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MG TD TF 1500 - Crane Camshaft Inquiry

I am doing an engine rebuild. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Crane camshaft. Is it worth the extra expense?

Moss has 20% discount which is hard to turn down.

Comments/suggestions welcome

Best regards,
Michael
Michael O'Brien

I've been running a Crane 340-0002 for about 15,000 miles and have no complaints. Must admit that I did install a set of the short pushrods to compensate for having .100" off of the head. Bud
Bud Krueger

The folks who rebuilt my TF's engine, R&L Engines, Dover NH, installed a Crane Street Performance cam, 340-0010MMC, as part of the rebuild. As I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, it was their choice and decision to make. I'm quite pleased with the results of their work. I'm sure if you made contact with them they would explain their choice of this cam for the rebuild of the TF's 1250cc engine.

John
John Brickell

If I was going into a new cam, I would spend the bucks and get one of Len's Roller cams and lifters, expensive but worth it IMHO.
Tom Maine

who is crane camshafts after the bankruptcy in 09? is it still S&S cycle? regards, tom

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/monarch-lathes/crane-cam-bankruptcy-auction-4-22-a-179389/

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/25/sands-cycle-acquires-majority-of-crane-cams-assets/
tom peterson

When I freshened my engine a while back I found that the Crane 0010 that the PO installed was noticeably worn. I did some investigation and eventually ended up sending it to Iskendarian. They checked to make sure there was enough thickness left in the hardened surface (there was) and reground it for me for IIRC $90. At their recommendation I had my lifters Rockwell tested and refaced for something like $4 each by Rocker Arm Specialists. Beats $1000 for a new cam & lifters!
Rob Edwards

John,

R&L is a local shop that does many XPAG engines. My engine was already overhauled when I bought the project but I disassembled it and had R&L balance it and recondition the rods with ARP MGB rod bolts. Check their site for examples of their work.

http://www.rlengines.com/

Leo is quite experienced with the engine and will certainly talk the pros and cons of replacement camshafts.

If it's in your budget I believe a roller cam can be ground with a better profile than a flat tappet cam for sure.

Jim
J E Carroll

My above reply should have been addressed to Michael, sorry......
J E Carroll

If you don't drive it that much, you can save some bucks with the flat tappet arrangement. We have an old Crane cam in one of our TDs that was installed in the 1980s. It runs good, but I haven't torn it down to inspect the lobes & lifters to know their exact condition.

However, my wife drives ours everywhere, hard, and expects to for the next 20 years. I sprung for the roller lifter package so I'll never have to replace the cam & lifters on that engine. I also don't like seeing the erodesent fines swirling around in the drain oil from lobes and lifters wear. I also chose Len's package because there is a grind available specifically for a supercharged street engine, for strong midrange (very desirable with 3.9:1 gearing) and minimal overlap so it will not blow air/fuel out the exhaust yielding better power & fuel mileage and keep the exhaust heat down a touch. The roller package can achieve superior performance with faster opening and closing, without going to high lift and long durations.
JIM NORTHRUP SR

Thank you all for your comments! It appears I have some research to do.

Best regards,
Michael
Michael O'Brien

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2013 and 31/10/2013

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