another cam question


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By steinauge - 11 Years Ago
I am building a fresh 292 for my 55 Ford sedan.Engine is lightly modified-zero decked,pocket ported etc.I am using an Isky cam . When inspecting the new cam I noted that the oil groove in the center journal was only about .010" deep.I checked 2 stock cams and got .028"& .030" depth.I stuck the cam in the lathe and made the groove stock depth.Question is I wonder if I needed to do that? I used this same type Isky cam in a 312 40 some years ago and didnt do that. Dont recall any top end oiling issues.Anyone have any ideas?
By Daniel Jessup - 11 Years Ago

The word on the street is that some of the cam blanks several years ago were sent to grinders without having a center groove deep enough. There was also some concern about the area around the distributor gear and interference. Speaking to the groove, with the new Durabond bearings that have a ID oil groove and an OD!!! oil groove this should not be a problem. I think the veteran Verne Schumann worked on this with Durabond. What cam bearings are you using by the way?
By NoShortcuts - 11 Years Ago
Increasing the groove depth was the right thing to do!  Smile

From John Mummert's web site...

NOTE: All new cam cores for Y-Blocks are manufactured with insufficient oil groove in center journal resulting in reduced oil flow to rocker arms.

WE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL NEW CAMS WE SELL!!!

By steinauge - 11 Years Ago
Thank you both for your help.I am using a set of OEM ford  cam bearings that are about 40 years old. About that long ago I helped a guy pull this 292 out of his 59 Ford and install a 390\4 speed combo.I bought my 55 Ford this year and a couple of months later I saw him at a cruise,told him about the ford and he said"why dont you come over and get that 292 we took out of my 59?" I went and it was STILL sitting in the corner of the garage where we had put it! He also gave me a bunch of NOS parts(bearings etc) and an Offy 3X2 intake! true story.
By NoShortcuts - 11 Years Ago

WoW!  What goes around, does come around! 

Hmmmm... you'll have to take a closer look at what you've got...  Per John Mummert's web site:


Engine block casting I.D. above the engine oil filter on the driver's side...

EDB-E   - 292 cu. in. V8   1958-59 cars and trucks to April 59. (312 in Mercury)

B9AE-F   - 292 cu. in. V8  1959-60 cars and trucks. (312 in 1959 & 60 Mercury only) 

IF your block is a B9AE or B9AF, it should have the longer main bearing cap bolts that Ford went to in the Y block during the '59 model year 'til the end of regular Y production in the '64 model year. These are a plus, particularly IF you should hop-up the engine…

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Cylinder head casting I.D. adjacent to cylinder head intake ports:

CASTING#              Cu.In.    Int. valve     C.R.          CC’s        H.P.       Carb.              VEHICLES

5752-113               292        1.92"         8.8:1         72cc       200        2bbl              Ford cars

5750-471               292        1.92"        8.0:1         82cc                      2 bbl       LD, MD, HD Truck

5750-471               312        1.92"        8.7:1        82cc        210        2bbl               Mercury

IF your heads are 5752-113s, IMO these are as good to have as the historically sought after '57 ECZ-Gs.  The 113s are posted, have relatively small combustion chambers, and have the large intake valves.  The 5750-471s are a good head, too, BUT have BIG combustion chambers if you don't have domed pistons, a supercharger, or a turbocharger...

______________________________
Let the fun begin!  Smile
By PF Arcand - 11 Years Ago
I'm surprised to hear that Isky hasn't cottoned to the fact that the oil groove in the blank cores isn't to spec. J. Mummert discovered that defect several years ago, & made it public! 
By PF Arcand - 11 Years Ago
Steinage: Just a note on the Offy Intake. Unless your 292 is just a 2 barrell setup, a test not long ago of Tri Power setups on a Y-block, determined that the Offy was the least effective of seven tested. Also, there can be distributor advance problems with those early 94 style carbs depending on what distributor is used etc. There are explanations back some on this site & in Y-Block Magazine etc..      
By steinauge - 11 Years Ago
Thank you all very much for your help.The heads are 113s,I am using stainless valves and springs,retainers and pushrods from John.Thank you PF, I know about the Offy intake,I am using a "B" single  4bbl.and a 600 Edelbrock.If I was going to use the Offy  I would use 2cg Rochesters and adaptors.I have WAY more experience than I ever wanted with 94\97 carbs! The block is at the machine shop right now so I dont have the casting# handy but it takes the longer ARP main bolts with no problem which IIRC makes it the later 59 block?
By NoShortcuts - 11 Years Ago
From what JM has indicated in his instruction sheet, the later blocks will take the ARP main bearing cap bolts without having to do the drilling and tapping necessary to install them on the earlier Y blocks.

Keep us posted on your progress!  Smile