measuring cams

rod · 12-06-2023, 02:21 PM

going thru a pile of old SBC cams. I put a known cam in my lathe, which I knew the specs [a std. hyd. 350, 390" x 410"] . I originally thought the base 180 from the nose would be 0. but found, in order to get that lift #, I had to set 0 on the closing flank after max. lift. having no experience doing this...your thoughts.
thanks Rod in AZ

Stan Weiss · 12-06-2023, 02:44 PM

While I have never done it in a lathe, I always use a block and solid lift. I also believe that you should zero the dial indicator on the base 180 from the nose. What were you getting instead of 0.260 or 0.2733?

Stan

GTX JOHN · 12-13-2023, 01:25 AM

I always zero it at lowest reading usually but not always 180 from
max lift as I recall on the big cams.

12-06-2023, 02:21 PM	#1
rod Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kingman, NW AZ. in the middle of the longest stretch of Route 66 Posts: 307 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 13 Posts	measuring cams going thru a pile of old SBC cams. I put a known cam in my lathe, which I knew the specs [a std. hyd. 350, 390" x 410"] . I originally thought the base 180 from the nose would be 0. but found, in order to get that lift #, I had to set 0 on the closing flank after max. lift. having no experience doing this...your thoughts. thanks Rod in AZ

12-06-2023, 02:44 PM	#2
Stan Weiss Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Phila, PA Posts: 607 Likes: 0 Liked 545 Times in 291 Posts	Re: measuring cams While I have never done it in a lathe, I always use a block and solid lift. I also believe that you should zero the dial indicator on the base 180 from the nose. What were you getting instead of 0.260 or 0.2733? Stan

12-13-2023, 01:25 AM	#3
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,530 Likes: 2,222 Liked 1,809 Times in 572 Posts	Re: measuring cams I always zero it at lowest reading usually but not always 180 from max lift as I recall on the big cams. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock