cam timing question

Craig CT

Craig CT

Senior Member
If I redrill a 1941 cam gear to advance the cam 5 crankshaft degrees will it work, what problems may accure, ect.. Thanks in advance.
 
Well, Craig, I'd hafta guess it'd work either advanced or retarded but not as good. And drilling might ruin the gear. Did I guess right? 8^)

Jack E/NJ
 
Using a Rat tail file you can elongate the holes. Then using "Star" washers , instead of the factory bolt lock plate. You can do 5 or 6 degrees of what ever you want. Did this on the stockcar many times. Didn't do much, probably had the wrong driver.
 
Put the crank where you want it, put the cam where you want it... Rotate the cam gear til you find a blank spot for all the bolt holes in the cam, mark a new place that corelates to the mark on the crank gear... Make a template for new holes to drill in the cam gear... I would index it from the distributor drive slot...
Advance for low end, retard for high end... got from racers
Are you going for more low end? I think that's what you'll get.... Karl
 
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Check John Lawson's book for info on the subject. It can be done. Success depends on what you want to achieve. Good Luck!
 
Jack E/NJ said:
Well, Craig, I'd hafta guess it'd work either advanced or retarded but not as good. And drilling might ruin the gear. Did I guess right? 8^)

Jack E/NJ
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Hi Jack; (something one should never say on an airplane) On a 1941 cam intake opens at TDC, so I was wondering if something could be done to improve the cam for a little higher power range,move power range to a higher RPM, did I ask the question wrongly? Thanks Craig.
 
Ol' Ron said:
Using a Rat tail file you can elongate the holes. Then using "Star" washers , instead of the factory bolt lock plate. You can do 5 or 6 degrees of what ever you want. Did this on the stockcar many times. Didn't do much, probably had the wrong driver.
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Hi Ron; I haven't been on the computor much lately, it's good to see you posting. I hope to come up and buy you a lunch before the snow gets to deep, are you getting any time in the shop? I've got alot of emails to catch up on so I'll be in touch soon.
 
Well the lawn mower beat me so I'm working on my grandsons 276, Got the block back from the machine shop lat week and he'll be home from Collage in a few weeks for a short vacation and I hope to get it together.. Other than that just getting older.
 
Excuse my ignorance, but wouldn't this change in cam timing also affect the distributors initial timing? Surely you'd have to alter the timing screw on the side of distributor a like amount? Brian
 
Brian said:
Excuse my ignorance, but wouldn't this change in cam timing also affect the distributors initial timing? Surely you'd have to alter the timing screw on the side of distributor a like amount? Brian
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Hi Brian; This is why I asked the question, in that not just one thing would be changed. I thought that some of the old rodders would have tried this and what I'm getting is that I can do it but it's rather pointless. I was in Sidney for a few days back in 1986 and then spent a couple days in Auckland before comming home, had a great time and met some very nice folks. Good day mate.
 
In sort track racing, getting off the corners and accelerating down the shut can give you an advantage on the track, so retarding the cam can bring in a little more torque. Unfortunately the air pressure in the right front might be more important. This is a learning process. For a street engine I don't think you'd notice the differance.
 
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