First of all, I would not recommend anything from Paeco. I am surprised they
are still in business. Get the cam from ANYWHERE else! Bad lobe? I am not
surprised!
They once built me an allegedly "competition" engine for $5000.
It was a boat anchor. Totally uncompetitive. MANY things wrong with it
mechanically speaking. Promised in 3 months, delivered in 15. Refused to let
me cancel the order after taking so long (they already had my money).
Allegedly the delay was waiting on a part -- one that I had on MY shelf if
they'd been up front and said something. When I finally got it, it ran less
than one mile and broke. Their fault -- bad workmanship. Had to send it back
to get their errors repaired. They could not even get the shipping weight
right (cost me a couple hundred more than it should have). When it was
returned -- several MONTHS later -- the primary reason I sent it back was
not fixed. That was the only time -- at the time -- that I was able to put
5-large together for such a purchase and it cost me YEARS of
uncompetitiveness because it was the only engine I had and I could not
afford to do anything but live with it. Nobody ever did me as wrong as PAECO
in my 35+ years in this sport.
Duane Dunham finally helped with the head problems. Steve Wolf finally gave
me a measure of reliability with it (and ran the numbers on it -- what was
supposed to be ~13:1 compression ratio came out 10.69:1. Years later I could
afford to have Wayne Snyder (The Able Co.) build me a new motor. He kept the
old Paeco boat anchor, and a couple years ago I asked him to look at that to
see what he could do with it. The upshot was, so little was actually done,
it was a perfectly good core for Wayne to build me a really good motor --
what we laughingly now call my $12,000 motor since it has been built into a
race motor, from scratch, TWICE. And we still cannot stanch the leaks!
Susan, I don't have a name or spec for a cam, but Wayne Snyder would. I
think what's in mine now is a Rick Cline cam. Wayne got it for me and put it
in. Call him at 616-534-6946.
Wayne is exceptionally good with Spitfires. The Able Co., which he owns, is
a full machine shop in Grand Rapids, Mich (actually, Wyoming Mich., a
suburb). Between him and Duane Bailey in Byron Center (another GR suburb),
they can put together just about any competition package you need for your
Spitfire. Duane (West Michigan Imports - Britcar specialist) is at
616-878-5774. I get my ignition and gearbox/diff stuff from Duane. Besides
the engine, my whole rear suspension is from Wayne.
Wayne's an autocrosser, Duane a road racer, both in Spits. Good guys. Their
stuff is in my car now. I'm a lot faster than I used to be because of it.
--Rocky Entriken
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Kahler" <spitfiresuz@141.com>
To: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 9:37 AM
Subject: Cam questions
> Good morning, all!
>
> In brief (we've gotta run yank an engine), Tristan's cam was found
> yesterday to have a bad lobe and we've got to get another cam in there
> before Mosport. We have a new Paeco cam (I can post specs later if
> necessary -- it is something like an SF-8000) or can choose another cam.
> I personally have heard bad things about Paeco, and I don't remember if
> it was their cams specifically, their heads, or just their whole
operation.
>
> My question is this: Would you guys recommend the Paeco cam, or if not,
> which cam would you recommend? I seem to remember the cam that was in
> Tristan was a Crane 289, but it's been so long I don't remember if that
> was the one out of the old race engine from when I got it or if that's
> the one that is in there now (we'll find out in a couple hours!).
> (Tristan is a 1967 1300cc Spitfire.)
>
> Thank you for the advice!
>
> Keep Triumphing,
> Susan :)
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