New Camshaft in '66 427 Block

[Thomas]

I am in the process of replacing the camshaft in the 427 block currently in my '69 Camaro engine bay.

The block is a '66 4-bolt out of a '66 Pontiac Parisienne. It originally used a camshaft with a "grooved" rear bearing journal.

Obviously, none of the new cams come this way.

The rear cam bearing, presently in the block, is grooved.
Do I still need to have a groove machined in new camshaft in order for it to work with this block?
I believe the answer is yes, as using the camshaft as is will not allow the lifters to be oiled properly, but I have been unable to verify this.

I know there are members on this site who have forgotten more about engine building than I will ever know.

Thanks in advance.

[resto4u]

I believe i have read this somewhere. I would say yes the cam needs the groove.

[PeteLeathersac]

Me too, yes to the groove!.
Cool the lump is from a '66 Parisienne MK1V car!.
L36?.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

[Thomas]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PeteLeathersac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Me too, yes to the groove!.
Cool the lump is from a '66 Parisienne MK1V car!.
L36?.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete </div></div>

I only know that because I met the second owners best friend at a car show in Oshawa, last August.

Apparently, the owner was a drinker. He came out of the bar one night after consuming one too many &quot;brown pops&quot;, and started reving the engine in the parking lot.
Something let go.

I was hoping that the original block would have given it's life in an effort to win a street race or something similar, but no such luck.

The block is a 4-bolt block, so it may have been higher horsepower than that. I do not know what was available.
The camshaft I pulled out of it was a 396/325 hydraulic, according to Colvin.
The block has been decked so, short of acid etching the pad, I will probably never know.

[SuperNovaSS]

Yes, you need to groove the rear cam journal.


Jason

[Chevy454]

YES, you need the groove! The very first engine I put together (an L72 w/ an early 427 block) required the grooved camshaft, but I didn't know that until I went to prime the engine and no oil would get to the top end. Luckily, Mo had a book @ the parts store with the spec for the groove so he threw it on a lathe and cut the groove, and it worked like a charm.

I'm thinking the grooved cams are still available, though? Call Bullet Cams and speak w/ John Partridge, he will fix you up.

[Thomas]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chevy454</div><div class="ubbcode-body">YES, you need the groove! The very first engine I put together (an L72 w/ an early 427 block) required the grooved camshaft, but I didn't know that until I went to prime the engine and no oil would get to the top end. Luckily, Mo had a book @ the parts store with the spec for the groove so he threw it on a lathe and cut the groove, and it worked like a charm.

I'm thinking the grooved cams are still available, though? Call Bullet Cams and speak w/ John Partridge, he will fix you up. </div></div>

I already have the cam on order.
I'm working with one of my old neighbours who owns a performance shop 2 blocks from my place. The cam we have picked is the Comp Cams Extreme Energy XS274S.
I hope it was a good choice.
He was suggesting a roller setup, but I was/am on a budget, if there is such a thing when you play with this stuff, and I wanted to go with a solid lifter setup.

The one thing he was not sure about was whether the groove in the rear cam bearing was enough, as he spends more time at the track with new stuff than working on vintage engines.

Thanks for all the help.

I will take the cam in to have it machined when it arrives next week.

[StriperSS]

Wow, about 50 Parisiennes had 427's in 66, and only a few still exist.

[Thomas]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StriperSS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, about 50 Parisiennes had 427's in 66, and only a few still exist. </div></div>

So, it might be worth my while to try and raise the VIN on the pad.
Maybe the car still exists.

[PeteLeathersac]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Thomas</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

So, it might be worth my while to try and raise the VIN on the pad.
Maybe the car still exists.
</div></div>

Naaahh as too few enthusiasts have caught on to the rarity of factory Mk1V Canadian Pontiacs anyway..
Word up here in Canada is some guy named Carl single-handedly scrapped the bulk of original MK1V Canadian Poncho 4-Doors and Longroofs back in the day, transplanting their MK1V internal organs into other cars that had a better chance to live!.
Are the heads the ones that came w/ the block?.
Look carefully at all you have including casting #'s and if an L72 it may be worth thinking harder about it all then?.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete