Cam regrinder recommendations

**ebbsspeed** · 06-10-2009, 06:00 PM

I need to get the cam reground for my 263, doing a slight build on it and want to get a little more **** out of the cam. Any recommendations on cam grinders that know the straight 8's well? I also need someone to reface lifters, and assume that most folks who regrind cams can do that as well. Thanks!

**alleycat** · 06-11-2009, 08:56 AM

I've tryed a number of different cam grinds for my str8, and got mixed results. It seems that most all regrind profiles are mainly intended for V8's. The str8 really needs a cam desighed for it. I'm going to contact Demetri Elgin in the near future about a cam for the str8. I'v read a lot of his writing and this guy seems to be very well thought out. I suspect that once the problems that the str8 has are layed out, he could come up with a profile that could get the best out of a str8, without just puttin a lot of pointless lift & duration on the cam. alleycat

**ebbsspeed** · 06-12-2009, 08:24 AM

Do you have any contact info for this guy? Thanks!

**alleycat** · 06-13-2009, 12:26 PM

D. Elgin cams @ 1-707-545-6115. He is 'posidly in Santa Rosa, Ca but I've found 2 different places for him, so give this # a try and see what happens. Be ready to give him some info, I think he knows his stuff and likely won't stick any 'ol grind on and "you'll like it". So, tell him str8's have a high rod ratio, 1.8, 1.9, small bore/stroke, low comp ratio, like 6.2-3 and a very bad top end. With the factory duals, not so bad but still a crapy head. He likely may want to know actual flow numbers, we won't have those until janderson makes a few runs on his flow bench. Report back! alleycat

**Janderson** · 06-14-2009, 06:08 PM

Flow numbers coming soon alleycat!*

* I am swamped and am trying to find the time

**alleycat** · 06-20-2009, 12:06 PM

Hah! I was wunderin if you was "lurkin" around out there! alleycat

**presten** · 07-19-2009, 09:42 AM

For anyone interested in a pretty intensive education on camshaft design I would suggest going to www.elgincams.com and spending some time reading the writings and lectures by Demo Elgin. He is located in Santa Rosa, CA and does custom cam grinding. A previous post has his phone number and that is a correct one. I had Demo grind a cam for my warmed up '49 320 engine and it appears to be a good one. Plus, he is just a real interesting guy to talk to.

By the way, for all you flat tappet guys out there (except for roller cams, all of us), be sure to add some ZDDP to every oil change. From what I have been reading, even the diesel oils of the past will no longer have that additive due to new emission controls now required. There are several companies now offering the ZDDP additive in just the right concentration for an oil change. It is sure a lot cheaper than a wiped out lifter or cam lobe!

**39CENT** · 01-08-2012, 05:11 PM

ha, ha! was jumping around here in TB, and found this old post. Well alleycat I finally got my 39 Century running again. My son was determined to use it for his marriage, I didnt think we would make it but at 1:30am the final day got it fired up. Took it around the block an WOW, it hauls butt. Its not exactly tuned yet but it worked good for the wedding. So I guess the cam that 'ol Chet Herbert told me, "you'll like it" was right on. I think maybe the dist was worked over a little by the previous owner, has lotsa grunt in lo and it pulls as hard in 2nd as it does in low, and just keeps on pulling in high, lots better than before. Can,t wait to get the milled and ported head on there. Too bad I don,t know the specs, and 'ol Chet is gone so I cant tell what the specs are, but he made some great cams for GMC 6,s baknthday.

Originally Posted by alleycat

D. Elgin cams @ 1-707-545-6115. He is 'posidly in Santa Rosa, Ca but I've found 2 different places for him, so give this # a try and see what happens. Be ready to give him some info, I think he knows his stuff and likely won't stick any 'ol grind on and "you'll like it". So, tell him str8's have a high rod ratio, 1.8, 1.9, small bore/stroke, low comp ratio, like 6.2-3 and a very bad top end. With the factory duals, not so bad but still a crapy head. He likely may want to know actual flow numbers, we won't have those until janderson makes a few runs on his flow bench. Report back! alleycat

**Jyrki** · 01-09-2012, 11:17 AM

Yes, it looks like the old grinders - Herbert, Howards, and alike - are all gone. Comp Cams told they could regrind my cam, but weren't very enthusiastic about it. I looked back at the threads here and found someone recommending Donnie Johansen of Herbert Cams. Looks like he's vanished, too. Someone else said his cam was ground by Erson, and claimed they still had cam blanks around. Well, they don't! Actually, Erson suggested contacting Delta Cams, but I asked Gerry Duttweiler to grind me a cam, using one of his cores. He knows what I need, as he's built a centrifugal-supercharged 320, if not many of them. I forgot to ask who's the actual cam grinder he's using.

Gerry told me to resurface my original lifters, as the repops manufactured by E**E, are cheap fareastern stuff, are not hardened, and wear out in a blink or an eye. The same goes for their timing chains and sprockets.

**39CENT** · 01-10-2012, 10:21 AM

JRKI,
Gerry told me he used these guys.

http://www.americancustomcam.com/

last time I saw him run his 38 Century strt 8 he turned 117 mph in low 11 sec. Was pretty awesome. Said he has to put in roll bars to run now.