I am trying to stay as true as possible to original build items for 6S281. However, I am currently looking at cam shafts and have seen comp cams kit as well as NOS Ford hipo cam shafts. I'm having a hard time justifying the cost of the Ford original and I'm not sure about the quality of the originals compared to the comp cam kits. This car will be driven spiritedly but not abused, mainly just for fun driving and cruising. My ultimate goal for this engine is to have it behave exactly as it did when the car was new. I would appreciate thoughts and opinions. Here's the link to the comp cam I am considering.
https://www.cjponyparts.com/comp-cams-camshaft-set-nostalgia-plus-n-plus-271s-solid-mechanical-flat-tappet-2200-6800-rpm-289-302/p/316714-V/
Thanks, Karl
Karguy,
If you want to duplicate the original and the price of an original stick is too salty, check with Holman Moody as they still manufacture the C3OZ-C bumpstick. I'm willing to bet that the price will be less than the original. Good luck with with the project. I'm basically doing the same thing for for my Hertz Car.
Or, this appears to be a new option - claimed to be an exact clone of the original and much less than NOS pricing these days. https://www.ebay.com/itm/234947140456?hash=item36b3f0db68:g:l0QAAOSw4fNj3VC8&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4HZS4zbZga%2FSH7%2FxndSU4JkrbdnUMt%2BqAzZGiYQLkkvt9wemvO0Xxf613DwBQ%2BHMx5wZyFcF%2BV6MZlyCRNeDbZmcaLoG0TJKp0Wi7KBohQLZdEmqh5aTVOLPB4tPbng4rnsPWmWrbgTwK9N5OF9hGPvgUkEKIjHT3yMnfle4iL5QXWdc7aQXE90rZ0MQ90DAqOK9tScqDsdnsNAB%2F3P5tMkDwLACs8e8bQL478%2FOyI6erVsHvKKRtFiGyLhPnlW7QBnkoHGjBDz%2BliEEMUgOBq9tXrqXpMLOGd63%2BiUhCOwq%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9Stmq7kYQ
Thanks Roy and jk66gt350. Both excellent options.
Hello, That comp Nostalgia cam works excellent has good low end and mid range you'll like it !!!! I ran one in a 289 i built for a 65 Mustang
I have heard good things about the comp cam.
I did check with Holman Moody this morning on their C30Z-6250-C cam. The gentleman I spoke to informed me that they developed the cam for Ford to use in their early HIPO street engines. Their cam is identical to the OE cams that came in the early HIPO and very reasonably priced at $200. W/O lifters. Maybe I should throw the idea out to Steve Brule at westech for an episode of Engine Masters,
I would love to see Dyno sheets comparing H-Ms vs Comp Cams.
Quote from: Karguy on March 27, 2023, 11:42:27 AM
I have heard good things about the comp cam.
I did check with Holman Moody this morning on their C30Z-6250-C cam. The gentleman I spoke to informed me that they developed the cam for Ford to use in their early HIPO street engines. Their cam is identical to the OE cams that came in the early HIPO and very reasonably priced at $200. W/O lifters. Maybe I should throw the idea out to Steve Brule at westech for an episode of Engine Masters,
I would love to see Dyno sheets comparing H-Ms vs Comp Cams.
I was driving around the block here during the "Christmas season" and he was crossing the street walking his dog. I stopped to briefly talk. It was about rescue dogs, not how my 347 did on the dyno.
A strange occurrence for sure. I never thought to ask if he was originally from "the neighborhood". I didn't want to put him on the spot. He was in the process of "picking up" Rover's contribution.
That's funny, quite a coincidence. I know Steve currently lives about five minutes from WestTech, he recently downsized. He grew up in Albuquerque New Mexico, which is where I live. Steve was always one of our local hot rodders, and a very nice guy.
Hi Karl,
You can always have a used original redone by Holmon and Moody. I have had them regrind several cams. Should be good as NOS and original. The best of both worlds, affordable and original.
But don't wait long. Talking to the technician who performs the regrind, sounds like he has been doing this for a long long time for H&M and could be gone tomorrow. He knows what he is doing.
Cory
The problem right now today is the lifters are all made in India which makes for shoddy quality. Best bet is to source NOS lifters from the 1970's - 1990's. Ebay is one source.
Hi, do you have a feedback to share about the camshaft?
I need one to rebuilt my HP engine.
A few years back I had a car with a rebuilt HIPO that was fairly fresh when I bought the car. While the car idled just like a standard HIPO it's power band was far longer and stronger than the C3OZ standard HIPO grind. In the paperwork with the car I was provided the cam spec card that was from the engine build. It was a CRANE brand camshaft with the grind number F-278-2. This cam used the 1.6 rocker arm ratio and had advertised duration of 278 and had a 114 degree lobe separation which made it excellent for Webers. the cam ran and drove so much better than a traditional HIPO than I've been wanting to replicate it, however it appears to no longer be available. I had once heard it may be a BOSS 302 style grind made for the 289, but I'm not sure. Does anyone know of a current available camshaft that mirrors this one?
@wcampbell here are the specifications to the Crane cams
Correct - As I mentioned earlier it's no longer available. Is there another camshaft under Crane or another maker that's a close copy of that specific grind?
What about this one: https://www.compcams.com/factory-muscle-228-227-solid-flat-cam-for-ford-221-302.html
Quote from: 5F09K on April 01, 2025, 08:06:51 AMWhat about this one: https://www.compcams.com/factory-muscle-228-227-solid-flat-cam-for-ford-221-302.html
That one reads out of stock.
