Wow dennis, thats very informative! i wonder if any members have any of these cams as described? regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Re blower and 8V cams:

One internal document I have indicates the 285hp engine was cancelled upon release of the Supercharged 300 hp engine on or about 30 Dec 1956.   

The 1957 Ford Supercharger Shop Manual lists two cams, a standard camshaft which is the 256 deg and a high lift which is the 290 deg.

The 256 deg was also used in the 312 - 245 hp 4V, 270 hp 8V, and 300 hp S/C engines. 

There were two DSO camshafts, the earlier one was 290 deg .446" EDB-6250-D (Engrg p/n) / B7A-6250-C (Service p/n).  The design was completed on 8/11/56 and released on 12/5/56.  Previous to the release the cam was assigned an XE part number.  

The later DSO cam was 302 deg .454" EDB-6250-E / B7A-6250-C.  The design was completed on 12-10-56 and was released on 6-12-57.  Previous to the release, this cam was also assigned an XE part number.

I think these camshaft release dates coincide somewhat with release of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 blowers.

For whatever reason two different camshafts were assigned the same service part number.  This coincides with the TSB previously posted and the Ford cross reference list.

The use of a DSO cam would give what I believe is referred to as the 340 hp engine.

IF the 290 deg blower cam was used in the 285 hp engine, it most likely would of carried an XE part number.

In addition, (>1962) there were camshafts B7AE-6250-A,B,C,D,E, AND F.  Note B7AE not B7A.

A - Same as EDB-6250-D, except crossdrilled

B - Same as EDB-6250-E, except crossdrilled

C - 290 deg x drilled and induction hardened lobes

D - 302 deg x drilled and induction hardened lobes

E - Same as EDB-6250-D but with induction hardened lobes

F - Same as EDB-6250-E but with induction hardened lobes

Now is everyone confused?  LOL

If anyone comes up with info on the 285 hp cam, I would certainly like to hear about it.

Regards,

Dennis

Here is info on the EDB high performance cam

marv

here is some info from a TSB

I re-typed it here as when I scanned it the site shrunk it to near unreadable.



SUPERCHARGED ENGINE IDENTIFICATION (1957 Cars and Thunderbird)

The major differences between the two types of supercharged engines, currently available through production, are listed below for identification purposes.

A. Supercharged engines are normally built with the standard camshaft (B7A-6250-B) and single valve springs.

B. Domestic Special Order (D.S.O.) supercharged engines are built with a high lift camshaft (B7A-6250-C) and use additional dampener springs.

C. The only method of positively identifying the two supercharged engines without removing the camshaft, is by measuring the camshaft lobe lift. The camshaft lobe lift is 0.272 inch (intake valve) on the standard camshaft and 0.290 inch on the high lift camshaft. (refer to the 1957 Supercharger shop manual for additional service information).



marv

Old mics:

Gonna throw a little more fuel on your fire.  Years ago I bought a B7A-C cam from my local Ford dealer.  When it came in, EDB-B was stamped on the tube, and was marked through and B7A-C was hand lettered on.  I put the cam in, and soon after I acquired a used B7A-C, and lost track of where they went.  Later, I was checking cam events and reported them to Bruce at YBM.  The cam in my T-Bird did not match up with the 290* blower cam.  I don't know what it is, but I think it was that EDB cam.  A couple years ago I had the engine out of the Bird and took out the rear cam plug because I thought it was leaking oil.  On the back of the cam is stamped B7A-C.  Gordon Payne told me that replacement cams were hand stamped.  I wonder if this is a '56 260 hp cam, and possibly carried over to the 285?????

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Frank

I"m pretty sure your correct about the use of a blower cam to make the 285 rating.I"m also aware of dual valve springs installed on the heads of the 285 setups.There are also reports of it being dealer installed.

And then I wonder if the blower cam was installed the same as on a supercharged equipted car?

Its just seems to be zero Ford information about that configuration availiable that I have ever come across.

Oldmics

Let me confuse the issue some more! I believe the 285 hp cam is what is refered to today as the Blower cam. Need hurricane and Mummert to jump on that. If so, Mummert is or was making a reproduction. There were actually two cams, one being the standard 57 cam, same as the 245 hp 312's. The other was the "Blower" cam. Eventually rated by NHRA at 345 hp. Then there's another one that may, or may not have been an Isky. That was developed for or by Holmann-Moody, Bud Moore. It is supposed to be more aggressive yet. Dennis K might have some more on that.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Tom

That camshaft documentation AND anything else would be most helpful.

I have a fair amount of parts/info/paperwork about the dual quad 56 + 57 setups but there seems to be a gap in any verifiable info from a credible source (such as Ford documentation) on the 285 H.P. ratings.

It is listed as an availiable engine in one of the Ford sales brochours that I have.

I"ll bet Smokey and Ralph were on the same page by welding the blower controls wide open.Good for one race only.

Thanks for diggin,Oldmics

OLDMICS, YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS BUILDING THE 26& 99 RACERS . THEY BOTH WERE FACTORY 2X4 INTAKES(56 STYLE). I RECIEVED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND HELP FROM RALPH MOODY. HE LENT ME A LOT OF PAPER WORK AND SUCH FROM FORD TO HOLMAN MOODY IN 57. I WILL TRY TO SEE IF I CAN PUT MY HANDS ON ANY OF IT . IT DID LIST THE CAM CHANGE TO BRING A 270 HORSE TO A 285. RALPH ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE SUPERCHARGED 57 CUSTOM THAT HE RAN IN THE U.S.A.C. SERIES, AND THE CHANGES THEY MADE TO THE MCCULLOCH UNIT TO MAKE IT RUN ON FULL BOOST THE WHOLE RACE. BURN UP A UNIT IN ONE RACE. BUT HE WON EVERY RACE RAN AT THE MILWAUKEE MILE IN 57. TOM

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

Tom

Do you have any Ford documentation on the 285 H.P. engine?

Thanks,Oldmics

P.S. The "S" on the manifold is the factory identification on who cast the aluminum.

Schmeller Aluminum Foundry in Cleveland (Thanks to Dennis K for that nugget )