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MG TD TF 1500 - camshaft question

Hi all, this is my first post so hello!
My car is in small pieces at the moment needing total restoration. I've sent the block,crank and head away for machining. I have two camshafts, one which is quite rusty and I don't fancy using it. The other one is brand new and looks to be quite a racy looking item when compared to the original...quite an increase in all dimensions.
Its numbered....91K2A 340-9986

Does anyone have any idea what this is, and is it usable "on the street"?
I'd prefer to have a "nice" sweet engine than a lumpy thing.
Cheers. Colin.
c caygill

Welcome Colin. TD or TF? Someone here will no doubt recognize your cam. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Colin,

Original cams usually didn't have numbers on them. They did sometimes have rings engraved on the rear face and they seem to correlate with std TC or TD/TF. You are lucky to have numbers and hopefully they will reveal the true identity.

However, If you don't have any luck with the numbers, take a photo from the rear of the cam (along its axis) so that the rearmost two lobes are clearly visible in profile, and upload it to this forum. Some of us might then be able to give you a VERY rough idea of how "wild" the cam is. If it looks as if it might be usable on the street you could then have it "measured" by a machine shop but if it is obviously "full race" you will save that expense.

Bob Schapel
R L Schapel

for the part no this is what a quick google shows. anybody have the cranes website?



http://americadepart.com/item/321650606659
mog

With Crane cams, there are two real possibilities; 340-0002, and 340-0010. 0002 is the mild street cam, while 0010 is more of a hot-rod cam. Of the two, the former (IMHO) is the better all-round replacement for a street car. You will need modified lifters, and shorter pushrods.

Crane cams can help tell you which you have - I suspect it is the 0002, the street cam, which offers somewhat better performance than the stock MG cam, while still giving a decent idle..

That being said, there are many companies that can re-grind a core cam for similar performance at less cost, such as Delta Cams.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

553-OS is the stock or Blue Printed cam. List price as per Crane Cams is $ 320. I am a Crane Cams dealer.
Len Fanelli

So, Len. He can simply install this with no other mods?

....
MAndrus

Yes, this is a Crane replacement for stock OEM cams, more duration but good from 1,000 RPM. I have 3 other cams with good, no lope idle, & more power.
Len Fanelli

Found this old ad on eBay: http://www.cafr.ebay.ca/itm/MG-TC-TD-TF-1940-54-Crane-Camshaft-Moss-451-261-1250cc-Engine-/321650606659

If you read down through the ad you'll see the Crane 340-9986 number.
Gene Gillam


Len, what do you sell this Crane 553-OS cam for and just to confirm it will need short push rods and uprated lifters right? What do you sell the lifters, and push rods for. Reason I ask is I may need one too.
Richard Cameron

Thank you all so much for the replies and advice.
If I have read everything correctly, I will need different pushrods and followers (lifters)?

I can understand needing shorter pushrods but what is different about the followers? Harder material perhaps?

Thanks guys.

Colin.
c caygill

Go to the Moss catalog and read the information sheet for the Crane cams, for information on lifters and pushrods.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair.
t lange

Tom:

Regarding a re-grind; does this not affect the effective radius, this reducing lift.

I have a basket of old XP.G cams and have often thought about a re-grind, but am afraid that the performance would be degraded.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Gord. I saw an episode of Wheeler Dealers in the States recently where Mike wanted a cam reground to improve performance. The lobes were measured, welded, ground, balanced & parkerised for less than $500. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

The OEM cams do not have a taper & the lifters are flat.
The Crane cam is tapered, & the lifters are ground to confirm with the taper, about .0006" this helps the lifter rotate.
Richard, please contact me off the BBS.
Len Fanelli

Gord - it all depends on how much meat is left on the cam - there is usually enough meat at the side opposite the lobe to be fine for one re-grind. I've had very good luck, for minimal cost.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Len Fanelli, New York, USA

The OEM cams do not have a taper & the lifters are flat.
The Crane cam is tapered, & the lifters are ground to confirm with the taper, about .0006" this helps the lifter rotate.
Richard, please contact me off the BBS.

Hi Len, My "lumpy" cam seems flat across the top of the lobe and the lifters I have are also flat bottomed, so unless I'm not understanding how it all works I assume the lobes would be off centre to cause the lifters to rotate. My block is away getting bored so I can't experiment.
Also, I've taken some pics but can't get them up, (too large).

Also, I've found this which might be useful.

http://cranecams.com.au/pdfs/Reasons%20&%20Causes%20for%20Cam%20Failure.pdf
c caygill

Got some pics up at last. I'm not good at tech stuff!

c caygill

Colin,

Yes, the lifter holes are slightly offset from the cam lobes...well, they're supposed to be but sometimes it's hard to tell.

Gene
Gene Gillam

Thanks Gene, If thats the case then can I use what I have, lumpy cam, flat bottomed lifters?
Sorry for all the daft questions. Just want to be sure.

Regards

Colin
c caygill

Colin, I should think it's safe to use what you have. I don't know how you plan on using your car once it's finished but unless you plan on putting thousands of miles on your engine I doubt seriously you'll wear out your lifters (or cam) during your ownership.

Gene
Gene Gillam

Thanks for that Gene, I just needed some guidance!

Colin.
c caygill

This thread was discussed between 23/07/2015 and 26/07/2015

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