The Ford Barn

whatdoyouwant · 09-30-2023, 12:13 PM

I will not bore you with all that I went through with this engine but here is my question. I obtained this engine with a 4" crank, racing pistons, and a 400jr cam. No heads or intake. I put a stock intake and stock 8BA heads on it and promptly bent 15 out of 16 valves. It would sort of run on 5 cylinders. After taking all apart, I find I have sbc valves. The exhaust are 1.5" and the intakes are 1.6". After getting new valves and different heads with more valve pocket clearance, and doing a little modification it is again running. It runs good but I don't like the sound out the exhaust. With the other stuff different to the engine, can I just put in a stock cam? This car will never do more than cruise the streets of town. I forgot, it has adjustable lifters.

alanwoodieman · 09-30-2023, 12:23 PM

does it have the exhaust dividers between 2/3 and 6/7? if not put them in and see if that changes the sound. it seems like you have exhaust valve overlap with such a high lift cam

cadillac512 · 09-30-2023, 01:47 PM

If the lope in the exhaust at idle and low speeds is what you don't care for, then yes...install a stock cam. It'll work fine and will idle smooth. The adjustable lifters should accommodate the stock cam.

19Fordy · 09-30-2023, 02:02 PM

"With the other stuff different to the engine, can I just put in a stock cam? "

Read this BEFORE you decide to install baffles.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51343

If you need baffles, I have a brand new set I never used. I sent you a PM.

Ol' Ron · 09-30-2023, 03:34 PM

The 400jr is a very good track cam, but it's long duration make it a poor street cam. But the sound is great. Ran one for a few years, worked quite well. Replaced it with the Erson D-410
Gramps

tubman · 09-30-2023, 09:14 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If you decide to replace your cam with a stock unit, try to get a Mercury cam (8CM, 0CM, or EAC).

I did and I like everything about it.

cas3 · 09-30-2023, 10:10 PM

I agree, ^^^ merc cam is a good stock unit. A little more low end torque as the automatics were coming in, and the merc was a heavy car. A local cam grinder near me
had a bin full of them for me. Barry Cam , Plato Minnesota

solidaxle · 10-01-2023, 07:41 AM

Back in the day, when pulling into a drive-in, Hot rodders would pull out the choke to achieve that lumpy sound. It made it sound like they had a hot cam.

whatdoyouwant · 10-01-2023, 08:43 AM

Thanks for all the help. I think I will go with a stock can rather than baffels. Since this is in a 48 Mercury, I will try to find a Merc cam.

al

tubman · 10-01-2023, 09:36 AM

'48 Mercury? I thought this thread was about an 8BA.

If it truly is a '59A, then Ford or Merc cams are the same as far as I know.

Ronnie · 10-01-2023, 09:48 AM

Isn't that be Berry Cam

Ronnie

whatdoyouwant · 10-01-2023, 10:38 AM

Yes it is an 8BA engine, but I have installed it in a 48 merc

cadillac512 · 10-01-2023, 05:56 PM

8CM in my '41 Merc as well. It's a good swap. Mine has the 8CM Merc cam and is perfect for the way I use it. Strong but good manners.

Ol' Ron · 10-02-2023, 08:55 AM

I really don't think you could feel the difference between between any of the various 8bA style cams. Compression and carburetion. also have an efect on performance. Personaly I like the EAB cam, But it's the only stock cam I ever used.
G

09-30-2023, 12:13 PM	#1
whatdoyouwant Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 176	8ba question I will not bore you with all that I went through with this engine but here is my question. I obtained this engine with a 4" crank, racing pistons, and a 400jr cam. No heads or intake. I put a stock intake and stock 8BA heads on it and promptly bent 15 out of 16 valves. It would sort of run on 5 cylinders. After taking all apart, I find I have sbc valves. The exhaust are 1.5" and the intakes are 1.6". After getting new valves and different heads with more valve pocket clearance, and doing a little modification it is again running. It runs good but I don't like the sound out the exhaust. With the other stuff different to the engine, can I just put in a stock cam? This car will never do more than cruise the streets of town. I forgot, it has adjustable lifters.

09-30-2023, 12:23 PM	#2
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 3,006	Re: 8ba question does it have the exhaust dividers between 2/3 and 6/7? if not put them in and see if that changes the sound. it seems like you have exhaust valve overlap with such a high lift cam

09-30-2023, 01:47 PM	#3
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,229	Re: 8ba question If the lope in the exhaust at idle and low speeds is what you don't care for, then yes...install a stock cam. It'll work fine and will idle smooth. The adjustable lifters should accommodate the stock cam. __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '30 Model A Speedster '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

09-30-2023, 02:02 PM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,916	Re: 8ba question "With the other stuff different to the engine, can I just put in a stock cam? " Read this BEFORE you decide to install baffles. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51343 If you need baffles, I have a brand new set I never used. I sent you a PM. Last edited by 19Fordy; 09-30-2023 at 02:09 PM.

09-30-2023, 03:34 PM	#5
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: 8ba question The 400jr is a very good track cam, but it's long duration make it a poor street cam. But the sound is great. Ran one for a few years, worked quite well. Replaced it with the Erson D-410 Gramps

09-30-2023, 09:14 PM	#6
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,132	Re: 8ba question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you decide to replace your cam with a stock unit, try to get a Mercury cam (8CM, 0CM, or EAC). I did and I like everything about it.

09-30-2023, 10:10 PM	#7
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,557	Re: 8ba question I agree, ^^^ merc cam is a good stock unit. A little more low end torque as the automatics were coming in, and the merc was a heavy car. A local cam grinder near me had a bin full of them for me. Barry Cam , Plato Minnesota

10-01-2023, 07:41 AM	#8
solidaxle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: upstate NY Posts: 538	Re: 8ba question Back in the day, when pulling into a drive-in, Hot rodders would pull out the choke to achieve that lumpy sound. It made it sound like they had a hot cam.

10-01-2023, 08:43 AM	#9
whatdoyouwant Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 176	Re: 8ba question Thanks for all the help. I think I will go with a stock can rather than baffels. Since this is in a 48 Mercury, I will try to find a Merc cam. al

10-01-2023, 09:36 AM	#10
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,132	Re: 8ba question '48 Mercury? I thought this thread was about an 8BA. If it truly is a '59A, then Ford or Merc cams are the same as far as I know.

10-01-2023, 09:48 AM	#11
Ronnie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Where it snows Posts: 2,059	Re: 8ba question Isn't that be Berry Cam Ronnie

10-01-2023, 10:38 AM	#12
whatdoyouwant Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 176	Re: 8ba question Yes it is an 8BA engine, but I have installed it in a 48 merc

10-01-2023, 05:56 PM	#13
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,229	Re: 8ba question 8CM in my '41 Merc as well. It's a good swap. Mine has the 8CM Merc cam and is perfect for the way I use it. Strong but good manners. __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '30 Model A Speedster '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

10-02-2023, 08:55 AM	#14
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,985	Re: 8ba question I really don't think you could feel the difference between between any of the various 8bA style cams. Compression and carburetion. also have an efect on performance. Personaly I like the EAB cam, But it's the only stock cam I ever used. G