Can someone explain what a 3/4 race cam is?

[tyoneal]

To All:

I have heard the term, "I had a 3/4 Race Cam put in the car".

What are they talking about?

This was used a long time ago sometimes when you would have a Car Dealer put in whatever the "Hot Cam", was for a particular engine.

I look forward to any insight into this as I have never understood what heck that meant.

Thanks,

Ty

[redfire69]

Boy this brings back memories.... "gimme a 3/4 race cam!" A phrase oftened used (and mis-used!!) for bottom of the page ordering.... I think it had to do alot with the cam lift and duration compared to full race cams. If I recall this term was used loosely to describe a cam three quarters of the way between a stock cam and full race cam of the day...

I remember @1983 my brother built a backyard 305 SBC with a "3/4 race cam", 350 heads, and topped it with a 2-barrel rochester.... he could rev the heck out of that combo!!

Anyone else?

Ron

[ProdigyCustoms]

Oh this should be a good one! Lots of ideas of what this means, and none right, LOL! I do not pretend to know the correct answer, but have enjoyed all the explainations through the years. Im going to make the popcorn, LOL!

[kennyd]

if i can find it , i have a 3/4 cam in the box i bought at a swap meet just for the thought of having one . and it did say on the cam card 3/4 race cam .
i will look tonight .

[redfire69]

Originally Posted by ProdigyCustoms

Oh this should be a good one! Lots of ideas of what this means, and none right, LOL! I do not pretend to know the correct answer, but have enjoyed all the explainations through the years. Im going to make the popcorn, LOL!

Yeah, I don't mind being wrong and getting this started.... maybe it means .75 lift ? Check out this very discussion at chevelles.com... I'll bring the beer...

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61530

Ron

[mstennes]

This is what I always heard is that it referred to the cams used in the old Flatheads. I had it explained by a friends dad once but cant remember the specifics. It was a term that just stuck around through the years, untill companies started really posting their actual grind numbers, he also explained that allot of cam companies didnt want their grind secret numbers getting out so if one had a winning grind everyone else would buy their cams and it would be harder to copy. I wished I had payed more attention or at least remember the specifics of 1/2, 3/4 and full race. Soooooooo is this wrong or right?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Originally Posted by redfire69

Yeah, I don't mind being wrong and getting this started.... maybe it means .75 lift ? Check out this very discussion at chevelles.com... I'll bring the beer...

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61530

Ron

Thanks for that link, LOL!

[Nate_ERC]

Redfire's got it. A 3/4 cam is just an aggressive cam that's supposed to be streetable.

[Ventoso]

Originally Posted by tyoneal

To All:

I have heard the term, "I had a 3/4 Race Cam put in the car".

What are they talking about?

This was used a long time ago sometimes when you would have a Car Dealer put in whatever the "Hot Cam", was for a particular engine.

I look forward to any insight into this as I have never understood what heck that meant.

Thanks,

Ty

Hope you don't mind, but I quoted this verbatim and posted it on another forum in a cam grinders section (Jay Allen from Camshaft Innovations). Hopefully he'll reply so we can really get some true insight on this, because to be honest, you've really peaked my curiousity.

Edit, got my answer:
"The term came from camshafts that were used for racing 75% of the time and street use 25% of the time. I still to this day get some of the old moonshine boys call me and want to know if 50/50 cams or 3/4 race cams can still be ground! "

[Garage Dog 65]

We heard that one back in high school and our crew use to make fun of the saying.

We joked that - it would finish about 3/4 of the race - then blow the thing up ....



Jim