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#1
05-28-2021, 03:15 PM
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NOS Pontiac Cam Stamp Question
I have what appears to be an NOS Pontiac 421SD #10 cam in the original GM tube (P/N 541596), however, it looks like a 'K' stamped into the nose, not a '10' from what I see in various cam references (Wallace, H-O Racing, etc.). Which stamp is correct? The lobes are low lift and pretty broad shouldered, so I'm hoping it's the real McCoy. I've had it since the mid-'80's.
Dennis |
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#2
05-28-2021, 03:38 PM
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My NOS Melling RPC-2 cam (541596) has nothing stamped on the nose.
The various websites and books we use for reference are all great guides but are of course not 100% accurate. 
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1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
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#3
05-28-2021, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
McKellar had factory Grind Numbers like the #8, #10, and #11 (I have never personally seen info on the #12) but those numbers were not stamped on the front of the camshafts like the cams with a letter on them L, P, S, H, and T cams. The cams just mentioned are all Hydraulic camshafts. No worries at all about it being the correct #10 grind camshaft. My catalog is from the early 1970s. Tom V.
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"Engineers do stuff for reasons" Tom Vaught Despite small distractions, there are those who will go Forward, Learning, Sharing Knowledge, Doing what they can to help others move forward. Last edited by Tom Vaught; 05-28-2021 at 10:23 PM. |
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#4
05-29-2021, 05:12 PM
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Thanks Tom V. If the factory SD cams didn't have the grind # stamped into them, what did they have...anything?...other letters? Does anyone have an original PMD factory SD cam with anything stamped into the nose? Did Melling supply the factory with cams for the SD program, or were they purely aftermarket (that's what I thought)?
Sorry for all the questions, but I find this stuff fascinating! Dennis |
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#5
06-03-2021, 08:20 PM
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Quote:
Dennis |
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#6
05-28-2021, 04:17 PM
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I have owned some NOS ones over the years and that looks like the real deal.Tom
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#7
05-28-2021, 04:44 PM
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Thanks Bart & Tom! I know the stillborn SD455 'K' cam (RAIV grind) had the 'K' (obviously) stamp, so I wasn't expecting to see it in this cam. It has the standard distributor drive gear size, so it isn't the SD455/RAV cam. I think we'll degree it just to make sure it is what we hope it is.
Dennis |
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#8
05-28-2021, 04:46 PM
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The only I wonder is if it a early 455 SD cam that was based on the No. 10?
Part number 480737, which had a 'K' stamped on it? (would be hydraulic though I think and more lift)  Have seen a Craftsman bulletin on some earlier cams being given a new stamp. (I think 529472 is one)
__________________
John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
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#9
05-28-2021, 04:52 PM
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John, It does have the same valve timing events and .050" duration as the RAIV cam, which the 'K' cam was a copy of except for the smaller distributor drive gear...I don't know, but the lobes look correct for low lift, not like a RAIV cam lobes.
Dennis |
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#10
05-28-2021, 05:05 PM
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Here is the table showing the common specs between the high performance factory cams (courtesy of Wallace Racing).
Dennis |
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#11
05-28-2021, 05:05 PM
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Thanks, I didn't see your post before I posted my response.
Forgot the gear would have been different on the SD cam. 
__________________
John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
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#12
05-28-2021, 04:51 PM
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More lobe pictures.
   
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
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#13
05-28-2021, 05:09 PM
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FYI,they do not live well with street driving,idle has to be kept high.Tom
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#14
05-28-2021, 05:11 PM
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Quote:
Dennis |
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#15
05-28-2021, 05:12 PM
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Was the #10 cam standard in the 62 & 63 SD's?
Dennis |
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#16
05-28-2021, 05:21 PM
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Quote:
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
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#17
05-28-2021, 05:23 PM
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I remember seeing the 480737 cam in the 73 shop manual. I tried ordering one in 74 from very helpful parts man and couldnt. So I got H-O s equivalent.
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#18
05-31-2021, 01:24 PM
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a) Get Pete McCarthy's Book
b) #10 is a Mechanical cam. 744 is a hydraulic RA with manual transmission. c) Pontiac marketing was playing all kinds of games with models and HP in the early 70s. Engines with two different cams would have the same ratings in a specific model (A-body) and different ratings for that same engine/cam in another. And then there were the carb games. (bend a tab, gain 30 hp). |
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#19
06-02-2021, 03:11 PM
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From a friend who worked at Oldsmobile, they often took the curb weight of the car, divided by "X" (10, in a lot of cases), and that was the HP rating. Yes, it was marketing and BS. All these hotrod parts only gain 5hp, but changing this one meaningless thing is 40hp in another model.
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Clutch Guys Matter _______________________________________ 53 Studebaker, 400P/th400/9" 64 F-85 72 4-4-2 Mondello's VO Twister II 84 Hurst/Olds #2449 87 Cutlass Salon 54 Olds 88 sedan |
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#20
05-28-2021, 05:22 PM
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Yes in both,11s and 12s were over the counter.Tom
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