The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Inline Six Cam Identification

Hi:

I am new to this site, but see a lot of familiar names from Chevy Talk. It is great to see so many people as interested in Chevy trucks.

I recently purchased a vintage cam kit on eBay that was misrepresented. I had intended to use it for a 1958 235 engine I am building to use in my semi-hot rodded 1930 1 1/2 ton Chevy truck. The cam kit was claimed to be used for the 2nd generation of sixes (216, 235, 261). Upon arrival, it appears that it is really for the 3rd generation (194, 230, 250, 292). I am guessing this based on the location of the cam gear and the fact that the lifters used are common to the V-8. The lifter box states 1955-1968 Chevrolet, so I am guessing that the cam is of that vintage and intended for the later sixes.

I would really appreciate any of you who are familiar with this era of engines take a look at my photos and see if you concur. If you think it is for something else, please let me know. I would hate to relist it and have somebody else end up dissapointed!

The cam is a Crower D406. It appears to be a solid lifter cam. Unfortunately, Crower does not maintain any historic archives. I checked my old catalogs and couldn't find anything talking about it.

Sorry for the length.

Cam Kit Picture Lifter and Springs Detail Photo

First as moderator let me Welcome you to our group. Also nice to see fellow Coloradans in here. Please don't apolgize for "the length" as you said becuause you letter is direct, articulate and well stated so nothing to apologize for.

As for the cam itself I cannot make it out in the photo but am sure you have correctly identified it as a GEN III cam. I do think however that the lifters used on GEN II are the same as V8 lifters. They sure look the same to me. If wrong then there are plenty of folks here who will know it in a heartbeat and help you out. I find it surprising that Crower can't help you with thier own product or am I mis-interpreting what you mean?

Again Welcome!
Dave
www.picturetrail.com/Birdhtr

Dave:

Thanks for the welcome! This is a great site with a ton (and a half) of good information.

RE: The lifters. I think that I found some information that implied that they were the same diameter and length. That is what I am going on...but could be wrong. They sure look like V-8 solids to me, but came 12 to the box. The mike .843 diameter and are 2.000 in length (1.750 to the top of pushrod seat shoulder). It seems that the General did everything they could in the way of interchangability during the 60's, so would make sense that they would be the same as in the V-8. The Gen. II lifters are a bit larger overall.

RE: Crower. They said that they do not maintain catalogs back that far. No data on previous grinds whatsoever. Might have lost that stuff during a corporate buyout?? They did offer to index it for me. That is good customer service. Unfortunately, it doesn't identify the engine, just lift and duration. It also is a bit time consuming and expensive on the shipping end.

So...hoping to have somebody look at the parts and say that the package "makes sense" as a Gen. III application. Then I can list it with good conscious and go find a Gen. II cam elsewhere (Patrick's).

Thanks for your assistance!!
Tom

Tom,
As Dave has already said,so eloquently I might add, Welcome.
Please allow me to add to the confusion a little more. :p
From the photo I cant tell the the location of the cam lobe for the Mech. Fuel Pump,AND That
Matters you see,
Because the cams for the 292 are unique unto themselves and CANNOT be used in the 194/230/250 engines,And Vice Versa.
Well they can be installed But you have no way of driving the fuel pump pushrod{dont ask how I know }
The 292 has a "Staggered" motor mount location looking down from the top,as in the fuel pump and motor mount are flip flopped front to back.
So that makes the fuel cam lobe location for a 292 further "aft" than the others.
And you thought your post was Long Winded SHEESH. :p
Regards,
Steve Sr.

Steve Sr.

Funny you should mention that...I went to both Isky's and Erson's sites and discovered that there was something different about those 292's. Now I know, thanks to your help!

Fortunately that one is easy to answer. The fuel pump lobe is located inbetween the #2 cylinder intake and exhaust lobes. I note that in the middle of the cam is another lobe that has been ground out (inoperable). I bet they used the same blank for both, grinding out the one that wouldn't be used. You can can see the location of this cams fuel pump lobe in the following photo:
Fuel Pump Lobe Detail

O K Tom
Thatis EXACTLY what I was talking about.
YES They do use the same forging/casting/whatever blanks and then grind down the uneeded stuff to save on costs.
Just one more tool/pass on the CNC/Milling Machine
Well,That is NOT a 292 cam,cause it would have a lobe almost in the middle for the pump. :rolleyes:
So now we are back to Semi Square One lol

Steve Sr.

OK! That helps ALOT!! The fact that there are 2 fuel pump lobes in locations that coincide with those used for the full range of Gen. III sixes really helps to confirm my thoughts. I feel a whole lot better about this thing now.

I suspect that one could run this cam in a 292 with an electric fuel pump, right? Was that the only issue you encountered...oops, I wasn't supposed to ask you how you know about the location of the pump lobes!!

Thanks AGAIN for your help!! :p

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page!! You probably noticed almost immediately that the dist. gear is too far forward for 216/235/261. Good luck with selling that one and getting one you want and can use. Please post some pics of you truck project for the Gallery. We love pictures of old trucks. :p

Sorry Frank I Just forgot to Ask For PICS
Tom,and all,see yooz guys tomorrow
I gotta Put the Head Down for a few.
I,m going in tonite for work but
YES I Believe Dave is right.
Looks Like a Gen 3 NON 292 Cam to me.
But what the Hell,{old girlfriends said I wuz Blind anyway}
Just dont ask Stuart {atomarc} cuz he,ll have me back Paintin Houses

Frank50:

Yes, I noticed the gear location the minute I opened the package. The seller did a lousy job with his photos and didn't send one to me when asked about the location of the gear. It was suspicious, but didn't trust my instincts.
I took a risk, but got the whole package for cheap. I am thinking about just getting in indexed and see what it will fetch PROPERLY represented.

Tom