Camgear 8BA, 59A

[3W Hank]

I has a question regards cam gear.

I bought a old Potvin race cam for 8BA and was going to use a Vertex with a 8BA shaft/camcover.
The block is a 59A.

At LARS I bought a NOS aluminium camgear to a 8BA.

Ok, now as I changed my mind and will use a Kurten Lincoln V12 distributor I need a cam with the 59A end.
I can order a new cam ( same profile or try find one based on a steel 32 core ) with that 59A end or maybe machine this 8BA cam to a 59A end.
My block is still a 59A ( Merc/truck 41 ) and crank will be a stroked 3.75 +1/8" 59A.

I was about to order the 21A rods today ( a NOS set ) and asked what bearing they had, and they had both std and 010 under on both rod& main.
We came into the crank cam gear.
Then I told it's a 59A. He had the crank cam gear ( both new and old NOS )
He said, do you has the cam gear, and I said = Yes.
Now I realised I bought a 8BA cam gear..

-So question is, I will use the ca 1937 cam cover ( 3-bolt ) but can I use the 8BA cam gear, and if so I need get the crank cam gear, also 8BA, or do I need get both for 59A ?

 

[Bored&Stroked]

You should switch the cam/crank gears to the 39-48 versions - as they thrust the cam toward the block. The 49-53 versions thrust the cam toward the timing cover (due to wanting the later distributor gear mesh and timing to be consistent).

Also, you can update the cam on a milling machine with a t-slot cutter to make it like an early cam, though you need to be spot-on on the indexing of the slot and it must be offset the correct direction (1/16th of an inch). Also, you'll need to plug the oil-hole that comes from the front cam bearing - which is only used on a 49-53 cam.

The easiest way to setup the T-Slot is to first use a 39-48 cam with the timing gear on. You can put the cam in your milling vice and then determine/mark the location of the cam gear to know how to index the 49-53 cam and gear to the exact same place. Then you'll know exactly where to cut the T-Slot for the front-mount distributor.

 

[KiWinUS]

B&S will give you great advice.
My 2c That’s a lot of cam for that small of an engine. Bad choice in my opinion. I have a couple of Original Potvin eliminators and a master to grind them but they are a race cam for big cubes.

 

[3W Hank]

Ok, got it, I guess I save this cam as it is at 8BA and the cam gear to it and the cam cover and 8BA waterpumps and the Vertex.
I try to sell the Vertex twice at HAMB but at USD 2.600 include freight wotld wide no one answered, plus 3 swapmeet in Sweden and few even look at it.
I guess to expensive part, or I payed to much.

I had a contact on a guy that can grind me a Potvin Eliminator 425 on a new core.
Really like limited new parts on this car, but maybe the best way ( or find the hard core 32 cam on a Potvin grind.

-If anyone has one of thoose steel cranks at 59A end = I'm more THAN intrested !

 

[3W Hank]

KiWinUS,
Tell me on how you think about that cam in say 275 cu in, full trottle and lots of cfm ( x4 97 )
I has no idea how this engines work with duration etc, but don't see my engine as a street use deal.
Shore I might go for a spin in town, but its build for street racing.
In my stocker Hemis I has allot of cam, but this is not to compare for shore.

 

[KiWinUS]

This cam has always been considered a race only cam for large CI. engines. It has 280* with steep ramps. Needs high spring pressure which can be fatal on a flatty. Pete that can grind these will tell you the same. Most any research with tell you the same.

 

[3W Hank]

I got this idea when I read on Potvin in a book and a serious player here at Fordbarn told me ; this is your cam.
At the Ford Store in San Dimas the owner Mike told me he love this cam and had it in his coupe.
I never did ask him what cu in he had.

When I was a Isky in June I really did like to meet the 'man' himself, but I heard that day he was on a good mode but had left 20 minuts before I came.
Idea of conversation was his 185G ( copy of the Lincoln V12 springs )
This springs are for a 400 cam so at installation at 2" they give 85 LBS.
But as I has 425 in lift I cant set them at 2" so it will be lower, say ex 75 LBS.
So my question to Mr Isky was, as I use his old competitors cam that has higher lift so I get under 85 LBS, but I has a light lifter ( Henrys std at 44 grams ) and I will run titanium valves and has a set longer used CSB ( half weight of steel ) so a very light mass.
But I never got Iskys inputs.
Shore this cam is no real street cam, but I has not that plans, I'll just wonder what the bigger cubics plays the role.
Shore it eats some of the cam.

Like ; 246 degree at 050, but camprofile is big issue more than data.

From what I found aswell.
Adverised duration at 280 and LS is 114.
In, 26/74 - Ex, 74/26

But I also found this ;

Specs from Cam Techniques

POTVIN 425 ELIMINATOR

Lift intake and exhaust .425 lash intake .014 exhaust .016
Duration intake and exhaust 284 advertised 246 at .050 valve lift
Valve timing at .050 Intake open 12 BTDC closes 54 ABDC
Exhaust open 54 BBDC closes 12 ATDC
111 Degree Intake C/L

 

[KiWinUS]

I got this idea when I read on Potvin in a book and a serious player here at Fordbarn told me ; this is your cam.
At the Ford Store in San Dimas the owner Mike told me he love this cam and had it in his coupe.
I never did ask him what cu in he had.

