SOHC "Cammer" CSX 4786 No Reserve in Monterey

[bmalone]

Hey, what's up fellas? I never get over to this site any more but Ron told me about the thread.

Yes, sadly, the beast is for sale. I had a lot of serious action via Cobra Country, but just couldn't quite make it work; as some have said, tough economy. I am starting a business and the reality is that for my financial health and the welfare of my family, now is a good time to go - but I will be quite sad.

I'll be sad because this has been the most reliable Ford performance engine I have ever owned. It runs and drives exactly the same way each and every time I have driven it. Doesn't overheat, doesn't load-up. And it is the complete package: race-tuned suspension, Penske race shocks, four-wheel alignment, correct toe, castor, camber and ride-height settings. Not to mention it is pretty fast.

The motor is ~12:1, we used slightly thicker head gaskets. A stock crate motor is 12.5:1 - and that was verified true - we measured with a burrette. Having said that, I will say it runs on a 50/50 mix of 110 and 91. I have taken a number of "long" trips and it's not really a problem. I have taken a five gallon pail of race fuel with me in the trunk (it fits) and believe it or not, because the motor is barely working to propel the car forward, I have gotten above 12 miles per gallon - so if you factor that all in, range is actually pretty good--400 miles in that scenario.

I like that it is an true, original crate motor. It has the Ford QEC-7-367 s/n on the block, making it production number 367. Also has the Holman-Moody s/n 6HM280 on one of the block bosses. That was kind of my vision from the outset, a pedigreed Cammer motor - it will only go up in value. And maybe the coolest thing is the motor was new when I acquired it. It's funny I actually bought it from a post here on CC.

Yeah, a no reserve auction takes some balls, but there are a couple of factors that I believe work in my favor doing it this way. Risk mitigation is buy it back and pay the 10% if it doesn't bring what I want.

I am going to include a link to the web site I built to document the build history: https://sites.google.com/site/csxsohc/blog

It's long but if you are interested, there is a lot of detail.

Thanks for all the comments and wish me luck.

Bill

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by bmalone

Yeah, a no reserve auction takes some balls, but there are a couple of factors that I believe work in my favor doing it this way. Risk mitigation is buy it back and pay the 10% if it doesn't bring what I want.

I am going to include a link to the web site I built to document the build history: https://sites.google.com/site/csxsohc/blog

It's long but if you are interested, there is a lot of detail.

Thanks for all the comments and wish me luck.

Bill

Wow - that's one heck of a mighty build thread.
Best of luck with the sale of your beast & future endeavors.
Also here's hoping you don't have to fork out $10K to buy it back and cover the 10%

Cheers,
Anth

[Jamo]

If you know Bill, you know he is one of the most anal persons walking this planet when it comes to his cars. He had to have a cammer in this one...his previous car had a tunnel port.

He sweated the small stuff on this thing.

[cobrakidz]

I think this would be a very cool car, unusual and beautiful, wish I had the room and the $$. Good luck with the sale.

[kanuck]

Thank you for clearing that up Bill and good luck with the sale.

[RodKnock]

Bill, thank you for posting.

If you get the time, then please post some updates to the thread pre and post auction for all us interested folks.

Maybe your car will get into the next Keith Martin's Sports Car Auction magazine.

[bret a ewing]

Hello Bill,

Great to hear from you. Stunning car, followed the build every step of the way. The next owner will be extremely happy, regardless of what he/she spends.

Good luck in the sale and future business........and again, thanks for all your hard work in the CSX/HST inspection program. It sure kept me off the ledge.

[ERA Chas]

Luck wished!
Appreciate you coming on Bill. Your legacy is the thread which will be a great guide for future Cammer owners/builders.
I know the guy that started this thread has one in his future...

[RodKnock]

If I were in the market for another Cobra, I'd buy this car.

OK, I give up, I'll take an original cast iron Cammer too.

[ERA Chas]

If you had to pick only one-wheels or cams....which would it be??

[rodneym]

Wheels!
Mags came on a Cobra. SOHCs didn't.


Those engines are amazing, though.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Wheels!
Mags came on a Cobra. SOHCs didn't.


Those engines are amazing, though.

Of course, this is an answer that would come from someone who's building a 511ci FE with twin Paxton's.

For someone with a pedestrian 482ci FE with just a lowly single carb and turkey pan, I'd take the Cammer of course. Engine before wheels.

I'd like to know when this car hits the auction block, please!

[John McMahon]

Originally Posted by Jamo

If you know Bill, you know he is one of the most anal persons walking this planet when it comes to his cars. He had to have a cammer in this one...his previous car had a tunnel port.

He sweated the small stuff on this thing.

Of course he's anal...he's a Gear Head from Joisey.

[TimG427]

What is it like driving with one of these engines compared to a 470 or 480 aluminum motor?

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by TimG427

What is it like driving with one of these engines compared to a 470 or 480 aluminum motor?

The power doesn't go away above 6500.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RodKnock;120****

I'd like to know when this car hits the auction block, please!

Oh-oh...Mrs Rodknock will have to sew the wallet pockets closed on all the trousers.

[bmalone]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

The power doesn't go away above 6500.

Good one.

What I think most people don't realize is the staggering amount of torque these engines produce in comparison to the wedge motor. Drive off any corner (15 mph) from 1000 rpm and not a hitch. I only ran to 3000 rpm on a chassis dyno to troubleshoot a distributor problem, but it already was making 490 ft. lbs., off-idle.

That's the first thing the old-timers say - torque.

[mhacars]

Bill,

Your point is well taken as when I got the results of my cammer on the dyno I saw that the torque curve was pretty flat at over 500lbs at very low rpm and it moved up moderately and stayed there at over 7000 rpm. It is a world apart when compared to my wedge. Jim Barillaro, the person who built it made the same remark that you did.

[ERA Chas]

It's a little strange when you think about it; stroke is the same for both wedge and hemi. The Cammer has greatly increased breathing (although I never saw flow figures on those or Coon's heads) than the wedge. Conventional wisdom says that's a HP booster. So what accounts for the greater torque spread so low-down on the Cammer?
Given the stroke is the same, I can only guess the cam profiles on the Cammer promote torque earlier. Possibly the VE of the Cammer is superior at the 2500 RPM level where the wedge usually needs 4000+ ??
Keith, Brent, Barry-you guys have built and dynoed these. Care to enlighten?

[tkb289]

Bill,

Read through your build log ... wow!

Fantastic attention to detail, stunning motor and very nice build. As the guys have said, the new owner will get an amazing Cobra, hope it goes to a good home.

Best of luck with your future endeavors, thanks for sharing!