was people that pose as cam grinders and are nothing more than a marketing outlet for a true cam grinding business.

[42merc]

save

[texas webb]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks Pete.Nice story,sounds like quite a man.

[4tford]

Thanks Pete, can I assume if someone needed a camshaft other than an l-100 they could send you a PM and you could help them out??

[Tim Ayers]

Pete, that guy sounds like someone you know really well.

Pete certainly knows his stuff. I also wouldn't forget about George at Clay Smith Cams for comparison sake. I had him grind a few cams they look like a jeweler did the work. Sadly, Bill Jenks is now longer with us, but his was the sole grinder of Potvin cams when he was still with us.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by 4tford

Thanks Pete, can I assume if someone needed a camshaft other than an l-100 they could send you a PM and you could help them out??

I can put them in touch with the guy.

[JWL]

HMMmmmm. That guy sounds familiar.

[bbrocksr]

Is his name Pete ?
Bill

[Ol' Ron]

I'd really like to meet this guy, seems to know his business.

[Krylon32]

I've used a reground mild performance cam from Baxter Ford Parts in Lawrence Kansas. Can't remember the price but it was not expensive. I bought all the parts from them and I thought it was reasonable.

[PeterC]

Originally Posted by bbrocksr

Is his name Pete ?
Bill

No ... but he looks just like Pete

[19Fordy]

Is the "Pete" mentioned in the following thread the same "Pete" being discussed here?
Scroll down to Post #20.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...dation.118991/

[4tford]

Yes at D&L Automachine

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Is the "Pete" mentioned in the following thread the same "Pete" being discussed here?
Scroll down to Post #20.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...dation.118991/

Thats a great thread 19Fordy !!!
Sure are a lot of L100,s out there !!!
Thanks

[chap52]

Eric at Go Cats Speed Shop provided me with a Howard grind 3/4 cam which I am really pleased with. Here is the web site: www.Gocatspeedshop.com This sitealso has videos of flatties he has built being fired up. Several cid, carb and cam combinations to "listen to". Some folks listen to classical music to relax. I enjoy listening to these flatheads singing.

[Elmo Rodge]

Pete took me to that guys shop a few years ago. Waitaminit. That was 14 years ago. Wow. Wayno

[Tim Ayers]

Their is also Nielson Cams in MT (I think).