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1956 camshaft

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  • Sheldon S.
    Very Frequent User
    • March 1, 1999
    • 474

    1956 camshaft

    I have an early 56 with the 2 x 4 barely setup and I have read lots of old archives trying to figure out what replacement camshaft would be suitable. Is the 097 duntov cam a good replacement. If not any suggestions on what to use and where to get one. I realize I may have to do some machining on the rear journal for the oil supply issue.
    Thanks
    sheldon
  • Joe L.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • February 1, 1988
    • 43193

    #2
    Re: 1956 camshaft

    Originally posted by Sheldon Sands (31959)
    I have an early 56 with the 2 x 4 barely setup and I have read lots of old archives trying to figure out what replacement camshaft would be suitable. Is the 097 duntov cam a good replacement. If not any suggestions on what to use and where to get one. I realize I may have to do some machining on the rear journal for the oil supply issue.
    Thanks
    sheldon

    sheldon------


    I think a reproduction of the original camshaft for 1956 is available from the early Chevrolet engine parts specialists, The original part number was GM #3734077.
    In Appreciation of John Hinckley

    Comment

    • Duke W.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • January 1, 1993
      • 15610

      #3
      Re: 1956 camshaft

      Your engine would not have been factory equipped with a Duntov cam. If ordered when available later in the year I believe they were delivered in the trunk for dealer installation.

      I believe the original cam was a mild hydraulic lifter type - similar to the '57 base cam, which evolved into what we usually call the 300 HP cam beginning in '67. Something like this will yield a smoother idle, more low end torque, and better fuel economy, so it might be a better choice depending on your objectives and driving style.

      Duke

      Comment

      • Gary C.
        Administrator
        • October 1, 1982
        • 17549

        #4
        Re: 1956 camshaft

        Duke,

        All 1956's were mechanical lifters, no hydraulic cams in 1956. Hydraulic cams started in 1957.

        Gary
        ....
        NCRS Texas Chapter
        https://www.ncrstexas.org/

        https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631

        Comment

        • John H.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • December 1, 1997
          • 16513

          #5
          Re: 1956 camshaft

          Originally posted by Gary Chesnut (5895)
          Duke,

          All 1956's were mechanical lifters, no hydraulic cams in 1956. Hydraulic cams started in 1957.

          Gary
          ....
          Yup. '56 standard 2x4 solid-lifter camshaft was P/N 3711354, casting #3711355.

          Comment

          • Duke W.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • January 1, 1993
            • 15610

            #6
            Re: 1956 camshaft

            Okay. I thought the first hydraulic lifter cam was '56. In any event, I expect the OE cam was fairly mild compared to the Duntov. Manifold vacuum at idle speed will tell the story if anyone has a '56 with the original cam.

            Clem Z sent me a list of old camshaft specs years ago, but it's not in the file it's supposed to be in.

            Duke

            Comment

            • Gary C.
              Administrator
              • October 1, 1982
              • 17549

              #7
              Re: 1956 camshaft

              Duke, had this info in my file on the 56 solid lifter camshaft. Not sure of its accuracy. Several years ago knew someone who was looking for a '56 cam and couldn't find an exact reproduction. Gary....

              Intake lift .404, Exhaust lift .413, Intake Duration 264, Exhaust Duration 266 w/ Rocker Ratio 1.50, Part #3711354 Casting # 3711355
              NCRS Texas Chapter
              https://www.ncrstexas.org/

              https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631

              Comment

              • Joe L.
                Beyond Control Poster
                • February 1, 1988
                • 43193

                #8
                Re: 1956 camshaft

                Originally posted by Gary Chesnut (5895)
                Duke, had this info in my file on the 56 solid lifter camshaft. Not sure of its accuracy. Several years ago knew someone who was looking for a '56 cam and couldn't find an exact reproduction. Gary....

                Intake lift .404, Exhaust lift .413, Intake Duration 264, Exhaust Duration 266 w/ Rocker Ratio 1.50, Part #3711354 Casting # 3711355
                Gary------


                It depends if it's a 225 HP or a 240 HP. I was assuming it was a 240 HP. However, now that I think about it, I'm not sure that any 240 hp were actually built. This engine used camshaft GM #3734077. If a 225 HP, then cam GM #3711354 was used.
                In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                Comment

                • Duke W.
                  Beyond Control Poster
                  • January 1, 1993
                  • 15610

                  #9
                  Re: 1956 camshaft

                  Originally posted by Gary Chesnut (5895)
                  Duke, had this info in my file on the 56 solid lifter camshaft. Not sure of its accuracy. Several years ago knew someone who was looking for a '56 cam and couldn't find an exact reproduction. Gary....

