What do you do with the "last" one?

I agree with the preservation of the cam. It already is a piece of automotive history. I also agree that the regrind will be good enough for you that you will be happy with your ride and happy that you still have the original ina case to be seen by others.

This is a great hot rod parts story that will retold many times. If you can get a letter from Isky confirming this it will be the ultimate.

 

Im with the preservation guys but I would get a cam have it welded up and reground to the specs... that way you have the best of both worlds.....

 

I agree with preserving it, and disagree with the idea of having another cam ground to match. The only cool thing about the cam is it's history. Cam technology has come so far since that was made that I'm sure you could get a comp cams grind off the shelf that would run better than the Isky. Copying it would just be putting a mediocre cam in your car with no point.

 

Comp Cams sent out a memo recommending Shell Rotella because it still contains certain sulphurs and such that help a flat tappet cam LIVE! If you think about it, the last flat tappet cam was,,,,,,,,, '86? At least for Chevy. Hey, I don't sell this ****, I'm just a user, ain't we all?

 

Another thought for you guys, Damn-it man, you're only here for a short while, why get all **** over a car part, it is actually the best part for the situation, a far superior product to something he might have copied, he should go ahead and enjoy the damned thing. It'd cost more, they'd have to grind the base circle down, that would compromise the amount of acceleration of the lifter so the profile would have to be softened, it won't have the hardness that Ed came to decide on, Geez, get it out and play with it!!!!!!!!!!
UNCLEE!!!!!!!!!

Why do they call 'em flatheads when you can't set yer' beer on it?

 

I would save it, and I would call Isky and tell them what you have. Ed never threw anything away, he may be able to help you with a core...It don't hurt to ask, besides he may get a kick out of it.

Craig

 

Comp cams needs to revise their memo. New formulation Rotella has less ZDDP in it due to EPA requirements. Find some old stock CI-4/CI-4+ Rotella, maybe - good luck though.


I thought some of the Racing Studebaker guys had got enough interest in new cam blanks? Or was that a roller-only profile? Big bux regardless - well beyond my needs & means.

 

Here's where it was made..on Sepulveda blvd. in Culver city.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1471937294_d8d40e90cb_m.jpg

 

Well, I'm almost finished with my 55 S2D with a S2-3+ regrind I got from Fairborn Studebaker, and my opinion is, if the cam and card are genuine and can be verified, I'd make sure it has a good coat of Cosmoline or some other rust inhibitor and put it up. Hell, unless you're going NHRA racing, what good is few more ponies you might round up anyway? I don't know about you, but my car (31 Plymouth hiboy) is to drive, look cool and sound mean and obnoxious...not racing. If I wanted to race I'd have a crate Ford or Mopar in it, something that can be easily replaced if I shatter it. I put a Studebaker engine and ****** in it because I wanted it to be different, to make all those askers of silly questions like "what year 350 is that?" look like total idiots, and to remind everyone that yes, other companies built really nice engines in the 50's besides shev...never mind.

Anyway dude, it's yours and you have every right to do with it as you please no matter what anyone else says. Having the last Isky cam don't make your (or anyone else's) S2D what it is, and won't impress anyone with that cam in it but the few of us that know who Ed is and appreciate the finer things. Studes, like Rockets, Nailheads, early Hemis and Caddys, are just *******ed cool, no matter if the pistons are stock or hypereutectic, or the cam is reground or the "last" one. The cam would be cool, not as much in the engine where you can just hear it, but where it can be seen and appreciated.

But like I said, it's yours. Not mine or anyone giving their opinion. Enjoy it man, whatever you decide. Either way, I know you will! (lucky *****)

 

Thanks everybody for your input. I also posted this on a couple other forums and polled my friends. Overall it's about 3 to 1 to display it and run the regrind.

As soon as it arrives I will verify the signature, if it's real it goes in a display case, if it's bogus it goes in the motor. Final answer.

 

I don't get it. I understand wanting to save history, but do you really think Isky made the cam with the intention of it sitting on a shelf or in a gl*** case forever? When I contacted Isky for info on my Nailhead roller, they were super helpful with all sorts of info on setting it up, using more modern springs etc...
The cam card is definately something to treasure, I would make a good high quality color copy of it and clearcoat the copy onto the firewall or radiator support of your car so that everyone knows just what you are running.
IF Ed wanted to keep it from being used, he would have ground it and left it in the back store room of the shop where his roadster sat for so many years.

The new cam most likely is not a roller cam unless a roller billet core was given. New technology can easily make better cams than old technology, but this is not what most of us are into, if so-we'd be runnign late model engines designed with new technology.
BUt if you do run the new regrind, you may want to look into Shubeck lifters, see if any will work with your lifter bore diameter, beehive springs, etc... You can make more power with technology for sure, but nothing like the bragging rights of an old Isky roller setup.

As far as Ed putting his name on his engine, most race engine builders do this, and if I had built a car that ran that well for its time (not to mention the killer aesthetics) I would definately want people to know who built it. Actually he put the name on the valve covers he made in shop cl*** for the Maxi heads, and yes I realize the valve covers sit on the 'top' of the engine. Offenhauser, Edelbrock, Evans, etc.. all put there names on the parts they built, and Edelbrock ran many many motors in his own personal cars. There is nothing wrong with being proud of a job well done.

 

If I owned the very last 49 Merc coupe in existence, I'd still chop the **** out of it. run it.