newer 2 strokes use a valve on the exhaust, it opens more with RPM . Guys call it a power valve. it has a lever attatched to a gear off the crankshaft that will inguage after so many RPM . I heard that someone was trying to bring back 2 stokes with mods to be emissions compliant . Not sure how thats working out .
As far as I remember, VariCam went out of business in about 1972.. I worked for them and ran the machine shop from 1966 to '72 when declining sales forced the closure. The shop and ***ets were bought by Wayne Mitchell Engineering who I worked for till about mid 1973.. I still have a VariCam demo unit on my desk.. .. My last contact with the inventor, John Cribbs was sometime in the early '80s.. I may be off a bit on the years as I have slept since then!
Digging up an old thread to add pictures of a Varicam setup I found at Puyallup swap meet yesterday. It is NOS with an installation manual and a few related articles. -Andy
Finally, a few other do***ents included with the marketing materials. My personal favorite is the notarized dyno sheets proving that this actually makes more horse power & torque! -Andy
Thay sell a cam correct in compe***ion products catalog always wounderd about them and how thay worked.
I just had to join to say......."Thank you! Thank You! THANK YOU 34andy for posting all of that info on the VariCam"! I've been looking for months for any info on that VariCam........and looks like you posted everything that was ever said about that thing. All Hail Andy.....All Hail Andy! I've been always impressed with this forum and get linked to it over the past few years when doing web searches. I've recently heard about the VARICAM a few months ago mentioned somewhere on the web, and have been doing internet searches and gave up because I could never really find any info about it other than some forums referring to that old technology. I'm glad I started to search again on the web....... Some said it was made by CROWER, but from the info you posted I don't see any reference to CROWER. The 4.5/4.9 88-96 Cadillac guys would love something like this contraption because these motors have all torque at the bottom and nothing above 4000 RPM. The Fiero guys would also love this thing as that Caddy motor is a popular transplant due to that engines narrow size but quickly runs out of power on the top end. I just bought up a bunch of proto-type GM/Cadillac parts and saved them from being made into s**** for these motors from a guy who was part of the old Cadillac Motorsport Program in the 80's-90's where he raced these Cadillac's and was the NHRA Stock Cl*** record holder. One of the unique parts I bought from him were a couple of sets of "Variable Ratio Rockers" which he said self adjust from 1.6 -1.88. They somehow work on a slotted fulcrum and increase ratio with the stock hydraulic lifters. I just don't understand how they work but will be getting all my goodies and 2 original race motors shipped to me in a few weeks from him. Anyone ever heard of these "Proto-Type Variable Ratio Rockers" that never went into production cars. Supposedly developed by a GM Engineer named "Al Cline" . I just wonder IF something like the VariCam could work on these Caddy motors with the computer controlled HEI Distributor. This guy is also selling me the OEM Factory GM ECM Programmer/chip burner from back in the day.......don't know how it works, but it is used to make the full ECM program while driving then will flash it to a chip. Thanks again for posting all that stuff on the VariCam Andy.....it saved me from buying that 67' HOTROD issue on-line. Regards, Chris
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