what cams were used back in the day?

[nicolas]

Ok i am curious to know what cams were used in the 1700 engines.
i think the engle 110 was pretty popular, and i know why as i had it myself, but what about other options? i look at the interchange manual from KS and i see that there were a whole series of VZ- cams that aren't as popular anymore. so it seems, but why?
i have been thinking of getting a 1776 together for this summer as the 'big' engine is on hold (again), but i would like something periodcorrect. say something that worked OK in the late 70's early 80's.
but that is not the main purpose of the topic. i want to know more about what was used and what 'worked' and why people made those choices.

[nicolas]

no thank you really.

why is the W120 not in the list??? i know the W125 was made in '73 or so,  but with what displacement or purpose in mind? cams are made for a pretty specific use and engine combo so someone must have had an initial engine for those cams in there mind. and were 1.25 rockers available? i think empi came up with those, but when did they find there use in street car engines?

[Rennsurfer]

When I built my 1700cc engine, I used an Engle 110 cam with EMPI rockers. Most people that I knew ran that cam. A few others ran the FK89.

[Rick Meredith]

I ran a VZ30 or 35 in my 1776cc

[John Rayburn]

The VZ's were fine if you didn't mind replacing guides every few thousand miles.

[Bewitched666]

Ran W120 in my first 1679cc engine,later swapped to the w125

[nicolas]

thanks Jim. i may look into that, but i will not go with 1.4 rockers, but neither did you if i read this correctly...
i like the specs and comments as well from the K8 and 86B, but will it work in a type3 as well??? i know pepto (Bill's pink square) had a 1776 with a W120 and he raced it. but i am not sure how it ran and what it was used for.
i really need an engine. i like talking and reading things here, but i can't go in hibernation again and not drive the car this year. i allready am going to miss the first event this weekend and it allready sucks. but i think i will be able to have something to drive in a month or two.

[Tony M]

Most used cams in the 70's were the 110, 120, - allmost every motor that we built had  either cam in it.

[nicolas]

i am trying to lose some lbs, but i don't think it will be enough to use the same compromise the heavier type3...  

[nicolas]

  really?

[Lemonade]

I ran a K8 in a 1641 with some pretty decent heads & 48 IDAs in my Ghia. Car ran pretty well.

Kevan

[Zach Gomulka]

and were 1.25 rockers available? 

Good question. When did 1.25's hit the scene?? I thought they were originally waterboxer (1984+) rockers adapted to the type 1???

[dyno don]

wow..yet another great topic...my 2 cents worth since you asked....bus stuff 100 engle/110 engle..but contrary to what most say i always liked the 120 (even in my infamous single port 1600)for the best of both worlds as you can easily bolt on a set of 1:25 rockers for better flow with no worries of beating the lifter bores and were very driveable from low end all the way through the power band...one should note rockers not recommended for the 110 as it is an aggresive cam and will contibute to loud valvetrain noise as well as premature wear to the case....engle 130 and 140 cams were the stick to use for many until they came out with ratio cams which led the way to the ever popular fk87 ...and full race fk89 etc...norris cams were a big hit in the early 70's as well for their off road engines utilizing split profiles....in the mid 70's the dzk club from santa ana used the fk87 with 1700 engines and ran in the 12's all day long in full regalia and were awesome to drive around dispelling another myth of non driveability ...i used the 120 with 1:25's in the early years and had great luck as the 298 duration made for a snappy low end performer and with the rockers made about 520 lift so a fair pair of heads would work wonderful with that combo...im old school thru and thru so please bear with me when i post ...thanks for listening..

[alex d]

the old Engle K-8 was a different cam from nowadays FK-8 or did I get it wrong?

[maX cal-look]

...i used the 120 with 1:25's in the early years

Hye Dyno !
I will use same combo in my futur 1679cc , but how many ratio compression had you in this engin ? 9/1 or 9.5/1 or more !!! 

Thank's My Dyno ! 

maXXX

[Jim Ratto]

For small displacement stuff running venturi per port (dual port of course) like 1641, 1679, I like the way 255-258' @ .050" runs. Depending on heads, I'd say 120 Engle , K8 or Web 110. I ran the VZ25. With center 2bbl it was very fussy, driveable, but rumpity idle. With 2 2bbl's, it idled like a sleeping kitten, had flat torque band and screamed after 4000. Had I added a merged 1-1/2" header in place of heater box header, it would have ran even better. I am not sure why people are so afraid of a little duration.
Wenzel's 14-sec 1679cc ran Web 110 (256' @ .050) with Scat 1.25 (1.3) dual 40IDF with 32mm vent and the car ran like silk, yet really grew some big balls up around 4500.
Sorry, I know this isn't "OLD SkooL" or whatever you call it.

[Zach Gomulka]

Jim............
It looks to me like you contradict yourself when it comes to camshaft selection, ect. Hear me out...
You say you dont know why people are afraid to put some high rpm camshaft duration in their motor, but in other threads you say how awful high strung "prima donna" motors are to drive??? Please explain yourself

[Jim Ratto]

sure:

I said a "little" duration....meaning 255-258 @ .050. I didn't say "high rpm duration." I've put these cams in small cc motors and they ran very well, on the street. I don't consider this amount of timing "high strung" High strung to me means NOTHING under 4000rpm, race gas, work on it all the time. Crank duration up to 270+ and you'll know my definition of high strung
Having a revvy motor that runs well on the street on pump gas doesn't mean prima donna.
I've run 110's in motors, to me they are boring.

[Zach Gomulka]

Cool

[Sam K]

One of my friends bought a real "old school" engine at a garage sale a few years back. When we tore it apart we found that it was an 1835cc with stock heads and a Crane "Fireball" cam. It also nad a real nice 010 disributor that I ended up with.

[jhicken]

Count me in as another one running a 110 in a 1700 with 42dcnf Webbers.

-jeffrey