Timing Chain Proposal

[imp]

Started web surfing and drinking scotch. Blame @imp.

Found this.

Gear Drive Crammer.

About 1\2 way down.

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/cammer-the-real-story-of-the-legendary-ford-427-sohc-v8/

@shucker1
Shuck, you have provided here a treasure-trove of Ford history! Thank you so much!

Compare the Cammer's rod cross-section, top, with the Hemi's, below. Which rod looks stronger? Matter of fact, the old MEL Lincoln 430, introduced in 1958, had rods made that exactly the same: web at big end as wide as the bearing itself!

Hey, BTW, you still in Ohio? Have seen the area had reasonably acceptable temps lately.

 

[imp]

Started web surfing and drinking scotch. Blame @imp.

Found this.

Gear Drive Crammer.

About 1\2 way down.

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/cammer-the-real-story-of-the-legendary-ford-427-sohc-v8/

@shucker1
Shuck, you have provided here a treasure-trove of Ford history! Thank you so much!

Compare the Cammer's rod cross-section, top, with the Hemi's, below. Which rod looks stronger? Matter of fact, the old MEL Lincoln 430, introduced in 1958, had rods made exactly the same: web at big end as wide as the bearing itself!

Hey, BTW, you still in Ohio? Have seen the area had reasonably acceptable temps lately.

 

[Josh P]

I don't have $46k laying around burning a hole in my pocket, or I'd buy one of the new aluminum block crate motors. A mid engine aerostar would be cool as hell with 750 hp

 

[CDW6212R]

Nice link there, I've read that before a long time ago. I forgot about the gear drive someone created for it. That was the only mention of it I ever saw.

"Cammer engines are very scarce these days, and when you can find one, very expensive. Reproduction heads are sometimes available, but they’re pricey, too. It’s difficult to fathom that in the late ’60s and early ’70s, Cammers were OE surplus. Gratiot Auto Supply, the famed Detroit speed shop, sold complete engines new in the crate for $2300. ..."

"Drag racers burned midnight oil tackling the Cammer’s issues, including the mile-long timing chain. Working with Harvey Crane of Crane Cams and P&S Machine, the always creative Pete Robinson produced this gear drive system. Note the additional gear on the left bank, allowing a right-hand camshaft to be used on both cylinder heads."

 

[shucker1]

Notice the straight cut gears?

That thing should whine like crazy.



I'll bet there was just no room for helical cut gears.

Along to go with that it would be a machinist set up nightmare.

 

[CDW6212R]

That works fine for a race car, but not for any street use. There's no good way to mount accessories on that.

That's why anything for the SOHC 4.0 would be problematic. The accessories mount to the heads, which imp is right about likely having to cut the ends off.

 

[Josh P]

The cosworth stuff would be the easiest solution but finding enough parts to be shipped to the states would be a challenge for any real demand. Reproducing the results is easier than ending up there from your own work...

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, this is fun stuff to talk about. The small block Ford has had countless people take a shot at improving the heads and valvetrain. My favorite is a Bennet 9X block/head and intake package that brings the better ports together with a hemi chamber, but still using pushrods. It's been done so many ways, but nothing feasible and in production, for the SBF.

These are just beautiful heads though, nice VC's too.

 

[Josh P]

http://www.themustangnews.com/content/2011/05/4-valve-heads-for-your-windsor-small-block-mustang/#.WVu8TkllD3A
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-9810-dominion-four-valve-cylinder-head-performance-test/
The guy is a crook and the heads are vaporware, but the few sets of heads he did make are very impressive. A ford 302 with 4 valves per cylinder. The heads flow 330 cfm.

 

[CDW6212R]

That Dominion thing was one of the first, and unfortunately the guy never came through for anybody.

 

[Josh P]

Few more things to add to this thread. A picture of the 427 dohc and a link to pictures of the 289 sohc ford made in 1968.
http://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/Ford-289-CID-V-8-Experimental-SOHC,2932.html

 

[CDW6212R]

Oh yeah, that'll fit in my engine bay. Those heads are bigger than the new DOHC heads, and those are too big. That's cool but wow those days the cars were way bigger under the hood. That'd be tight in my Ranchero.

 

[imp]

@CDW6212R ....... which imp is right about likely having to cut the ends off."

What I was thinking about was that the chunk of casting on the end of the head which contains the chain, would be replaced by the new gear support, leaving open the possibility of duplicate accessory-mount threaded holes.

Nice pics of the Bennett!! imp

 

[Josh P]

Oh yeah, that'll fit in my engine bay. Those heads are bigger than the new DOHC heads, and those are too big. That's cool but wow those days the cars were way bigger under the hood. That'd be tight in my Ranchero.

What year ranchero? I have to admit cresting a hill in my 68 cougar is a leap of faith that the road doesn't curve before I can see it again.

 

[CDW6212R]

@CDW6212R ....... which imp is right about likely having to cut the ends off."

What I was thinking about was that the chunk of casting on the end of the head which contains the chain, would be replaced by the new gear support, leaving open the possibility of duplicate accessory-mount threaded holes.

Nice pics of the Bennett!! imp

Yes I knew what you were aiming at, the space there is fairly narrow though. I think it would be fortunate to be able to locate one gear in there, which might be enough to reach above and below. I'll have mine apart again by next week I hope. I have a few other pictures of the front but if anyone needs something else, just ask.

 

[CDW6212R]

What year ranchero? I have to admit cresting a hill in my 68 cougar is a leap of faith that the road doesn't curve before I can see it again.

Mine is a 73 GT I bought, at the same time I knew of two 72 Sport front ends. I got them all and cut the frame horns off(swapped them actually(I had a 72 Ranchero too(rusty)) and swapped the front ends. It's been setting for almost 20 years, but I still hope to do something with it.

I had rebuilt the front suspension on that, and swapped the interior from my first car(72 Gran Torino) into it. Now the answer to the old suspensions and brakes is to cut off and swap the front frame, from a 2003-2006 Crown Vic. Lots of those are in the JY's now.

This intake is a CHI 3V 185cc model, I plan to use on a 351 with EFI and the 97.5 Explorer PCM and 4R70W trans.

 

[Josh P]

A little motivation and she will be good to go. I like the front door on the house too.

 

[imp]

@CDW6212R
Here's my '72, been sitting way too long. Has 351C with C4. New upholstery, bought with a new paint job, but a rather poor one, sprayed in bed liner, Lincoln rims. I have a new carb. awaiting installation, the old "choke stove" does not operate properly, and I chose not to mess with it. $3000.

 

[Josh P]

Nice cars, I'll get some pictures of my cougar posted. It's all original never been touched kinda car. It is long overdue for a paint job.

 

[CDW6212R]

Excellent, I love those things. I grew up with the 72 Gran Torino, my family took it to Germany when it was new, and I got it in high school. So I saved some parts from that, making the Ranchero more special to me. I need two doors for this one though, taking out the outside window seals ruined them.