21 stud cam

4tford

4tford

Well-known member
I am trying to build a 21 stud from parts on hand. New style valves and adj. lifters went well. Looks like the cam I chose is the wrong one. Lobes are off center to the lifters and the lobes are VERY close to the next lifter. What stock cam should I be looking for???? Thanks Bill

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What year is your block? I've never seen any cam that wouldn't fit any block. That is strange the cam won't go in all the way. Walt
 
It looks like it's in there Walt, just too far right or too far left on the lifters. Wow! That's one for the notebook. Where is that cam from? Looks like a regrind with the small base circles and the lobes are much wider than stock.

Lonnie
 
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I think the cam you need has a press on timing gear check Vanpelts on line and review the cam section under parts drawings ...I hope this helps..John
 
Just another thought. check for excesive wear on the thrust area at the front of the block. it could let the cam go to far in ..Worth checking
 
From the picture it looks like the lifters will collide with the ones next door and the 6th lobe to left from the picture looks like it will hit the block.very odd
 
Aftermarket cams are way narrower than originals... The lobes are off set to spin the lifters... This looks good to me, I would spin the cam- see what the clearances are... And, I think that all the flat head cams from 1932 up are useable in all the other engines... The timing gear does determine the location of the cam...
As usual, - my opinion... I don't have a cam sitting in a block to compare the offset on the lifters, might drop a cam in something to see, when it stops raining...
Karl
 
Update on 21 stud cam

I took the cam out and installed a different one and everything fit as normal. The pics show the difference in the cams. Also the first cam was a wide lobe but should still have fit.

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Did you try putting the timing gear on ? This may hold it in position better . DITTO on never seeing this problem B4 .
 
Do you know anything about the cams you have?... as in what they came out of?? OEM or regrind?? anything... Just curious...John
 
Picked them up at a couple of Estate auctions etc. a few years back. Mix of used NOS and regrinds.
 
I'm getting the feeling this discussion has gone around before about THIS cam starting about 50 or so years ago. Probably why it's in such good shape after all these years.

Lonnie
 
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