3/4 cam
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Originally Posted by Torque1st
It is just an old slang term used in the days when there were not many choices and cam specs were not compared closely. Every cam manufacturers 3/4 race cam was different. I don't remember that there were any 1/2 or 1/4 race cams either. Just 3/4 and full race.
the 3/4 was as our street/strip cams of today...and full race speaks for itself!!
Russ
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
My first autoshop teacher, back when I was 12 or so, had a 39 Chevy with a 235-6 in place of the original 216, electronic ignition, milled head, dual carbs...and a 3/4 race cam. He was definately one of the good 'ol boys, from way back even though he had been an engineer at Stanford in his youth. I never really knew the origin of the term, I just assumed that 3/4 race meant...well, hotter than stock, but not as hot as full race. Well, I guess that's true although rather simplistic. It's nice to see the actual definition here. -TD
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
When I built my 390 back in 1970 I only had a choice of stock, 3/4, or full race cams from several aftermarket suppliers. I could also get some limited production OEM cams from Ford but they were listed by application not by duration etc. I could get hydraulic or solid lifter versions of some cams. Most of the 3/4 and full race cams were solid lifter cams.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: leduc
when i went to school if you wanted to buy a hopped up vehicle they ad said 3/4 race cam.8 months away from being gram pa.so i guess that meant she was souped up. never heard 1/4 or 1/2. and we used to drive everything like it should have been at speed way. a legend in my own time and mind
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 0
From: Florida Hill Country
Originally Posted by Torque1st
The 3/4 cams lacked low end power but they worked OK if you kept the RPMs up with gears etc.
