Winfield 59 cam in a street engine

4tford

4tford

Well-known member
I have a nice looking Winfield 59 cam. What would the results to expect if it was used in a 276 street engine?? I hate to let it just sit on a shelf.
 
What is the lift? I found a 59 a cam in the lot that my late father left , it has a 5 maybe T,H or B on the end and the lift is .355, I put the cam under a magnifier and can't make out the numbers the numbers were not completely stamped, I will try and determine the rest of the spec. later. it sounds like you may have a good piece of automotive history , I will see if I can find anything on a winfield 59 and let you know.
Fordestes
 
Yes, that could be an old one. I think all the 59 cams were marked 5T on the front, however the 355 lift would be similar to the Max#1. Is it marked Winfield?
 
From what you describe so far, this is not a genuine Winfield cam and the 59 means nothing along with if there is a 5T on it. What makes you think it is a Winfield cam? It is most likely a copy. A picture of the cam gear end of the cam and a picture of in-between the lobes will make it easy to identify the specs if it is a genuine Winfield. If it is a copy, then you will have to measure one of the intake lobes and one of the exhaust lobes to determine what Winfield grind was copied.

So, until you can provide all the information above, then there is no way to even begin to tell you how it would run in your proposed motor.

Roger
 
The motor this is in was removed from a hot rod in the mid to late fifties.
 
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You have a genuine Winfield cam. You can tell this by uniform block lettered stamping of the "WINFIELD" which is smaller than the numbers stamped below the distributor drive slot. It is his 3/4 grind. It is difficult to read, but on the lower left you see a "3" stamped and slightly below and slightly to the right is stamped a "4". It is a very mild cam, but definitely better than stock. It has 0.305" lift on the intake with 0.012" lash and 0.295" lift on the exhaust with 0.014" lash. The lift is not really any different than stock, but the duration is better. I can't remember the exact duration numbers at the moment because my paperwork is at home and I will report back that later. My opinion is that this cam is best suited for a stock motor that would give a small increase in power over a stock cam or if used in a 276, it would run like a stock cam. Either way, it would be one step above a stock cam.
 
Update on full specs on a Winfield 3/4 regrind.

Forgot to mention earlier that the lift numbers I gave are net lift as in taking into account lash. That is how Ed Winfield gave specs, net lift, not gross lift like everyone else.

Winfield 3/4 regrind:

Intake Exhaust
Adv. Dur. 260° 252°
Dur. @ 0.050 220° 212°
Lobe Lift 0.320" 0.310"
Adv. Net lift 0.305" 0.295"
Recommended Lash 0.012" 0.014"

Opening Events @0.0155" 18° BTDC 58° BBDC
Closing Events @0.0155" 62° ABDC 14° ATDC

LSA 112°
 
many thanks, Sounds like it should be used on a 256 or smaller. Presently resides in a factory relieved block with a 4" crank and 3-5/16 pistons. Large home made pan and may have been a circle race engine at one time....
 
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many thanks, Sounds like it should be used on a 256 or smaller. Presently resides in a factory relieved block with a 4" crank and 3-5/16 pistons. Large home made pan and may have been a circle race engine at one time.
 
I posted a reply to this 3 times this morning but nothing showed up. anyway

many thanks, Sounds like it should be used on a 256 or smaller. Presently resides in a factory relieved block with a 4" crank and 3-5/16 pistons. Large home made pan and may have been a circle race engine at one time.
 
The only unfavorable aspect of this cam for your 276 C.I. is it will have only a little of the "Drive-In" lope which seems more important than actual performance in the eyes of many owners.

This cam will work great in a "street" engine with minimal porting and slightly restricted intake. The lift is perfect for maintaining good C.R. and the duration is reasonable for dynamic response.
 
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