[1963cat]

In need of a camshaft for 62 tempest 4 cylinder 4 barrel high compression engine. Stamping number 099. Used or nos any and all leads would be greatly appreciated. Even would accept a lightly worn one just so it is able to be reground, one of my lobes was too far gone.

[Bill Hanlon]

I am no 4 cylinder Pontiac expert, but I read your post and thought "If he can't find a Trophy 4 cam, why not use a V8 cam?" So then I Googled "can you use a Pontiac V8 camshaft in a Pontiac Tempest 4 cylinder engine?". The answer I got was ....

"Yes, you can use a standard Pontiac V8 camshaft in a 1961–1963 Pontiac Tempest 4-cylinder engine (the 194.5ci "Trophy 4"). Because Pontiac made the 4-cylinder by essentially cutting a 389 cubic-inch V8 in half, the cam dimensions match."

... but that was followed by ...

"However, there is a catch regarding engine rotation.

The 1961–1963 "Trophy 4" (Pushrod Engine)Compatibility: The camshafts for early V8s and the 4-cylinder share the same lobe spacing, base circle, and block-mounted design.

The Catch: Some early 4-cylinder Tempests used a unique "rope drive" flexible driveshaft that connected to a rear-mounted transaxle. These specific engines rotated backwards (counter-clockwise). If your 4-cylinder is a standard, front-mounted engine, a V8 cam will work. If your Tempest has the unique rear-mounted transaxle, a standard V8 cam will run your engine in reverse."

... REALLY? I thought ALL 4 cylinder Tempests used the flex driveshaft. And I've never heard that the half-a-V8 engine turned backwards.

Anyway, if the Trophy 4 does NOT rotate backwards and you can find specs for the cam you are looking for I'd bet that you could find a Pontiac V8 cam with similar specs.

My apologies if the Trophy 4 really does turn backwards.

[1963cat]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

I am no 4 cylinder Pontiac expert, but I read your post and thought "If he can't find a Trophy 4 cam, why not use a V8 cam?" So then I Googled "can you use a Pontiac V8 camshaft in a Pontiac Tempest 4 cylinder engine?". The answer I got was ....

"Yes, you can use a standard Pontiac V8 camshaft in a 1961–1963 Pontiac Tempest 4-cylinder engine (the 194.5ci "Trophy 4"). Because Pontiac made the 4-cylinder by essentially cutting a 389 cubic-inch V8 in half, the cam dimensions match."

... but that was followed by ...

"However, there is a catch regarding engine rotation.

The 1961–1963 "Trophy 4" (Pushrod Engine)Compatibility: The camshafts for early V8s and the 4-cylinder share the same lobe spacing, base circle, and block-mounted design.

The Catch: Some early 4-cylinder Tempests used a unique "rope drive" flexible driveshaft that connected to a rear-mounted transaxle. These specific engines rotated backwards (counter-clockwise). If your 4-cylinder is a standard, front-mounted engine, a V8 cam will work. If your Tempest has the unique rear-mounted transaxle, a standard V8 cam will run your engine in reverse."

... REALLY? I thought ALL 4 cylinder Tempests used the flex driveshaft. And I've never heard that the half-a-V8 engine turned backwards.

Anyway, if the Trophy 4 does NOT rotate backwards and you can find specs for the cam you are looking for I'd bet that you could find a Pontiac V8 cam with similar specs.

My apologies if the Trophy 4 really does turn backwards.

Bill, thanks for taking the time to respond the trophy 4 is indeed a half of a 389 but the problem arises due to the rod journals being 180 degrees apart and a v 8 s are 90 degrees so half the lobes will be in wrong spot. Yes the 61-63 tempest have a transaxle in the rear with a "rope drive" drive shaft which in reality a approximately a 5/8 steel shaft.

[Bill Hanlon]

I learned something today. Thanks.

So the crank is "flat", causing one compression cycle every 1/2 turn. With cyls 1 and 4 "paired" as far as coming to TDC at the same time and 2 and 3 "paired". Makes sense.

[Rusty4cyl]

Bill let me check I should have a stock cam around here

[GaryK]

Originally Posted by 1963cat

In need of a camshaft for 62 tempest 4 cylinder 4 barrel high compression engine. Stamping number 099. Used or nos any and all leads would be greatly appreciated. Even would accept a lightly worn one just so it is able to be reground, one of my lobes was too far gone.

If you have a 1bbl camshaft, you can send it out to have it made into the 099 profile you want. The two companies that offer this service is Effingham Regrinding in IL or Delta Camshaft in WA. Delta has the ability to go a little hotter if the camshaft given is good enough. I used Delta and my cam is 202, 213 at .050. Factory 4bbl was 200, 210 at .050. Other choice is Bullet can make you a roller with whatever specs you ask them to.

[GaryK]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

I am no 4 cylinder Pontiac expert, but I read your post and thought "If he can't find a Trophy 4 cam, why not use a V8 cam?" So then I Googled "can you use a Pontiac V8 camshaft in a Pontiac Tempest 4 cylinder engine?". The answer I got was ....

"Yes, you can use a standard Pontiac V8 camshaft in a 1961–1963 Pontiac Tempest 4-cylinder engine (the 194.5ci "Trophy 4"). Because Pontiac made the 4-cylinder by essentially cutting a 389 cubic-inch V8 in half, the cam dimensions match."

... but that was followed by ...

"However, there is a catch regarding engine rotation.

The 1961–1963 "Trophy 4" (Pushrod Engine)Compatibility: The camshafts for early V8s and the 4-cylinder share the same lobe spacing, base circle, and block-mounted design.

The Catch: Some early 4-cylinder Tempests used a unique "rope drive" flexible driveshaft that connected to a rear-mounted transaxle. These specific engines rotated backwards (counter-clockwise). If your 4-cylinder is a standard, front-mounted engine, a V8 cam will work. If your Tempest has the unique rear-mounted transaxle, a standard V8 cam will run your engine in reverse."

... REALLY? I thought ALL 4 cylinder Tempests used the flex driveshaft. And I've never heard that the half-a-V8 engine turned backwards.

Anyway, if the Trophy 4 does NOT rotate backwards and you can find specs for the cam you are looking for I'd bet that you could find a Pontiac V8 cam with similar specs.

My apologies if the Trophy 4 really does turn backwards.

The timing on the Trophy 4 is different than the V8. If you want to use the V8 Cam, you have to use a V8 Crankshaft. It has been done. Not by me, but it was discussed on this forum many years ago. When it comes to the Trophy 4 and the transaxles, Google is not your friend, most suppliers don't know these cars that well either. I have been around these cars for over 45 years, I have had many arguments with people who say their parts will fit when they don't.

The main parts of the Trophy 4 that are different than the V8 are the Crankshaft, Camshaft, Distributor, Valley pan, Air Cleaner, Intake and Carb.

Search this forum for Charlie66, he has a turbo on his Trophy 4, he estimates around 800HP on his engine. There are others that getting a ton of HP out of these engines.

[Bill Hanlon]

V8 cam blanks are available from a number of sources. Maybe that would be the way to go. Who cares if there are 8 uncut "lobes"?

[Rusty4cyl]

Hey Bill I have a 4cyl cam

[hobbygto65]

WTB Working signal light switch for a 63 Lemans.