Thread: For Don Shilady

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2020 Report

Thanks for the kind words about the cam from TechInspector. I was hoping to give a performance report sooner but right after the cam installation the fuel pump failed and it was back to the shop for a new pump and checkup to find an annoying miss in the engine. I am 82 now and I still wonder at how I readily crawled all over and under the early construction of my BeBops '29 in 2005. Now in the winter the unheated garage is not a welcome place so I farm out the work to Bruce Orlandi at nearby Precision Transmission. Bruce installed the Edelbrock Stage 1 cam and the Stage 1 water pump while I helped figure out the new 100 amp alternator mount after the electric water pump was removed. Bruce checked the compression in each cylinder which was OK at 118-119 psi in each cylinder and during that check Bruce found one spark plug short-circuit with a very large carbon deposit on the underside of the plug, not readily seen. Bruce replaced that plug for free but charged for the compression check! Now the motor is seat-of-the-pants stronger and it idles like a sewing machine; it runs the best it has ever been! I have been watching the Motor Trend channel a lot and most of the "supercars" weigh over 3000 pounds while my fiberglass roadster weighs only about 2400 pounds (2600 with me in it) depending on how much extra "stuff" I keep in the rumble-trunk so at just the Stage 1 level it easily spins the rear tires with only a 3.55 rear ratio and large 15" tires. Well that is enough performance for me at 82 years old and at least my engine is at the Stage 1 level and closer to 300 HP than it was with the previous cam for a SBC 355 with mild exhaust porting of 882 heads. A 160 degree thermostat keeps the cooling below boiling and at 260 degrees when moving with the small Model A radiator in mild 60 F temperatures. It remains to be seen what will happen in 95 F August temperatures!
Along the way I did not give a report on the rack and pinion performance. The installation was definitely more than the two hour time stated on the directions, more like a week, BUT (!) it steers so much more easily than the Vega box worm gear that it is a dream to drive with just one hand and no wander underway. Since the purchase of the Be Bops kit in 2005 it took seven years to get the car on the road but now it has gained a few valuable added modifications while spreading out the expense. Thanks again for all the help from members of this Club which were very valuable.

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder