I will go against the tide here and say I have only ever used Speed Pro or genuine GM cams in at least a dozen rebuilt engines. Neither one of them has ever given me a stitch of trouble and I know of at least one shop that used Speed Pro for many years with the same results.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Speed Pro cam. Also, I have dealt with the seller, Northern Auto Parts many times, both by mail order and picking up. They also have been good to deal with.
However, if other people have not had good experience with Speed Pro, maybe do some homework in case there are problems I am not aware of.
For the record, for those who aren't aware of it, Speed Pro/Sealed Power is owned by Federal Mogul.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I will go against the tide here and say I have only ever used Speed Pro or genuine GM cams in at least a dozen rebuilt engines. Neither one of them has ever given me a stitch of trouble and I know of at least one shop that used Speed Pro for many years with the same results.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Speed Pro cam. Also, I have dealt with the seller, Northern Auto Parts many times, both by mail order and picking up. They also have been good to deal with.
However, if other people have not had good experience with Speed Pro, maybe do some homework in case there are problems I am not aware of.
For the record, for those who aren't aware of it, Speed Pro/Sealed Power is owned by Federal Mogul.
i agree, but like i posted, only thier cams arent good. thier cams are all produced offshore. remember the 305 cams ,back in the early to mid 80,s? its the same steel, alloy mix. very soft.
As I was reading this I remembered I had saved the box from my cam when I did my 327. Possibly they were offshore at some time but this one definitely had no boat ride to my house.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I'm with you Carl there is nothing wrong with Northern Auto Parts or Speed Pro. Northern Auto Parts is excellent to deal with. I have used Speed Pro, Melling, Crane, Comp, Engle, Cam Dynamics, General Kinetics, you name it. If you break it in properly and don't use ridiculous valve springs you will have NO PROBLEM. There aren't that many cam grinders out there so chances are your fancy big name cam is no better than the cheaper one.
4 more things:
1.THAT BETTER BE A SOLID LIFTER STICK NOT SOME FLUFFER HYDRAULIC LIFTER VERSION OF THE REAL DEAL.
2. AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY WHINING ABOUT ADJUSTING VALVES!!
3. NOTHING SOUNDS COOLER THAN A MECHANICAL CAMSHAFT
I'm with you Carl there is nothing wrong with Northern Auto Parts or Speed Pro. Northern Auto Parts is excellent to deal with. I have used Speed Pro, Melling, Crane, Comp, Engle, Cam Dynamics, General Kinetics, you name it. If you break it in properly and don't use ridiculous valve springs you will have NO PROBLEM. There aren't that many cam grinders out there so chances are your fancy big name cam is no better than the cheaper one.
4 more things:
1.THAT BETTER BE A SOLID LIFTER STICK NOT SOME FLUFFER HYDRAULIC LIFTER VERSION OF THE REAL DEAL.
2. AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY WHINING ABOUT ADJUSTING VALVES!!
3. NOTHING SOUNDS COOLER THAN A MECHANICAL CAMSHAFT
4. BETTER BE GOING INTO A STICK CAR
The L79 cam (350 hp) was hydraulic, your probably thinking of the 365 hp 327 L76 cam (solid).
I had a L76 cam in my 1st car [55 Chevy 2 dr.post] way back when. Yes a PITA for valve adj. & I found 30/30 worked just right but the rockers were the weak link!! I ended up carring a few in a bag in b/seat for roadside repairs. Man did that old SBC rev. "twisted" it up to 8 grand a few times, maybe thats why the rockers FAILED as well as 1 rear end explosion
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Years ago my first 327 I build I did with a brand new 3863151 L79 cam. I always say the GM cam seems a bit smoother or tamer than the Speed Pro version.
Have you tried both? Your thoughts?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I`ve only built a few 327 long ago and uesed after market cams. I got the nos cam for $200. He had a set of nos GM l79 30 over pistons but they went for $320 a little more then I want to spend. Whats your thoughts on lifters. What would you use? Also orange rods, good or bad?
I typically used Sealed Power lifters. Years ago, a guy had to shop carefully because not all lifters had the hardened base like most do now.
I did use GM lifters once or twice but I bet they are just an aftermarket lifter in a GM box and GM always had a much higher price on them.
I have only ever used a stock, garden variety rod. That has never been an issue but I've never built a race engine either, always strictly for street and maybe a weekend trip to the strip. Never had a stock GM rod fail with what I do, or a bottom end for that matter. Sooner or later it will happen though!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
i use only aftermarket rods and pistons, the reason is economics, by the time all is said they are new balanced and they are dead on and they are not stresses. i use full floating set ups and lighter pistons. one mistake i made not balancing the crank do it i now its extra but just do it you will thank your self. i can get numbers if needed
found the rod box they were scat powder metal forgings with cap screws i think 400 or 600 bucks and they are set up for flaoting wrist pins pistons are lightweight wisco forgings flattop two valve reliefs steel shim head gasket this combination is light and balanced dead on out of the box so the crank needs to be matched
