While building my 312 I took the Isky 301333 to my machinist Roger at Canton Auto Machine and asked him to deepen the center groove because it looked too shallow to me. He told me not to worry about it.  So I worried anyhow but installed it as is. Engine seems to have plenty of oil to the top and after 3K miles no problems. I'm running stock rocker oiling, stock cam bearings and 1955 oil deflectors and timing chain oil trough. Also running a gerotor oil pump with high pressure spring and 10W/40 Valvoline with LUCAS snake oil.




"FREE SAMPLE"

Ted brings up a very good point. On the current C2AE block I am building for a 312, I purchased the Durabond cam bearings that contain a groove on the OD of the center bearing. Obviously, even with cam bearing wear there will still be oil flowing up to the top. The machine shop installed these for me and I would think that when I get it all together such issues as a shallow groove on the center cam journal would not be a problem. I purchased my set from Schumman

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Thanks again ! I really appreciate all the help. I’ve encountered several issues with this motor build of mine and because of this forum and it’s knowledgeable members I’ve been able to build this motor. Now that I have info on this cam, off to other things like getting the three Holley 94s done.
Much appreciated to all with their input.
Kevin 👍🏻

As mentioned, the oil groove in the center journal is put there by the cam blank manufacturer which in this case would be CWC.  The chatter marks would be the result of dull tooling at CWC?  This issue would be observed on all manufacturers grinding cams for the Ford Y and not just by Isky.  While 0.035” deep should prove to be adequate, the out of round depth of the groove not being consistent could pose a problem if it’s less than 0.035” in spots.  While I’m not in a habit of fixing manufacturers problems, in this case the camshaft is easy enough to chuck up in a lathe and correct the deficiency.  As Phil mentions, oil flow to the top end is increased with any groove modifications which can be corrected if necessary by installing a 0.078” restrictor in the bottom of the second from the right rocker stands.
 
As an aside to this, I did try to get 100 blanks made with no groove on the center journal but could not get CWC interested in making a special run of these.  With no groove, the cam bearing wear at the center journal is much improved.  The problem with the groove at the center cam journal is the dynamic oil wave that allows the journal to float in a layer of oil is reduced or non-existent and that causes the center cam bearing to wear much faster than the other four.  Putting the oil groove on the outer diameter of the bearing or adding the groove to the block would be the alternative method for putting oil to the top end when eliminating the groove in the journal.  I already have engines out there where the center journal grooves on the camshaft are welded up and then machined smooth which has proven to be a suitable fix for the center cam bearing wear.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I am running the same cam in my 292.  I love that cam.  The sound at idle is sweet music and the mid range is fantastic.  On Mummert's advice, I checked the oil grove in the new Isky cam.  My oil groove was .018" deep.  We machined the oil grove to .030 deep in a lathe.  This increased the oil supply to the heads substantially.  So much so that I decided not to pressurize the rockers for fear of flooding the heads with oil.   I used the stock oil dump tubes in the stock location leaving the ends of the tubes open. The end plugs were left in the rocker shafts.  I have close to 3,000 miles on my engine with no problems. I check the valve adjustment frequently.  None has been needed so far.

Kev.  An oil groove depth of .030 or .035 is in my head, too.  I can't put my hands on the source of the info though.
My thinking is that the oil groove should be a uniform width and depth.  I'm surprised that Isky isn't checking that even if the cam blank comes to them with the groove already machined. 

Consider giving Ted Eaton a call.  Ted has a working relationship with Isky that this hobbyist does not.  Ted's number is (254) 857-3339

Hope this helps!  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

According to John Mummert, (Mummert Machine, el Cajon CA) all Ford later cam blanks have insufficient oil groove depth.  His shop re machines all the new cams that he sells.  However, I've never seen a depth spec published. I read somewhere that you should not get carried away with the groove depth or  U could get excessive oiling up top, but how much is excessive ,I don't know?.. 


Paul

Thank you for your help. I called the Isky tech line & the guy there honestly didn’t know. He went and found another cam in stock and it had the same as my cam. His answer was it came from the cam casting house this way. My stock Ford cam has a smooth cut groove. I’m going to talk to a ole friend of mine retired from a engine shop he used to own. But, currently I’m a bit concerned about this. I’ll try to get a picture of the oil groove and post it.
Kev

Kev.  IF the depth of the oil groove in the camshaft journal is not uniform, i.e. concentric with the journal surface, AND if the machined oil groove has cutting tool chatter marks, I'd call Isky before I did anything about fixing it.  The question is, IF this problem made it through Isky's quality control, is all of the rest of the machining work correct?

Yes, the oil groove quality can easily be corrected (re-machined) by any machine shop equipped with an engine lathe.  The camshaft will be chucked-up with a four jaw chuck, supported by a dead center in the tail stock, and perhaps additionally supported by a a steady rest or a follower rest during the cutting process.

Click the link below to access Isky contact info.
http://www.iskycams.com/contact-us.html 

Hope this helps!  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York