19Fordy
Well-known member
Here's some lifter info:
https://www.google.com/search?q=wha...E0OTk5ajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=wha...E0OTk5ajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Rollerlifters
- Thread starter 3W Hank
- Start date
Hank, all the info you seek can be found in the numerous books about this time period. I’ll list some titles for you. Also, I would recommend looking at the Bonneville, Muroc and and El Mirage time sheets for the year you want to build your car around. They list the motor size and cam maker that the car was running
I found entery list on Hamb before at El Mirage 1948 and that was a cool reading, engine size, heads, distributor etc.
Thats where I realised few had babystroked cranks but bored max, few had Kurten or Kong distributors and most had Edelelbrock heads, intakes.
My idea in that era most had std heads but my guess there era cast alu heads was in full bloom and easy to get at decent price.
If it was any advantage I guess not but it did look racy.
I guess no one used roller lifters or even radius grinded.
But its not impossible that this could been made but I guess that tech of ramps came a decade later.
Thats where I realised few had babystroked cranks but bored max, few had Kurten or Kong distributors and most had Edelelbrock heads, intakes.
My idea in that era most had std heads but my guess there era cast alu heads was in full bloom and easy to get at decent price.
If it was any advantage I guess not but it did look racy.
I guess no one used roller lifters or even radius grinded.
But its not impossible that this could been made but I guess that tech of ramps came a decade later.
KiWinUS
Well-known member
Pictured are genuine original 1932 Ford Steel camshaft and a Genuine Original Potvin Eliminator camshaft ground on an original 32 steel cam. Also note the modifications to the front of original camshaft when ground to Potvin Eliminator specs. The master shown was made from the Potvin pictured.
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petehoovie
Well-known member
This was done to get pressfit to bolted gear.
-When was this done by Chuck ( started year of the 425 )
I think my 8BA cast 425 ( E ) is a later grind, maybe at Moon, maybe by Chuck (?)
It’s 2 of maybe 3 new NOS cams here in Moon box ( 32 core of the 425 but nothing for sale 25 minutes from me ) and I try get one advertised for buy in USA - but nothing, maybe when I’m a very old guy and cars is forbidden I can get one :- ))
That’s the reality.
People had several of this cams boxed up but nothing on sale.
Al theese things things will soon be wothless, but it’s fun try to get them.
-When was this done by Chuck ( started year of the 425 )
I think my 8BA cast 425 ( E ) is a later grind, maybe at Moon, maybe by Chuck (?)
It’s 2 of maybe 3 new NOS cams here in Moon box ( 32 core of the 425 but nothing for sale 25 minutes from me ) and I try get one advertised for buy in USA - but nothing, maybe when I’m a very old guy and cars is forbidden I can get one :- ))
That’s the reality.
People had several of this cams boxed up but nothing on sale.
Al theese things things will soon be wothless, but it’s fun try to get them.
Bored&Stroked
Well-known member
Just to help the conversation out, you cannot regrind a 32 steel billet cam core to achieve a roller profile (with any viable lift). The lobe profile for a roller cam is VERY DIFFERENT (much wider at the top) than any flat-tappet profile I've ever seen. My flathead roller cams were created in modern times. I've never seen a roller cam for a flathead that was made "back in the day", though I heard that Harman-Collins may have made one.
Also, a roller cam requires heat-treating of the cam core - after the first "rough grind". You have to copper plate the core, do a rough grind, heat-treat the core, then finish grind it. You really can't do this with a 32-billet core (at least I would not try it!). Who knows what exact material the 32 cores are even made out of? (alloy).
Lifter Design With T-Slot Bushing: The example that Hank showed is similar to how Harley made their guides and lifters - using a T-Slot in the guide to index the lifter. This is also the way that early Harman-Collins roller lifters were made (bronze guide that was pressed into the original lifter bores).
The big problem with this T-Slot approach is that you're very limited on overall cam lift - due to the size of the roller. There has to be enough of the roller (inside the guide) to keep it from rotating. On racing Harley KR flatheads, about the highest lift you would see was in the low .400's. Also, the Harley lifter has a large diameter roller to enable that lift. I don't have one in front of me, but from memory it seems it was about 7/8" or so.
Also, a roller cam requires heat-treating of the cam core - after the first "rough grind". You have to copper plate the core, do a rough grind, heat-treat the core, then finish grind it. You really can't do this with a 32-billet core (at least I would not try it!). Who knows what exact material the 32 cores are even made out of? (alloy).
Lifter Design With T-Slot Bushing: The example that Hank showed is similar to how Harley made their guides and lifters - using a T-Slot in the guide to index the lifter. This is also the way that early Harman-Collins roller lifters were made (bronze guide that was pressed into the original lifter bores).
The big problem with this T-Slot approach is that you're very limited on overall cam lift - due to the size of the roller. There has to be enough of the roller (inside the guide) to keep it from rotating. On racing Harley KR flatheads, about the highest lift you would see was in the low .400's. Also, the Harley lifter has a large diameter roller to enable that lift. I don't have one in front of me, but from memory it seems it was about 7/8" or so.
38 coupe
Well-known member
Mark Dees wrote a series of four articles in the 1970s titled "A Technical History of the Racing Flathead". The fourth article covers overhead valve conversions and superchargers. In the fourth article he mentions the famous 1951 C-T Automotive Ardun engine using a Chet Herbert roller cam.
If you would like a copy you can get this series of articles today courtesy of the Early Ford V8 Club, they were reprinted in the V8 Times in the 70s. You can get several decades of the V8 Times in pdf form from the Early Ford V8 Club online store.
If you would like a copy you can get this series of articles today courtesy of the Early Ford V8 Club, they were reprinted in the V8 Times in the 70s. You can get several decades of the V8 Times in pdf form from the Early Ford V8 Club online store.
Bored&Stroked
Well-known member
Yes, I forgot about Chet Herbert . . . he did make a few roller cams, but I don't know if he ever made one for a flathead, vs an Ardun?
Good info.
I would not go to ex Bullit for this.
The lifters I showed was on a big cam ( Ford FE ) journals in a FH and was on Bonneville on the 90’s pretty fast ( homegrind at .425” ) my bet a solid core.
-My idea might not work or was never done ( back in the days either.
I would not go to ex Bullit for this.
The lifters I showed was on a big cam ( Ford FE ) journals in a FH and was on Bonneville on the 90’s pretty fast ( homegrind at .425” ) my bet a solid core.
-My idea might not work or was never done ( back in the days either.
Bored&Stroked
Well-known member
The funny part is that I actually have a Herbert roller cam for an Ardun . . LOL