When I was a Isky in June I really did like to meet the 'man' himself, but I heard that day he was on a good mode but had left 20 minuts before I came.
Idea of conversation was his 185G ( copy of the Lincoln V12 springs )
This springs are for a 400 cam so at installation at 2" they give 85 LBS.
But as I has 425 in lift I cant set them at 2" so it will be lower, say ex 75 LBS.
So my question to Mr Isky was, as I use his old competitors cam that has higher lift so I get under 85 LBS, but I has a light lifter ( Henrys std at 44 grams ) and I will run titanium valves and has a set longer used CSB ( half weight of steel ) so a very light mass.
But I never got Iskys inputs.
Shore this cam is no real street cam, but I has not that plans, I'll just wonder what the bigger cubics plays the role.
Shore it eats some of the cam.

Like ; 246 degree at 050, but camprofile is big issue more than data.

From what I found aswell.
Adverised duration at 280 and LS is 114.
In, 26/74 - Ex, 74/26

But I also found this ;

Specs from Cam Techniques

POTVIN 425 ELIMINATOR

Lift intake and exhaust .425 lash intake .014 exhaust .016
Duration intake and exhaust 284 advertised 246 at .050 valve lift
Valve timing at .050 Intake open 12 BTDC closes 54 ABDC
Exhaust open 54 BBDC closes 12 ATDC
111 Degree Intake C/L

I am including a pic of my personal flathead cam collection. It includes many NOS and rare cams to include 3 Eliminators all genuine Potvin steel 32 cores modified noses. One brand new also NOS genuine Isky 404 cams. 55 years of building flatheads stock. Hot rod and race. Pl50 years building all out race engines for top series.
Use what you want just giving you my years of experience opinion.

 

[3W Hank]

Wow, what a nice storage !
If you like to sell a steel core Potvin you know where to find me !
I’ll just wonder why this cam not like 275 cu in.
Mike said it was no real hussle on street, but the idea we was going talk more after LARS but it was simple no time before I went home as I needed take care of my ( unplanned ) parts to a shipper.
On FH experiance, I has zero, but I think I balanced a crank 1985.

 

[3W Hank]

On cam gears design and press.
The 59A press to block and the 8BA press to cover ( vs the distributor gear )
I will go Kurten style distributor or a Kong or the 59A way.
I has a NOS 8BA cam gear and know a NOS 8BA crank gear.
If the cam cover on the 8BA get the press, why can’t the 59A cam cover take the press.

Just a mind story of tech. Ideas on that.

-Shore I can get a Taiwan 59A cam gears.

One did make straight cut gears but I mailed him but no reply.

 

[3W Hank]

Maybe someone can tell me if a 59A can press cam to camcover ( if one has the NOS 8BA cam gear kit )
This is more a tech question, than me get a set of the 59A cam gears.

I checked my Kurten distributor and a std 59A cam ( nose design ) and I cant get if to fit, Ok the cam gear is 8BA but something is wrong here.

-If I machine my Potvin 8BA nose cam to a 59A, the diameter is less than the 59A, see diameter where my finger point on the picture.
The thickness of flenge is the same at 0.4055” on both cams.
On the 59A cam it has a diameter at around 1.23” and the Potvin 8BA has a diameter at 1.07” so I can’t get it to be a 59A nose look like that T-slot cutter.

Seller on the cam gear in aluminium told me NOS but I doubt that, and its a number say 2702 and ( Craig ? )

 

[Tim Ayers]

I am including a pic of my personal flathead cam collection. It includes many NOS and rare cams to include 3 Eliminators all genuine Potvin steel 32 cores modified noses. One brand new also NOS genuine Isky 404 cams. 55 years of building flatheads stock. Hot rod and race. Pl50 years building all out race engines for top series.
Use what you want just giving you my years of experience opinion.

55 years? Wow. That's an awesome collection, Tony. You still look like a spring chicken!

 

[KiWinUS]

55 years? Wow. That's an awesome collection, Tony. You still look like a spring chicken!

Ha Ha. Thanks Tim. Yes a long time. Started even earlier on Briggs & Stratton as a young kit. Thanks Dad. But the time has come to let it all go. Presently cataloging to sell as a collection so will see how I proceed. There’s some RARE stuff in my large stash including many rare cams.

 

[3W Hank]

Just had a info, so if this is correct the 8BA cam in a 59A block is not the right way to go as the angles are different in the blocks. Do it works, Yes ( as I got it )
Ideas of that ?

And my issue I asked about is that are 3 cam design in the FH and I should has a cam before 41 as that nose is way longer than the cam I has ( the std cam I has is to a 2-bolt cam cover guess 42-48 ) and I need a cam ( wide lobe core ) to a 3-bolt cam cover.
And to use the 8BA camgear is not the way to go in a 59A.

To go or look for a old Moon 32 steel core cam fit a 59A block and nose will be hard, but if anyone has it for sale to me = call me.

So I guess all my 8BA stuff I bought will be nice things to look at or see it as learning progress...

But, for sale is the Potvin E 425 cam, camgear kit, alu camcover, restored by Cirello Vertex ( old Scintilla tag ) with NOS parts inside and NOS brown cap, extended shaft to the camcover.
-Can do a good deal if some one need it.