FAQ |
Members List |
Social Groups |
Calendar |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
NOS Pontiac Cam Stamp Question
I have what appears to be an NOS Pontiac 421SD #10 cam in the original GM tube (P/N 541596), however, it looks like a 'K' stamped into the nose, not a '10' from what I see in various cam references (Wallace, H-O Racing, etc.). Which stamp is correct? The lobes are low lift and pretty broad shouldered, so I'm hoping it's the real McCoy. I've had it since the mid-'80's.
Dennis |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
My NOS Melling RPC-2 cam (541596) has nothing stamped on the nose.
The various websites and books we use for reference are all great guides but are of course not 100% accurate.
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I have owned some NOS ones over the years and that looks like the real deal.Tom
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks Bart & Tom! I know the stillborn SD455 'K' cam (RAIV grind) had the 'K' (obviously) stamp, so I wasn't expecting to see it in this cam. It has the standard distributor drive gear size, so it isn't the SD455/RAV cam. I think we'll degree it just to make sure it is what we hope it is.
Dennis |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
The only I wonder is if it a early 455 SD cam that was based on the No. 10?
Part number 480737, which had a 'K' stamped on it? (would be hydraulic though I think and more lift) Have seen a Craftsman bulletin on some earlier cams being given a new stamp. (I think 529472 is one)
__________________
John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
More lobe pictures.
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
John, It does have the same valve timing events and .050" duration as the RAIV cam, which the 'K' cam was a copy of except for the smaller distributor drive gear...I don't know, but the lobes look correct for low lift, not like a RAIV cam lobes.
Dennis |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Here is the table showing the common specs between the high performance factory cams (courtesy of Wallace Racing).
Dennis |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks, I didn't see your post before I posted my response.
Forgot the gear would have been different on the SD cam.
__________________
John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
FYI,they do not live well with street driving,idle has to be kept high.Tom
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Dennis |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Was the #10 cam standard in the 62 & 63 SD's?
Dennis |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Cannot imagine why it wouldn’t be.
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Yes in both,11s and 12s were over the counter.Tom
|
The Following User Says Thank You to tom s For This Useful Post: | ||
#15
|
|||
|
|||
I remember seeing the 480737 cam in the 73 shop manual. I tried ordering one in 74 from very helpful parts man and couldnt. So I got H-O s equivalent.
|
#16
|
|||
|
|||
never ran a 12,did run a 11.I never ran the factory 1.75 rockers and 3/8 pushrods.I have half a set of NOS 1.75s now.Tom
|
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Dennis |
#18
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
McKellar had factory Grind Numbers like the #8, #10, and #11 (I have never personally seen info on the #12) but those numbers were not stamped on the front of the camshafts like the cams with a letter on them L, P, S, H, and T cams. The cams just mentioned are all Hydraulic camshafts. No worries at all about it being the correct #10 grind camshaft. My catalog is from the early 1970s. Tom V.
__________________
"Engineers do stuff for reasons" Tom Vaught Despite small distractions, there are those who will go Forward, Learning, Sharing Knowledge, Doing what they can to help others move forward. Last edited by Tom Vaught; 05-28-2021 at 10:23 PM. |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks Tom V. If the factory SD cams didn't have the grind # stamped into them, what did they have...anything?...other letters? Does anyone have an original PMD factory SD cam with anything stamped into the nose? Did Melling supply the factory with cams for the SD program, or were they purely aftermarket (that's what I thought)?
Sorry for all the questions, but I find this stuff fascinating! Dennis |
#20
|
||||
|
||||
I think Melling was the original supplier for the Pontiac factory 421 SD camshafts.
Later on, Harvey Crane built a state of the art camshaft grinding company in Jackson, Michigan called Camshaft Machine Company. Melling is also located in Jackson, Mi. "Camshaft Machine Company manufactures internal combustion engine and fuel system camshafts for use in automobiles, trucks, heavy equipment and stationary engines. We supply both completely finished and semi-finished camshaft cores (UGL) ready for customer specific lobe grinds. Employing state-of-the-art processes, the Company has over 1,400 active part numbers and sells directly to over 60 customers, including Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and Caterpillar. The Company serves three principal markets: automotive original equipment, traditional aftermarket, and the performance aftermarket." CMC was primarily a OEM camshaft supplier (Ford, GM, Chrysler). Harvey decided to do aftermarket camshafts ground by CMC and sold under the name of Wolverine camshafts. Wolverine did some of the first High Lift Pontiac Hydraulic cams for the aftermarket. I believe HO Racing had their High lift 744 and 041 cams done by them. This way Harvey could concentrate at the time on Roller cams in Florida with his much smaller grinding capability. CMC also had a couple of smaller camshaft grinding shops in Muskegon Michigan, doing even smaller runs of performance cams. I had them do me 10 of the Ram Air IV cams back when Pontiac was charging over $300 for just the camshaft for the RA-IV and 455 SD cams. I paid no where near $300 each for the 10 RA-IV cams I purchased. So there is a lot of Joint Venture deals between the Camshaft Guys. When CMC was doing all of the 1st Ford Roller Cams for Mustang Production, Melling did the Pontiac stuff to keep production going for Pontiac (limited volume). Hope this helps. Tom V. Don Hubbard was the VP for CMC and one of Harvey's closest friends. I was very good friends with Don until his passing in Florida years later. Glenn Corwin was a Chief Engineer, and he was a Pontiac Guy too. RIP Glenn.
__________________
"Engineers do stuff for reasons" Tom Vaught Despite small distractions, there are those who will go Forward, Learning, Sharing Knowledge, Doing what they can to help others move forward. |
Reply |
|
|