273/ 2 barrel camshaft options
As for the condition of the rocker arms, those are still on the heads at the machine shop so I don’t have current accurate pictures, the push rods look to be in good shape and everything disassembled with ease, no bends or binding (I am mechanically inclined but I am not a machinist and I have no shame in admitting that I don’t know what I don’t know if that’s fair)
I don’t have an answer for you regarding keeping solid lifters. The goal was and or is to “refresh” the engine, clean everything and reassemble everything as it was, until we discovered the camshaft condition. Having said that, I am not particular either way, whichever camshaft would install as easily and as cost effectively as possible without replacing other major related components. What cam can take a stock 273s place and what else has to be done and or changed in doing so?
As for the 2 barrel, it is important to me to keep the engine as close to original as possible because as I mentioned that’s THE engine that my dad learned to wrench on, but As Dana67Dart mentioned, the options between heads and manifolds does present other possibilities. Im familiar with the difference in the angled head bolts but I had no idea the carb and manifold could be changed. I’m not against any option there really. My dad will be happy to have it move under its own power regardless.
I came here for education and wisdom and in just 24hrs of my post I’m already in school and I’m grateful for you and everyone else for chiming in and sharing, truly.
Performance wise, the goal is to make it safe first and foremost and road worthy, turn the key and go for my dad’s sake. I’m not looking to smoke the tires. Maybe enough exhaust tone to get some appreciation at the car shows in Deadwood someday but really just enough to enjoy cruising the badlands with the family or letting my dad take the girls out for ice cream.
I hope some of that answers your inquiries. Basically, I’m on a shoestring budget to get my dad’s 273 up and running, I’m reusing ans many existing parts as possible, and I need a cam that the shop can install and try for a plug and play. The rest is up to me and my girls in learning as we go and hopefully creating some memories good enough to look back on in the photo albums one day.
Thanks so much for your time and input!
I did find a few older pictures of the heads and you can kinda see the rockers and pushrods and some of the pistons I’ve cleaned up, if that helps.
Hi and thanks for the feedback! The machine shop, as of now, is set to clean and inspect the block and the heads to determine what can and can’t be reused. Once we determine the block doesn’t have any cracks or major defects, we’ll need to find a replacement cam and related components, they will install the cam bearings and the cam. After that, I will be reassembling everything else at home with the family as a winter time project.
As for the condition of the rocker arms, those are still on the heads at the machine shop so I don’t have current accurate pictures, the push rods look to be in good shape and everything disassembled with ease, no bends or binding (I am mechanically inclined but I am not a machinist and I have no shame in admitting that I don’t know what I don’t know if that’s fair)
I don’t have an answer for you regarding keeping solid lifters. The goal was and or is to “refresh” the engine, clean everything and reassemble everything as it was, until we discovered the camshaft condition. Having said that, I am not particular either way, whichever camshaft would install as easily and as cost effectively as possible without replacing other major related components. What cam can take a stock 273s place and what else has to be done and or changed in doing so?
As for the 2 barrel, it is important to me to keep the engine as close to original as possible because as I mentioned that’s THE engine that my dad learned to wrench on, but As Dana67Dart mentioned, the options between heads and manifolds does present other possibilities. Im familiar with the difference in the angled head bolts but I had no idea the carb and manifold could be changed. I’m not against any option there really. My dad will be happy to have it move under its own power regardless.
I came here for education and wisdom and in just 24hrs of my post I’m already in school and I’m grateful for you and everyone else for chiming in and sharing, truly.
Performance wise, the goal is to make it safe first and foremost and road worthy, turn the key and go for my dad’s sake. I’m not looking to smoke the tires. Maybe enough exhaust tone to get some appreciation at the car shows in Deadwood someday but really just enough to enjoy cruising the badlands with the family or letting my dad take the girls out for ice cream.
I hope some of that answers your inquiries. Basically, I’m on a shoestring budget to get my dad’s 273 up and running, I’m reusing ans many existing parts as possible, and I need a cam that the shop can install and try for a plug and play. The rest is up to me and my girls in learning as we go and hopefully creating some memories good enough to look back on in the photo albums one day.
Thanks so much for your time and input!
I did find a few older pictures of the heads and you can kinda see the rockers and pushrods and some of the pistons I’ve cleaned up, if that helps.