Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

[Dave #34924]

I just very carefully pulled the camshaft out of the motor, I was expecting to find some srt of Chevy # so I knew what it was out of , all i found for #'s were, 274 stamped in 1 end, the next bearing/ adjacent to it, cast into the cam, C-2 on 1 side, and D-2 on the other side, and all the way down toward the last bearing surface, it says K34 on 1 side and USA on the other,...Does any one have any idea what this cam could be, specs etc,etc...
Also, how much damage are you allowed to do to the bearings while getting the cam out, as i said, i was real careful, but i am noticing a few gouges.........Thanks, Dave

[David D.]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

Dave, The camshaft is a TRW #274, a base engine replacement camshaft for 1957 up 283-350 engines. Dave

[Craig S.]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

Dave - as long and the cam slides back in and rotates smoothly without binds, a few minor dings in the bearings won't hurt. You can carefully scrape a high spot down with proper tools also if you raised an area. Make sure you use a handle for installation and removal, you can buy them, but I turned one out of steel stock.....Craig

[Dave #34924]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

Thanks for the info...........Dave

[David D.]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

Dave, The original TRW part number was TM274, a hydraulic camshaft. The listed specifications are: Duration @ .050 Cam Lift, 194 degrees intake and 203 degrees exhaust. Net Valve Lift, 0.391 intake and 0.410 exhaust. Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

That would be a clone of the 3896929 cam, which was used in all base SBs from '67 up to about '80. It also replaces the earlier medium performance engine cams back to '57, otherwise known as the "300 HP cam".

Duke

[John G.]

Re: Mystery camshaft in my 60 Vette

There's a cheapy hardware store 'handle' that will work too. This one simply consists of 3 bolts, 5/16 x 18 (not sure of exact thread pitch), 4 inches long.