Quote:
Originally Posted by GH85Carrera
The Ford 427 Cammer is widely regarded as one of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engines, boasting an impressive 660 horsepower. Introduced in the 1960s, this engine was engineered to dominate on the track and in the streets, showcasing Ford's commitment to performance and innovation. Its distinctive design and raw power made it a revered piece of automotive history, often celebrated for its engineering excellence and robust performance. For over five decades, the 427 Cammer stood as a benchmark in naturally aspirated V8 power, admired not only for its mechanical prowess but also for its aesthetic appeal. The engine's iconic status continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors, symbolizing a golden era of American muscle and engineering brilliance. |
Fascinating engines. I had the opportunity to help my neighbor rebuild a few some 30 years ago. He worked for Jim Green's Performance Center, home of the Green Elephant funny car that won the NHRA "world" championship in the early 1970's. Jim Green was a huge fan of the Cammer and had at least a dozen of them, although he raced nothing buy Hemis in the funny car.
The Cammer was certainly not everything it is cracked up to be. It was simply Ford's side oiler FE block with some hoopty-ass cam drive assembly bolted to the front, and different cylinder heads. NASCAR banned it immediately (because it was never a production engine, available in a street car for sale to the public), before it could even run a single race, so Ford stopped all development. The only version they did finish was clearly just a starting point, a proof of concept. I wonder where it would have gone had it been fully developed.
Its Achilles heel was that damn cam drive. The single chain must have been at least six feet long. It whipped all over hell, stretched, and made it impossible to accurately set and maintain cam timing. Things were always going wrong in there. I doubt it could have finished a 500 mile race. Some drag racers ran them for a few years, but eventually got tired of all of that, and tired of getting beaten by Hemi powered cars. Jim Green sure liked them, but readily acknowledged that they just didn't make the power the Hemi made.
