for common American straight 8's...approximately 31" to 36"...plus or minus an inch or two. For example, a Buick 248/263 cu in is 4" shorter than the 320 cu in. version. Later today I can post the length of the shorter version as I have a bare one in my shop. Ray
LOL Perhaps I shoulda specified... I want to use one as a rear bumper on my coupe... I have one from a SBC I am going to use as my front spreader bar... So...I guess my next question is where might I find a junk one...??? Thanx guys!
Like from a semi...? You say it may be steel...are the straight eight cams not steel...? This might be better because I live in a small country town in the middle of nowhere but there are lots of semi guys... Thanx!
That's NOT why they call it a 'bumpstick'! When I was an apprentice, I had to pull one out of a Pontiac flathead eight. After removing side pans and compressing 16 (!) valve springs and magnetically 'reclaiming' keepers and retainers, (a stretch from outside brake drum) I raised valves and lifted tappets then stood (ahhh, relief!) and strode up to the front, and pulled on the cam... Little bit at a time, 'clunking its way out', turning and lifting, went on for three feet! Damned thing was longer than a story...
Have you ever stood next to a 60 Series Detroit? A fair bit longer then an automotive straight 8. They come in 677, 775, and 845 ci displacements and are about 57 inches long. The cam will likely be around 4ft long. Go to your local heavy truck repair shop. They likely will have an old core that they would be willing to sell you. Here is an internet picture of one.
The Jalopy Journal
