I went to send a camshaft out to be ground today. Both came out of 59's One allows oil into oil pump chamber and into valve chamber. One allows oil just into oil pump chamber. Thoughts? Better oil pressure? Filtering? Both cams marked 21A Which one would you use?
While the valve angle in the block changed in 1944, (59 series) the cam angle did not change. 21A (1942) cam is the first year for the 2 bolt distributer-- shorter nose on the cam ? Don't know about the slots on the rear journal.
I think Ford retained the 21A part number throughout the 59 series. Interesting if they changed stock cam lift with the same part number. Clearly here though we have two 21A stamped cams with different options on the rear cam bearing. One came out of a seized 59 with 8ba rods/ 8ba valves. it was in a vehicle One came from a free spinning 59 with 29A rods/mushroom valves. I think they are interchangeable. just looking for thoughts--or in case I'm missing something. Ford flathead camshaft id.
i think that rear cam bearing is the first thing to get oil from the pump. so why they would want to open a hole in the dam so to speak, lowering pressure i assume is a good question. perhaps a difference between the 50lb pump, or the 80 lb pump that came with the motor. maybe ask your cam grinder
Old Ford Iron you have where the oiling is coming from incorrect. Oil that feeds the rear cam bearing comes from the oil pump idler gear chamber. The oil pump fills this chamber with oil to the height of a hole located at the top of this chamber. The slots in the cam bearing journal surface allow the oil coming from the pump idler chamber to oil the cam bearing and the fuel pump push rod eccentric surface. The Ford design works nicely in most applications. The difference in the two cams you have the single slot or double is actually not that important the important detail is the actual cam bearing journal diameters on the cam. Fords minimum cam journal diameter is 1.7955 that's the smallest diameter allowed for the standard diameter cam bearings. Anything under that diameter will need to be ground an additional .010 under. Remember all three cam bearing journals need to be measured. The oil pump first feeds oil to the rear main crankshaft bearing then some oil heads towards the gear drive compartment. Next oil is flowing to the cross passage in the block casting which then leads to the oil tube located in the valley of the block. From this tube the remaining areas are feed oil. Ronnieroadster
good feedback, thanks so the the two oil gallery holes in the rear cam bearing both have oil coming solely from oil pump idler gear chamber through the "slots" in the cam bearing journal... ya something to be aware of. I need a oil passage diagram now that you peaked my interest It just seems like you could have a good unneeded pressure drop with the two "reliefs" (5 psi?). Interesting experiment to do if someone has the time lol. I sent the single "relieved" one in today. As it is passed Ford's recommended (1.7955) minimum parameters and won't need turned with oversized bearings.
Hi Ronnie, I was just searching camshaft information as I have a similar issue where I have removed the cam out of my crab type engine to install an 8BA style cam with gear drive on the front so that I can run Nash dizzy for twin plug heads. The cam I pulled out had an aluminium drive gear and the one I had ground (replacement) had the fibre gear. But as per the pictures of the cams on this thread the teeth on these gears are cut in different direction. Can I just take the aluminium gear and install it and run on the replacement cam. Also my replacement cam the lobes are narrower than the original and when measuring from the bottom of the lobes to the top the reground (replacement) is 0.040" less. Then as you mentioned in your reply the replacement cam journal diameter is 0.010" larger than the original cam. So is this just a case of having the journals of the replacement ground. My two cams also differ in the same way with the slots in the end journals where one has both slotted and the other just the end journal slotted. Any help or advice on this would be appreciated. Cheers Mike.
Since I know hardly 'anythang' about flathead engines....and cams especially. What are the specs on a hot flattie cam? (duration...lift...LSA (in particular) All I've ever seen is 3/4 race and full race...... Thnx! 6sally6
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