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The early cam grinders didn't know the exact numbers for their cams either! They hand-filed a master profile that looked good to their experienced eye, then ground a prototype and tried it out, sometimes in the family grocery-getter, sometimes in a street rod. Half, 3/4 and Full were the only way they kept track of their grinds. It wasn't until well after WWII that thousands of surplus grinding and measuring tools became available that today's precision became commonplace.
We may have a lot in common; recently bought a 66 El Camino that was supposed to have a 454. Turns out it was a 402 Hi Perf. Pass block. Now it's a 408 with around 525hp and 470tq. I went dropped a little 280H Comp Cam in it to give it a little thumpy sound.
Or it's an old guy like me telling about it. I had to laugh when I read the OP's intro to this thread. I was thinkin' to myself....HEARD of 'em???? I've bought 'em and sold 'em and run 'em. We forget sometimes that this is a whole new generation coming up, one that has never heard of some of the things we took for granted. He probably never heard of my points, #9 pegs and DA haircut that I had when I was 16 either.:LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
I know that term 3/4 race cam was used alot back in the 70's when building VW's or sand rails for the desert or off roading. That was out in the Vegas area.
Kurt
I had a guy once try to tell me it meant .750 lift or 3/4 of an inch of lift......LMAO!
Since my present cam is .615 lift maybe I could call it a 5/8 cam??