I have an Isky Model: 301444 cam in my 312. I’m wondering if anyone out there might have one and if so what your timing is set at. Also Isky recommended a hot valve lash of .015. I assume that would translate to .016 cold, am I correct?

1955 312 T-Bird Warwick, NY

That would be the Isky E-4 camshaft which is a nice upgrade to the 1957 camshaft.  I have that particular camshaft on the catalogue specified 108° lobe centerline angle in my ’55 Ford Customline with a 0.020” over 272 engine and original ECG heads.  The ignition timing at idle is 10-12° BTDC and the engine has the 1957 and up distributor which is using ported vacuum rather than direct vacuum.  That camshaft now has almost 200K miles on it and is holding up fine.  I do check the valve lash at 40K mile intervals which is the same time as I install new spark plugs and check the ignition timing.  Valve lash is always consistent so there’s nothing going on in the valve train to be worried about.
 
During that first 100K miles the valve lash was varied everywhere from 0.015” to 0.025”.  While tha camshaft rumble was more noticeable at 0.015” lash, there was an off idle hesitation that required a larger accelerator pump shot and some smaller high-speed air bleeds in the carburetor.  The best fuel mileage was with 0.025” valve lash but the valve train was on the noisy side even with the Thunderbird aluminum valve covers.  For the last 100K miles or so, the lash has been at 0.019” which is a happy spot for sound, driving, fuel mileage, etc.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)