Z-11 and Mystery Motor Camshafts

[Blk61409]

Yep, pretty much what Phil said!!

Really meant so very much to me.

What he’s not telling you is why I had to sell all of my stuff to begin with!

 

[La Hot Rods]

So, was the Smokey's cam a reverse grind?

 

[Blk61409]

So, was the Smokey's cam a reverse grind?

No, not reversed, actually the Chevy cam just as shipped.

 

[Blk61409]

I have 2 different MM cams.

I think one was for either the 396 cu in or the 409 cu in MM.

Bill Howell, the engineer on the project told me the 396 made more HP, but since 427 was the Daytona max number theybwent

 

[Phil Reed]

??????????

 

[Blk61409]

There were 3 different cu in MM Engines used in testing, 396-409-427

 

[63impalass409]

So which MM do you have Pat? 427? And are the other displacement MM's floating around in a collection somewhere or did chevrolet destroy them?

 

[Blk61409]

So which MM do you have Pat? 427? And are the other displacement MM's floating around in a collection somewhere or did chevrolet destroy them?

I don’t believe any of the 396-409’s were ever released to Daytona. According to Bill Howell they changed to 427 when that became the number NASCAR decided to go with. The 396-409’s were part of the experimental development. They only had a few months to come up with the final plan.
I have often wondered if the other cam I have is either another grind for the 427 or one for the 396-409.
Another Chevrolet mystery.

 

[Phil Reed]

One more thing!!!!! I flew out to meet a customer. The customer had a friend there that the 3 of us were talking about 409's and Z-11's. In the conversation, said friend said that "an average gear head can't restore a Z-11 anymore!!!!!! I just about hit the roof!!!!!! I told him average gear heads DON'T RESTORE Z-11'S!!!!!!!!! Can't say anymore publicly!!!!!!!!!!! This was in the late 80's.

 

[quik9r]

since we are comparing yard sticks!

 

[quik9r]

I got Nasty1 (uncle Marv) looking for the cam card for his Z11 cam that is in the 31 ford M/T crossram 409. Hopefully post in a few days

 

[mark johnson]

From my 2017 pilgrimage to SoCal and the famous Long Beach Swap Meet. Some important dealer names here!

 

[Blk61409]

From my 2017 pilgrimage to SoCal and the famous Long Beach Swap Meet. Some important dealer View attachment 87144names here!

Lots of Cam Specification tools here

 

[La Hot Rods]

Well Pat, you did showed them yours.

 

[oldskydog]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Z-11 cam was the same specs as the same part number 3837736 400/425 cam in the late 63 and 64 400/425hp and 65 400hp engines. The details are in the AMA specs>
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/do...information-kits/Chevrolet/1964-Chevrolet.pdf

 

[Phil Reed]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you are right.

 

[63impalass409]

I will have to look for my cam card for my 65 400hp motor as that thing is smooth compared to 1 of my 63's that has the z 11 replica cam in it unless I forgot to hook a couple of spark plug wires up.

 

[1964SuperStocker]

I will have to look for my cam card for my 65 400hp motor as that thing is smooth compared to 1 of my 63's that has the z 11 replica cam in it unless I forgot to hook a couple of spark plug wires up.

I would think the duration would be way different.

 

[Don Jacks]

The late 64 and 65 400 and up 409 were supposed to be the same cam as the 63 Z-11 hence the 583 heads.The "Resto" grinds are different,some more than others .

 

[oil4kids]

Thanks for this great info Pat. I remember Dick Keinath saying the first run Mystery Motor cam made less HP on the dyno then the W 409, and put his team to work on it ASAP due to some of asymmetry volume of the early cast mystery heads. Those cams were reground or destroyed. I'm sure that 0- cast cam saw Nascar action. When he worked with Jr Johnson later in his years it was his job to fit a BBC cam into a small block to prevent cam failures on the Super Speedways.