Back on topic- - - - -sort of! We degreed the Elgin brand cam we installed in John's 261 over the weekend, and it was a real education. The "advertised" duration of 290 degrees had me thinking somebody had mislabeled a full race cam as a stock 261, but they're playing games with the cam lobe ramps and counting the degrees the cam is turning to take up the valve lash as part of the total duration. That adds close to 20 degrees to the advertised duration, turning a cam with about 252/260 degree intake/exhaust lobes into a "290". From the specifications I've been able to find on the original 261 cam, the tech guy's claim at Elgin appears to be correct- - - - -they patterned the master cam for their grinding machine directly from a "new old stock" GM 261 cam.

The quality of the Elgin cam appears to be excellent, so if anyone is in the market for one, they offer a good alternative to the terribly expensive cams the resto-ripoff guys are offering! Good to know!
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!