We can find it in other place: https://cnc-motorsports.com/comp-cams-31-110-5-factory-muscle-solid-flat-tappet-camshaft.html
Quote from: 5F09K on April 01, 2025, 04:04:19 PMWe can find it in other place: https://cnc-motorsports.com/comp-cams-31-110-5-factory-muscle-solid-flat-tappet-camshaft.html
Well not there anyway! But they'll take your credit card and probably "run-it" for the order, and a couple weeks later, with no signs of a camshaft on your doorstep, you'll be chasing them for a refund to your card! :o
Normal! ::)
Scott.
Stay away from Comp Cams and Edelbrock stuff. To many failures I personally know of. H/M is the place to go. Or try Schneider in San Diego . They custom grind too. https://www.schneidercams.com
Thanks for your advices
Are Comp cam camshaft made in US or are they from Asia?
https://www.cjponyparts.com/comp-cams-camshaft-set-nostalgia-plus-n-plus-271s-solid-mechanical-flat-tappet-2200-6800-rpm-289-302/p/316714-V/
None of the names being bantered about actual "make" the camshaft cores/blanks or lifters; each and all are at the mercy of product quality and availability from the 'few' suppliers remaining, and yes, that includes "off-shore" suppliers. ;)
Scott.
Comp cam blanks are not the problem. The lifters are the problem as all the ones that Comp sells are made in India. I would use lifters made in the USA either by Autolite or Motorcraft or Crower. Look for old stock on eBay or buy the lifters from Crower.
Quote from: Royce Peterson on April 03, 2025, 10:03:29 AMI would use lifters made in the USA either by Autolite or Motorcraft or Crower.
Again just to clarify, the wording might be more correct if we said: "retailed" by, or "packaged" by . . . . . . :)
Scott.
Quote from: pbf777 on April 03, 2025, 11:33:25 AMQuote from: Royce Peterson on April 03, 2025, 10:03:29 AMI would use lifters made in the USA either by Autolite or Motorcraft or Crower.
Again just to clarify, the wording might be more correct if we said: "retailed" by, or "packaged" by . . . . . . :)
Scott.
You can order your solid and mechanical lifters from Crower. You can specify that you want Crower Cold Face lifters sourced from Johnson lifters.
The Johnson lifters are manufactured in the USA. The Crower Cold Face lifters have a hole EDM in the face that also provides pressured oil between the lifter and the camshaft.
However you will find that the camshaft cores are an issue as well. I have talked with people in the know that supplied cores to the different cam grinders, specifically when people were paid to stay at home during the pandemic many manufacturers lost employees and never recovered.
The observations that I have are from multiple camshaft failures on engines that were being broken in on the dyno where lifters were not the root cause of the failure. Subsequent testing showed the lines were soft. So core issue in those examples.
The next part is several failures on dynos wherein the lifter face failed and the cam lobes had not failed yet.
When Steve Long was still alive and Steve Long Racing was still making custom camshafts I would order cams and supply cam cores from high performance engines in the 60s, 70s, early 80s to be reground. Also Steve Long had a process for hardening and regrinding lifters with the correct face radius.
I have one more SLR MAX2DP 106° LSA camshaft (Not for sale.) that has already been broken in and run with Crower Cold Face Johnson lifters in storage. BADGAS has one more SLR MAX1DP 106° camshaft.(Not for sale.) "Hurricane George" and I discussed sending them down to a cam grinder that has the capabilities to grind his own master lobes for his cam grinding machine. (Not everyone can do that, and few that can do the work actually are willing to do so for a reasonable amount of money.)
Instead of that I have been looking at creating a solid Roller camshaft for the BOSS 302, and HiPo 289 as I have needs for future engine builds.
John
Quote from: JohnSlack on April 03, 2025, 12:35:21 PMI discussed sending them down to a cam grinder that has the capabilities to grind his own master lobes for his cam grinding machine. (Not everyone can do that, and few that can do the work actually are willing to do so for a reasonable amount of money.)
John, I have been told that, for example Comp Cams, now have newer equipment and the ability to design/copy and produce a camshaft without having to actually create a "machine master lobe" anymore. :-\
And yes I agree, when it comes to lifters, I generally do prefer to sell the as packaged Crower product. :)
Scott.
I asked to Compcams customer support the country where cams are made, and this is the answer:
Hi Mathieu,
All of our cam blanks are made here in the states and are ground here also.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Jonathan Martin
�Tech Support
Comp Cams, FAST
��8649 Hacks Cross Rd.
Olive Branch, MS 38654
jmartin@edelbrock.com
Nice that CC responded. Many of the others do not even reply to product questions.
But now, apply my recommended procedure of: call them back twice more and ask the same question of two other (three total) "Customer Service/Tech." guys and see if you get the same answer! :-\
Of course you'll probably be testing their response efficiency rate at that point! ::)
Scott.
Quote from: 5F09K on April 04, 2025, 08:46:16 AMI asked to Compcams customer support the country where cams are made, and this is the answer:
Hi Mathieu,
All of our cam blanks are made here in the states and are ground here also.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Jonathan Martin
�Tech Support
Comp Cams, FAST
��8649 Hacks Cross Rd.
Olive Branch, MS 38654
jmartin@edelbrock.com
Ask them for the name of the company that makes their solid lifter mechanical cam cores.
So who manufactures good cores and what "grinders" buy them?
So who manufactures good cores and what "grinders" buy them?