Please id this cam

[mayhem]

I was digging around in a box of parts and ran across this 2nd cam (first was a small block cam). I'm having a bout of CRS (Can't Remember Stuff [sic]) and need help identifying what I've got. Best I can figure is it's a MP purple shaft based on the obvious color between the lobes but beyond that ????? Please take a look and see if you can help me. Thanks.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Are there any numbers at all on the front?

 

[RustyRatRod]

What I see is 200038. Usually MP cams are something like 4120231 or some such so it's the right amount of digits, just WAY off for a Mopar cam. It LOOKS like a Mopar cam though. Their lobes are never parkerized (black) that I've ever seen.

 

[mayhem]

Are there any numbers at all on the front?

Nope. There are some numbers in the purple part but those are when the blank was cast.

 

[mayhem]

What I see is 200038. Usually MP cams are something like 4120231 or some such so it's the right amount of digits, just WAY off for a Mopar cam. It LOOKS like a Mopar cam though. Their lobes are never parkerized (black) that I've ever seen.

Oh, it's definitely a Mopar cam and you are correct on the 200038. The lobes are not parkerized - maybe it was the light or angle of the camera that cause them to look that way.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

The later model Purple cams were not Parkerized
But the early ones were
I still have an old NOS one on the shelf

The early ones only had a slash mark of purple at the rear usually
Not painted between all the lobes like later

Tommy

 

[RustyRatRod]

Everything is for sale. I don't know if it's new or not and I don't have a empty block to stab it in and measure it. I suppose I could mic a couple lobes and see where I end up. This might be a NOS 284/528 SFT - I have an affinity for them.

I'm not being a smartass.....but if you don't want this thread locked, you better shut that **** up. lol The mods don't like any thread possibly becoming a for sale thread, co consider this a friendly warning.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The later model Purple cams were not Parkerized
But the early ones were
I still have an old NOS one on the shelf

The early ones only had a slash mark of purple at the rear usually
Not painted between all the lobes like later

Tommy

I've never seen a parkerized Mopar cam ever and I've been using them since they were Direct Connection. Now what I have seen parkerized was the cams that came from Racer Brown for Mopar. Those were all parkerized as far as I know.

 

[Cranky]

I'm not being a smartass.....but if you don't want this thread locked, you better shut that **** up. lol The mods don't like any thread possibly becoming a for sale thread, co consider this a friendly warning.

It's not so much the mods not liking it but it's more of the site owner. He's the one that set rules but it's us that has to deal with all the push back when we delete or move something.

 

[PRH]

From what I’ve read, the “paint dab” era MP cams were sketchy at best as to whether they were actually what the paint dabs suggested they were(there was supposedly a paint dab legend).
That from someone who worked for MP.

Imo, if one really wants to “know” what the cam is, it needs to be measured.

 

[Dart Frog]

Yep there's no real way to identify a lot of purple shafts. Like mentioned measure your Base circle and your lift do the math and it'll tell you.

 

[RustyRatRod]

From what I’ve read, the “paint dab” era MP cams were sketchy at best as to whether they were actually what the paint dabs suggested they were(there was supposedly a paint dab legend).
That from someone who worked for MP.

Imo, if one really wants to “know” what the cam is, it needs to be measured.

Yeah I'd send it to Oregon. Ken Heard will be glad to map it.

 

[mayhem]

I'm not being a smartass.....but if you don't want this thread locked, you better shut that **** up. lol The mods don't like any thread possibly becoming a for sale thread, co consider this a friendly warning.

Mea culpa. It was just a passing comment. Certainly don't want to ruffle any feathers. I'll do better.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Mea culpa. It was just a passing comment. Certainly don't want to ruffle any feathers. I'll do better.

It's ok. I was just letting you know. But do like I suggested. Call Ken Heard at Oregon Cam Grinders. He's a great guy and will give you a fair estimate on mapping that cam and sending you a cam sheet on it. That way you'll know exactly what it is.

 

[mayhem]

Yeah I'd send it to Oregon. Ken Heard will be glad to map it.

Yes, Ken mapped a General Kinetics 590 cam for me a couple of years back. I was hoping someone here with more knowledge than me would recognize what it was. So, it's off to the shop and box this up for OCG.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes, Ken mapped a General Kinetics 590 cam for me a couple of years back. I was hoping someone here with more knowledge than me would recognize what it was. So, it's off to the shop and box this up for OCG.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Yes sir. I'm sorry. I wish we knew more. Just so little to go on.

 

[Cranky]

I've 'mapped' a couple of cams in the past with a block that had a crank, #1 piston and a degree wheel. Think I did 3 with that block setup but how many have something like that sitting around? These days I don't have any blocks or cranks sitting around anymore.

 

[mayhem]

I've 'mapped' a couple of cams in the past with a block that had a crank, #1 piston and a degree wheel. Think I did 3 with that block setup but how many have something like that sitting around? These days I don't have any blocks or cranks sitting around anymore.

Me neither or I'd be all over it.

 

[PRH]

Since the MP cams have different lifts for each grind(and 1 bolt for Hyd/3bolt for solid), I’d just measure the lobe lift with a caliper(biggest minus smallest), and multiply that by 1.5, and whichever is closest…..should be what the cam is.

Of course, if you really want to know the nitty gritty, it would have to be mapped out.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Since the MP cams have different lifts for each grind(and 1 bolt for Hyd/3bolt for solid), I’d just measure the lobe lift with a caliper(biggest minus smallest), and multiply that by 1.5, and whichever is closest…..should be what the cam is.

Of course, if you really want to know the nitty gritty, it would have to be mapped out.

That ain't all either. Remember, there's also two different hydraulic lifters for the big block. I THINK the year split is 66 and prior and 67 and later. Something to do with the oil band placement.

 

[PRH]

The lifter split is 67 and earlier/68 and later.
The difference being the pushrod seat diameter.
67-earlier BB pushrods had the bottom end reduced to 1/4”, and the lifter had a recess that size to fit.
They are also slightly longer than the 68-later pieces.

The 68-later pushrods are 5/16” on both ends.
The 68-later lifters have a pushrod seat to match.

However, none of that changes anything on the cam.
You would just use the matching pushrods/lifters together on the cam.
That being said, I’ve never seen any listing for MP cam/lifter kits that came with other than the 68-up style lifters.