                  Intake lift .404, Exhaust lift .413, Intake Duration 264, Exhaust Duration 266 w/ Rocker Ratio 1.50, Part #3711354 Casting # 3711355
                  Those numbers sound familiar. GM never defined how they measured duration, but I think it's the lash point duration. In comparison, GM specified the Duntov duration as 287 degrees, so the base cam was considerably shorter. It's tough to duplicate the ...354 cam. I think there have been discussions over the years, but the OP will need to be more specific about what kind of engine characteristics he wants.

                  Joe - the 240 HP rating was with that first design Duntov cam that had the rear journal notch for lifter gallery oiling, but my understanding is that it was never installed at Flint. It was an RPO, but the cam arrived in the trunk for dealer installation.

                  Duke

                  Comment

                  • Joel M.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • May 31, 1975
                    • 141

                    #10
                    Re: 1956 camshaft

                    I just spoke with John Neas who is on the road with the Copper SR1 headed to Amelia. He says that there were in the neighborhood of 110 240HP cars shipped from St Louis with the cam IN the engine.

                    Comment

                    • Sheldon S.
                      Very Frequent User
                      • March 1, 1999
                      • 474

                      #11
                      Re: 1956 camshaft

                      Joe,
                      Do you have the names of a few of these places I could try? Not familar where to look.
                      Thanks
                      Sheldon

                      Comment

                      • Joe L.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • February 1, 1988
                        • 43193

                        #12
                        Re: 1956 camshaft

                        Originally posted by Duke Williams (22045)
                        Those numbers sound familiar. GM never defined how they measured duration, but I think it's the lash point duration. In comparison, GM specified the Duntov duration as 287 degrees, so the base cam was considerably shorter. It's tough to duplicate the ...354 cam. I think there have been discussions over the years, but the OP will need to be more specific about what kind of engine characteristics he wants.

                        Joe - the 240 HP rating was with that first design Duntov cam that had the rear journal notch for lifter gallery oiling, but my understanding is that it was never installed at Flint. It was an RPO, but the cam arrived in the trunk for dealer installation.

                        Duke
                        Duke-----

                        The specs for the GM #3734077 camshaft were not the same as the 3736097.
                        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                        Comment

                        • Joe L.
                          Beyond Control Poster
                          • February 1, 1988
                          • 43193

                          #13
                          Re: 1956 camshaft

                          Originally posted by Sheldon Sands (31959)
                          Joe,
                          Do you have the names of a few of these places I could try? Not familar where to look.
                          Thanks
                          Sheldon

                          Sheldon------


                          Unfortunately, it's been so long I just don't remember the names of them. I recall there is one that specializes in early Chevrolet V-8 engine parts, although I don't know if they have this particular cam. There's always the custom route. Some of the major cam manufacturers will grind a cam to just about any specs you want.
                          In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                          Comment

                          • Duke W.
                            Beyond Control Poster
                            • January 1, 1993
                            • 15610

                            #14
                            Re: 1956 camshaft

                            Originally posted by Joe Lucia (12484)
                            Duke-----

                            The specs for the GM #3734077 camshaft were not the same as the 3736097.
                            I think any difference in specs is just a matter of how GM listed them. My understanding is that the ...097 cam lobes are the same as the ...077 lobes. The only difference is that the 097 does not have the notch in the rear journal for the early SB oiling system.

                            I have the engineering data for the ...097 lobes - lift in inches to five decimal places every cam degrees, so if you have specs for the ...077 we can compare.

                            Duke

                            Comment

                            • Steven B.
                              Extremely Frequent Poster
                              • June 30, 1982
                              • 3976

                              #15
                              Re: 1956 camshaft

                              Originally posted by Sheldon Sands (31959)
                              Joe,
                              Do you have the names of a few of these places I could try? Not familar where to look.
                              Thanks
                              Sheldon
                              Sheldon, Egge Machine, www.egge.com, and Crane has done repro and custom grinds. Steve

                              Comment

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