Camshaft Identification - Questions

[Rotary FP46]

Sorting through a crate of camshafts. Working to ID, tag, and inventory what's here.

Vairmech has helped me locate the numbers needed for ID on most everything so far. For the most part, the sailing has been pretty smooth.

I ran across these two, though. I've paired them up for this thread because of their similarities.

Both have the same markings cast between the lobes. Obvious differences are in how they're stamped at the gear end.

Neither appears to have a GM number cast into it, but the cast markings on both are the same.

The shaft on the left is marked "M3664" and "CROWER".
The shaft on the right is marked "CCS16" or somesuch, along with "(CM)D1 6".


Questions:

-Are these both Crower cams?
-If not, who actually manufactured the blanks?
-What is there to know about the shaft on the right?


More to follow.

[texas yenko dude 199]

I have never seen a Crower cam with that part number. That could be a work order number. If the cam is under about 25 years old Crower possibly could get you the specs, older than that and they no longer have the books.

[Rotary FP46]

I have never seen a Crower cam with that part number. That could be a work order number. If the cam is under about 25 years old Crower possibly could get you the specs, older than that and they no longer have the books.

It's been in that crate, buried behind the tool chests for at least the last 30 years. Some of the longest-sitting residents of the main garage.

My father hadn't run a Corvair since at least 1985, and most of those cams lived a life before they were stockpiled.



Shifting gears a bit:


ISKENDERIAN CAMS

Found two of his products. One unused, one used. Could use help deciphering the added markings on what would be the gear end of each shaft.

Victim #1: 280 HYD

Victim #2: 310 HYD

[Rotary FP46]

Last mystery for tonight:

This cam is new and unused. Has cast markings similar to those on the Crower cam and its friend above, but is stamped (poorly) "304" on the gear end. I'm told a 304 is a turbo cam, however I'd really like to know who manufactured it (as well as the other one above).

[zarfnober]

That 304 looks like a GM cam to me, are there any numbers cast between the lobes? Some aftermarket are stamped 304 on the end, but are aftermarket replacement cams that likely have a smaller base circle, still a great cam though, as long as it isn't bent.

Rocco

[texas yenko dude 199]

The ISKY 280 HYD is a really good street cam.

The ISKY 310 is really more of a race cam, but could be a torque monster if setup right. There are 2 versions of it, and you have to measure the lobes to know which one you have. The most common is a .440 lift, the other is about .510 lift.

The 304 cam is the GM turbo cam. 99% of the GM ones 304 is cast between the lobes, but one of the last runs for OTC sales they were stamped in the end like that one.

[66vairguy]

The ISKY 280 HYD is a really good street cam.

The ISKY 310 is really more of a race cam, but could be a torque monster if setup right. There are 2 versions of it, and you have to measure the lobes to know which one you have. The most common is a .440 lift, the other is about .510 lift.

The 304 cam is the GM turbo cam. 99% of the GM ones 304 is cast between the lobes, but one of the last runs for OTC sales they were stamped in the end like that one.

Agree on what I've read over the years about Isky cams, yes "old" Isky and "new" Isky grinds were sometimes different.

Yes the last of the 304 cams did not use the GM casting marks, BUT all cam blanks for the Corvair were made by CWC . The early cam blanks were cast with GM marks, last of the Corvair cams had generic CWC cast marks. Due to low demand GM changed to a "stamp" of cam grind number just as the CWC blank was cut at GM.

FROM CNICOL --- "Years ago I researched the meaning of "CWC" and found this definition:
"CWC means Campbell, Wyant, and Cannon. [Their] foundry made camshaft cores for automakers and the aftermarket."

NOTE: ISKY and many others used the CWC Corvair blanks to make Corvair cams and CWC NO LONGER MAKES THE CORVAIR CAM BLANK Basically the supply is drying up!!!!! A 304 GM Corvair cam is a good fit for just about any Corvair engine. A little less lift than the 140HP cam, but it rev's higher without valve bounce with stock Corvair valve springs. Bob Helt found a GM engineering paper on using the same engine with a 140HP cam and the 304 cam. The 140HP cam had a "little" more HP and torque up to about 4,000 RPM - then the 304 was better especially over 5,000 RPM!!

