I have a new camshaft that has the casting numbers 1578 between the rear lobes. I was hoping it is a 327-350 hp cam. Anyone have any ideas what it is?
Thanks,
Rex
Thanks,
Rex
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Re: 151 camshaft???
Rex-----
I have no idea. That sequence of numbers is not a casting number, derivative of a casting number, or camshaft ID number for any camshaft ever originally used in a Corvette.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 151 camshaft???
Agree with Joe - not close to any production camshaft
"ID number" used on a vintage Corvette small block through 1980, unless on the off chance it is a pre-'57 cam. Does it have "GM" molded into the casting, which would indicate it was manufactured by GM? Any other identifying characters or logos?
The full seven digit or last four "ID number" is cast into the blank of all vintage OE cams, but as I explained in the a nearly thread this is not the service part number that we use to order the cam and dowel pin ASSEMBLY, but the part number (or last four digits of the part number) of the finished cam. GM only services the cam and pin ASSEMBLY.
For example the L-79 cam, service part number 3863151 (cam and dowel pin ASSEMBLY) has the finished camshaft part number, 3863152, cast into the blank (or perhaps only the last four digits on later manufactured service replacements). Not all finished camshaft and camshaft-pin assemblies have sequential part numbers, but most are within 50 sequential numbers or less.
DukeComment
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Re: 151 camshaft???
Joe & Duke,
The number 1578 (maybe 1579) is embossed between the rear cam lobe and the distributor gear. Directly after the fuel pump eccentric the letters CMC and CWC are cast into the shaft and on down the shaft the alpha numeric characters D2 and D4 and then teh number 20 are cast into the shaft at different positions. There is also a white dot of paint behind the 4th cam bearing journal. Very rear of cam has a blue paint dot and a green paint stripe. No other distinguishing markings. Thanks in advance for your help.
RexComment
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Re: 151 camshaft???
Rex------
Neither "1578" or "1579" would identify any Chevrolet small block camshaft I can find. That includes not only Corvette, but all Chevrolet, including truck. I can't even find any SERVICE-only cams that used this number, but that remains a possiblity. However, the other casting symbols you have described do strongly point towards a GM cam. Keep in mind that GM cams included a whole lot more than Chevrolet. Are you sure that the cam is a Chevrolet small block cam?In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 151 camshaft???
All of the GM camshaft drawings I have seen have a requirement for both a manufacturer's code and ID number - currently the last four digits of the finished camshaft part number.
It sounds like CMC or CWC is a manufacturer's code, so the cam was probably manufactured by a vendor, which would indicate to me that it was manufactured within the last 15 years since that was the point that GM began shedding its parts manufacturing operations.
It's possible the D2 or D4 are mold set numbers or data code, but I'm not sure. The paint marks could be inspection or ID marks or both.
I recently inspected a 14088839 camshaft assembly, which is currently being used in 350/300 crate engines and is also the replacement for all base engine cams back to '57. The "GM" manufacturing code was not evident, so I assume it was manufactured by a vendor, and there were some characters that could have been a manufacturer's code. All seemed to be to print, but for the life of me I could find no molded in or stamped "8838", which is the proper ID number for this cam, but the base circle to top of lobe dimension was to print so I had no doubt it was a 839 camshaft assembly.
Several different cam designs came into being for the various SB engines through the seventies and eighties, but the only camshafts used on 350 Corvette engines from '73 to '80 were the 3896929/930 for base engines and 3996946/964 for L-82.
I have no information on camshafts used after 1980, and I have no information on the camshaft used on the 305 CID SB that was installed in California bound Corvettes in 1980.
DukeComment
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