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Tue Jul 29, 2003 7:55 pm

I was wondering if anyone out there has a 86 crank in their car. I asked this question before and I didn't get much of a response. I have heard that you need to notch the cam if used in a regular case. I have also been told that only slight clearancing is needed. They also said that if I notch the cam I shouldn't turn the motor over 6500 rpm, cam breakage. Does anyone have any thoughts.

Tue Jul 29, 2003 10:49 pm

Check out the Shoptalkforums (www.shoptalkforums.com) as well as Cal Look Forum at www.cal-look.com. Plenty of good references there! :-)

Wed Jul 30, 2003 9:19 am

Depending on rods, the notch will be small or big. but most likely manditory.
But you are not running stock rods on a crank this size, so a proper rod selection will be manditory, not only for strenth but size. a Carillo, Eagle, or another h-beam pattern rod is much smaller on the outside then a stock rod.
and now a days, most rod journals in that size crank comes in a chevy journal with is even smaller then a vw journal. And some rods you can massage for a little extra clearance.
dont be afraid of a notched cam. usually its not much of a notch. just think of all the race cars out there that are doing it. my old cam was notched to clear my old set up of 84mm crank and big pauter rods. that cam lasted almost 10 years in race conditions. and it was taken out of service because of a lobe going down.
If you go and put a huge cam on big springs, sure, there is the chance of brakage, but at that level, you expect things to brake from time to time.

Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:57 pm

I have an 86mm Berg crank. If you buy the Berg profile camshaft (made by Engle) you wont have to notch the cam. Just a little clearencing on the outer edge of two lobes. Which you can have Berg do for you. I have the FK87 equivalent and with Berg clearenced lifters (clearenced on the underside of the 'foot') I didnt have to get the cam bores in the case machined for lifter to cam clearence.