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curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:51 pm
by Dan Timberlake
Any body know how Howard's did this in 1961 ?
Not much detail in the ad.
I'm picturing a shis-ka-bob of cam lobes. Although manipulating all them cammies just "with the cam cover off" doesn't sound like much fun.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:54 pm
by wriggley monkey
My guess would be by changing lash.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 4:40 pm
by Kevin Johnson
Dan Timberlake wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:51 pm
Any body know how Howard's did this in 1961 ?
Not much detail in the ad.
I'm picturing a shis-ka-bob of cam lobes. Although manipulating all them cammies just "with the cam cover off" doesn't sound like much fun.
I think you are correct. Each bay having a bearing necked into a 5 degree male splined shaft for the lobes, spacers etc. mating with the next female splined bearing and down the line; rifle drilled with a center bolt to tension them collectively in compression lengthwise. What could possibly go wrong.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 4:52 pm
by turbo camino
If it were Jenga-tower style, how would you adjust it by just removing the front cover? You'd have to pull it out and rebuild the entire stack in the new config.
To adjust it via the front cover, it would have to have intake lobes on an outer shell and exhaust lobes keyed to an inner shaft.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:13 pm
by Tuner
I recall some cam outfit (and I think it was Howard's) in the waybachdaez had a scheme with offset rollers. The axle of the roller was offset from the centerline of the lifter body and they could be installed advanced or flipped over for retarded. I think they were available in two offsets, like 5 and 10, which would jive with this ad, except the timing cover wouldn't need to come off to change the lifters or their position + or -. Only been 60 years ago, seems like just yesterday.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:46 pm
by ClassAct
Tuner wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:13 pm
I recall some cam outfit (and I think it was Howard's) in the waybachdaez had a scheme with offset rollers. The axle of the roller was offset from the centerline of the lifter body and they could be installed advanced or flipped over for retarded. I think they were available in two offsets, like 5 and 10, which would jive with this ad, except the timing cover wouldn't need to come off to change the lifters or their position + or -. Only been 60 years ago, seems like just yesterday.
I thought it was Isky that did that. May have to dig up an old Isky catalog and see if it's in there.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 8:16 am
by Krooser
It was all "hot rod mojo"...super secret technology from Area 51!
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 8:44 am
by swampbuggy
Tuner, now we who did not already know, you ain't no spring chicken LOL in a good way. Mark H.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:11 pm
by PackardV8
Dan Timberlake wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:51 pmAny body know how Howard's did this in 1961 ?
Hi, Dan,
FWIW, this question came up on the HAMB a couple of years back and there were no definitive answers there either.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/thr ... d.1055758/
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:14 pm
by DCal
Think back to the 60s and remember all the camshaft ads in every magazine, they all came up with crazy names and claims. Remember Isky's 5cycle cams? Which was a guy on a bicycle-the 5th cycle!! This might be an answer to someone else's ad. Good times.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:36 am
by Geoff2
And the Vari-Cam adv/ret cam sprocket....
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:53 pm
by levisnteeshirt
coolest thing I saw from back then was a cam that rotated at half speed via gear reduction timing set ,, it had 2 opposing lobes ,, looks like controlling the ramp rates might be better ??
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:18 am
by MadBill
That would be the Bus Schaller quarter speed cam:
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACY ... 04&bih=914
Seems to me to have zero pluses and several minuses vs. standard practice.
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:15 am
by cjperformance
Kevin Johnson wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 4:40 pm
Dan Timberlake wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:51 pm
Any body know how Howard's did this in 1961 ?
Not much detail in the ad.
I'm picturing a shis-ka-bob of cam lobes. Although manipulating all them cammies just "with the cam cover off" doesn't sound like much fun.
I think you are correct. Each bay having a bearing necked into a 5 degree male splined shaft for the lobes, spacers etc. mating with the next female splined bearing and down the line; rifle drilled with a center bolt to tension them collectively in compression lengthwise.
What could possibly go wrong.
i like the positive thinking
Re: curious 1960s cam tech
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:20 am
by cjperformance
Id love to hear more about this. This stuff is interesting even when not practical or reliable!
Every scenario i can think of for this just screams horrid inaccuracies in valve timing lobe to lobe !!