348 409 camshaft

[djones3158]

Hello, just joined the group in hopes of identifying a camshaft I've owned since 1969. A friend drag raced back in the day and ran 409 stuff. I was trying to build a 61 409 street car one piece at a time and he gave me this cam. I never completed the task and sold the car and just bought a running car. Girls weren't to impressed with the project . Sad thing is the 61 had a ss trunk on it. I don't know if it was a true ss but car didn't look like it had been replaced at the time [needed overall paint job] but that's water under the bridge. Anyway the camshaft has a 3796377 pt number on it and I looked at the part numbers listed on this site but didn't see anything. Don't know if I should sell it, junk it, or make a lamp out of it! Any help is appreciated.

 

[Don Jacks]

If the cam has been used,make a lamp out of it.You never want to put new lifters on an old cam.

 

[Fathead Racing]

If the cam has been used,make a lamp out of it.You never want to put new lifters on an old cam.

I thought that was the other way around Don, no used lifters on a new cam, new lifters on an old cam, ok.

 

[Don Jacks]

Although I've gotten away with it on my small blocks,it isn't a good idea to do either one Ray.Both the cam lobes and the lifter faces have to wear in together,and with today's oils,either one's going to become a headache.

 

[models916]

The face of the cam should wear very very little. Lifter base takes a set if broken in correctly. New lifter on a old cam is the same as if it were a new cam. This is flat tappet hydraulic or solid of course.

 

[Skip FIx]

The cost of building these motors and loosing a lobe on a cam and having to redo it not worth the chance.

 

[models916]

Some people are on a budget. Can't afford to scrap a perfectly good cam. Just know what you are doing and that the cam is indeed good. I personally would not resuse a flat tappet cam. Now days you can lose a lobe on a brand new cam pretty easy.

 

[427John]

D the number you posted is 1 digit off of the 3796077 early 380-409hp solid cam but even then you don't know if it has been reground to a different profile.The only way to find out would be to map the lobes with a dial indicator and degree wheel.A lot of the cam vendors back in the day used factory cams as a core but they usually(but not always) engraved something on the face of the front or back journal.

 

[djones3158]

thanks... looked closer at the number and you are correct. My old eyes missed it. That was the answer I was looking for. It sounds like nobody would want this cam for anything so I guess I'll just pitch it. Pretty sure it was never reground. The friend I got this from I'm sure was just giving me his old stuff. He ran b/mp with a lot of Honest Charlie stuff Engle cam, Jahns pistons etc. Thanks to everyone that replied. This is a pretty neat site...

 

[poison ivy]

New lifters on old cam, tried it, worked every time. not a recomendation, just fact. Spring pressure, coil bind, and rocker arm slot, important.

 

[djones3158]

I agree, with the higher seat pressure that most are running nowdays I would be very afraid, but for an old original low horsepower application I wouldn't think anything bad would happen with new lifters, but I'm not suggesting try it and see. I just hate to throw out a 409 camshaft! lol!

 

[Tom Miller]

Most Cam failure issues are caused by over springing everything.
People spring crap for 7000 rpm, that is only a 5500rpm engine, and you're only at that 5500 mark for a split second for gear change, and maybe going through the traps.
Majority of the time, most engines spend life in the mid 3000-4500 range.
Coil bind, retainer to guide clearance, rocker slot bind, etc. Are all cam killers.