Recent Distributor cams

B

BruceUpstate NY

Senior Member
I have new distributor cams from two well known dealers. They look rough to me on the point opening ramp. Seems to me that they will be hard on the rubbing blocks. Anyone agree with me?
 
Hi Bruce,

Yep, noticed the same thing. Took a Dremel tool to the last one I got- Smoothed and then polished the cam to mirror shine, then installed. After 500 miles, absolutely NO wear on the points block at all! Points gap still at exactly .021 on all 4 lobes.
 
The question I have with distributor cams is: do the original cams wear any appreciable amount? It would seem to me that with the relative soft fixed contact block, there would be very little wear unless the fixed block was worn down to metal. I have several of what I believe are original cams. Is there a way to measure them to see if they are good?
Rusty Nelson
 
I agree with CarlG!

I used a cam from Snyders that ate the rubbing block off a set of points before I could get out of my driveway!

Ordered a cam from Stipe Machine and have no issues at all.
 
In the Spring issue of the Model A Times we have an article where we did some testing on the Stipe cam. Not only well made but improved performance.
 
wrndln said:
The question I have with distributor cams is: do the original cams wear any appreciable amount? It would seem to me that with the relative soft fixed contact block, there would be very little wear unless the fixed block was worn down to metal. I have several of what I believe are original cams. Is there a way to measure them to see if they are good?
Rusty Nelson
Click to expand...

I don't think so but the new cams are ground differently and will give better performance.
 
DistributorCamsAandB.jpg


Look at the cam under a magnifying glass. It may be made from powdered metal and what you see as roughness may just be the normal look of powdered metal parts. Those holes are good for holding cam lube.

The picture shows how easy it is to tell the difference between the "A" and "B" cams. The "A" cam has 8 lines, while the "B" cam has 4.
 
Here's a NOS genuine Ford Model B cam. Notice the polished finish on the lobe
 

Attachments

  • 100_0610.jpg
    100_0610.jpg
    42.5 KB · Views: 97
I've seen so called "REBUILT" store-bought distributors with the cam lobe BEAD BLASTED!!! Don't ever call me "STUPID"!!!!!!!!! bILL w.
 
Original cams do wear. I ran a B dist. years ago and there was as much as 4 degrees difference from the 90* spacing that should have been there. Stipe's cam will give you more coil duration time too, for a hotter spark.
 
use a micrometer or a dial indicator on the lobes of a repro cam or even an original cam to get the most accurate reading of the lobes... then use the closest one or adjust the lobes to true it up.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top