Problem with Comp Cams

I just wanted to make everyone aware of the problems I've had with Comp Cams on the cam for the engine I'm rebuilding in my '79 Nautique.

I ordered a custom grind reverse rotation camshaft this spring and rebuilt the engine. Everything seemed good until I had to tear the engine down for reasons other than the cam. Upon teardown inspection of the cam and measuring of the lobes I noticed that the intake and exhaust lobe lifts were backwards from my desired specs on the cam card. I called Comp Cams and they told me this was impossible, but to send the cam back and inspect it.

When Comp inspected the cam they confirmed that the lobes were backwards and promptly ground me a new cam and shipped it out within a week. When I received it I measured it only to find that it had been ground exactly the same as the first cam.

I called Comp again and have been going back and forth with them for the past 2 months. They supposedly know what got messed up and are going to grind me a new cam to the correct specs and ship it to me. Meanwhile I'm waiting.

I just wanted to warn anyone that's rebuilding an engine with a Comp Cam to make sure they measure the lobes to ensure they actually got what they wanted.

I'm not sure about a 289 but I know that's the case for a 302. In the automotive world there are a lot of 302 running 351 firing order's and vice versa. I'm not sure exactly why they are different but they are interchangeable.

Since on a 4 stroke engine there are always 2 pistons in the same physical position but on different strokes (i.e. compression & exhaust) you can have multiple firing order's that work fine.

A 302 is only an overbored 289, and the same firing order, so a 289 can be converted to the 351 firing order like the 302.

so should i call comp cams? how long have they been screwed up? whats gonna happen if i leave it.i wasnt looking to disassemble the motor again, but if i need to i will.
need to change your name to eagle eye. i could study that cam for a month and not figure that out.

So, do any other cam grinders make a reverse rotation cam?

Crane,
I have two of them, firing order 18456273

If you have an existing rh rotation camshaft, isky cams in calif will regrind it with any new cam profile you like for $78.00

Good info.

Look at your cam card and use the firing order is was ground for. Also it tells you what it is should say left hand rotation. long as the dist goes in, just use the firing order it was ground for on the card.
The different firing orders were used to take the load off the front journal of the crank.
CC engine were 18456273
Some Ford engines had three different firing orders.

First,
If it was the wrong rotation and the transmission pump wasn't changed the boat wouldn't move.The boat with the wrong prop would go backwards instead of forward. Water pump if not flipped wouldn't work ,etc.
You need yor cam card and dial indicator, top dead center plug,degree wheel, etc and the knowledge to do so.
Cam card will tell you everything you want to know about your cam, if it's a left or right rotation, and all other pertent information..

I would choose a dual pattern cam rather than a single pattern cam. Single are used in conditions that require wide open all the time ,dual pattern gives more low end torque, and on off throttle responses.

When used on a track and wide open throttle is constant they are great. In my opinion

That is a good analysis and If it doesn't work you can alway's mix the rocker ratios. I would agree with the exhaust however older marine systems are not free flowing, unless you have changed exhaust. Expensive way of going back. I guess seeing is believing, have fun.

I thought of that too, I don't think it would fit. The cam gear would have to be so big to eliminate the idler gear like the old Chevy six had that it won't fit in the Ford timing cover. You have to eliminate the idler gear to reverse the rotation of the cam, the gear drives used on car engines have an idler gear that keeps the cam rotating in the same direction as if using a chain.

There is none.

For the rest of us that might be interested in swapping cams,, what are the spec's of your new cam and did Comp Cams give you a part number for the new cam?