[Rotary FP46]

That 304 looks like a GM cam to me, are there any numbers cast between the lobes? Some aftermarket are stamped 304 on the end, but are aftermarket replacement cams that likely have a smaller base circle, still a great cam though, as long as it isn't bent.

Rocco

Regarding the 304 cam:

Making the gear end of the cam the top and working our way down:

Between the first intake and exhaust lobes, it is marked "16".
Between the second exhaust lobe and the fourth intake lobe, it is marked "C2" and "D2".
Between the fifth intake lobe and the third exhaust lobe, it is marked "CWC".
Between the third exhaust lobe and the sixth intake lobe, it is marked "CC64".

There is no GM part number stamped into this one.

If the base circle is the diameter of the cast portion between the lobes, that runs approximately .8750"

The ISKY 280 HYD is a really good street cam.

The ISKY 310 is really more of a race cam, but could be a torque monster if setup right. There are 2 versions of it, and you have to measure the lobes to know which one you have. The most common is a .440 lift, the other is about .510 lift.

The 304 cam is the GM turbo cam. 99% of the GM ones 304 is cast between the lobes, but one of the last runs for OTC sales they were stamped in the end like that one.

Measurements taken of the 310 with a well-worn digital Mitutoyo CD-8" C caliper:

Exhaust Lobe
1.0700"
1.3580"

Intake Lobe
1.0700"
1.3585"


Can dig the carbide micrometers out of deep storage if needed.

Will be digging out the live centers and dial indicator to check for bends in the cams.

[66vairguy]

Regarding the 304 cam:

Making the gear end of the cam the top and working our way down:

Between the first intake and exhaust lobes, it is marked "16".
Between the second exhaust lobe and the fourth intake lobe, it is marked "C2" and "D2".
Between the fifth intake lobe and the third exhaust lobe, it is marked "CWC".
Between the third exhaust lobe and the sixth intake lobe, it is marked "CC64".

There is no GM part number stamped into this one.

Those are the same marking on a 304 cam I got in a pile of parts a fellow bought at the CHEVROLET dealer parts counter, then never used for his Corvair due to his illness. Parts sat in his garage for decades before I bought them.

[texas yenko dude 199]

It appears that id the low lift ISKY 310. The .440 to .450 lift depending on rockers. It is a great torque cam especially when advanced. It will pull the house down. Actually very drivable.

[chris]

It appears that id the low lift ISKY 310. The .440 to .450 lift depending on rockers. It is a great torque cam especially when advanced. It will pull the house down. Actually very drivable.

Good info Chris! I remember Charlie Clark telling me the same thing about that Isky cam as well. I didn't realize there were different grinds/lifts, so that makes sense.

[texas yenko dude 199]

Chris,

It is interesting with ISKY on the 300 and 310 grind. There was a book from the early 70's that shows both lifts, but then after that it only shows the low lift. But if you call them, they are happy to grind the high lift version.

[66vairguy]

Regarding the 304 cam:

Making the gear end of the cam the top and working our way down:

Between the first intake and exhaust lobes, it is marked "16".
Between the second exhaust lobe and the fourth intake lobe, it is marked "C2" and "D2".
Between the fifth intake lobe and the third exhaust lobe, it is marked "CWC".
Between the third exhaust lobe and the sixth intake lobe, it is marked "CC64".

There is no GM part number stamped into this one.

Those are the same marking on a 304 cam I got in a pile of parts a fellow bought at the CHEVROLET dealer parts counter, then never used for his Corvair due to his illness. Parts sat in his garage for decades before I bought them.

I'll add that the Corvair Chevy part had 2304 stamped on the cam gear end - but it was not easy to read.