I have just received a set of "Fast Road " cams for my 1978 308 GTS. The single distributor on the engine is driven by an internally splined coupler which appears to be rivitted to the rear end of front inlet cam. However what was delivered were two identical inlet cams which have integral slotted flanges at their rear ends, and are axially drilled and threaded internally 12mm x 1.25mm. I have contacted Superperformance, but they do not appear to be familiar with the details of the products they supply, and are contacting their suppliers. I have attached pics of the original and new cam. Does anyone know what type of 308 these are for ? Thanks Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ask Raf at CAT cams. He should know even if they are not his cams. Mine came without the pinned spline drive (which is tightly pressed into the end of the cam and then pinned.)
That was quick ! I was in contact with Raf just over a week or so ago, after waiting for specs for Superperformance cams for ten months. As he is Superperformance's supplier, I expect they will be talking to each other and I expect to hear from them soon. (The intake cams they supplied have a large flange at the back end, and there is no drilling to take a fixing pin )
My '79 car has the splines. IIRC, I read the tang drive was later, but i don't know squat about later cars. Dunno if you need diff cams, an adapter, or need to mod your dizzy. I would also be suspect about the lack of the groove in the new cam bearing surface, as that may have something to do with oiling. Doug
That type of (dog) distributor drive is used on early 2-distributor 308GT4 (1976 SPC) -- note how the tabs of part #23 would fit into the two slots of the cam end (and then part #23 is secured to the cam by "screw" #24): https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/diagram/ferrari/308-gt4-dino-1976/038-engine-ignition-(2-distributors) And here's the corresponding intake cam with that "hat" flange shape on the distributor end of the cam: https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/Diagram/Ferrari/308-GT4-Dino-1976/005-Cylinder-Head-(Right)
Thanks Steve, you have hit the nail upon the head ! It was my mistake. When ordering, I thought that the Dog/Spline choice referred to how the cam pulley was fixed to the cam. I removed the pulleys and didn't see any splines, but saw the dowels. So I ordered the dog drive. I have been speaking to Superperformance, and they are arranging delivery of the correct items. All's well that ends well !
Glad that you've got a good resolution in place. The demand is probably so low for the dog-drive cams that I'm surprised they weren't "special made to order, no refunds". Agree, but I think that adding the oiling groove is a design improvements that F learned to incorporate over time (i.e., better to remove some bearing area to ensure that a good supply of pressurized oil reaches more of the remaining bearing area around a large circumference rather than being introduced at just a single small hole) -- so am a little surprised that the cam supplier just duplicated the early no-groove design. Since they were already doing a bunch of grinding work on the lobes, it would be trivial to add the oiling groove update (and it wouldn't need to be near as deep as the oiling groove on the later cam to still provide a lot of improvement).
I have always found Superformance to be very helpful and accommodating. Be very careful pressing the splined plug into the end. It has to be lined up perfectly with the pin holes. If you buy direct CAT suggests you send your old cam to have the plug transferred. Check the clearance with the first lifter, mine touched so had to be chamfered a bit.
