On my '23 roadster I will be using a rebuilt short block from Kieth Townsend. I have a Waukashaw Ricardo head, Bosch front plate distributor, Zenith carb and intake, and a lightened flywheel (magnets replaced with slingers). I will also be using a Ruckstell (with Rockies). The car will be lowered and will not have full fenders, just cycle fenders mounted to the rear end and spindles. My question is, is it worth it to invest in a 250 or 280 Stipe cam. I'm not looking for top end speed, just quick acceleration and overall driveability.

I've used both the 250 & 280 and like the 280 best because the hills are easier to climb and acceleration is quicker.

This has been my experience, anyway.

I have used a stock cam and the stipe 280 in the same engine. It has Z head, metz intake, straight through NH, I think the stipe 280 made a great improvement in overall drivability.

Let us know what happens.

Thanks, Erich. My car will be light weight and I don't want to sacrifice bottem end for top end. Did you use it in the touring in your profile?

Danny, yes I did and I do notice more top end. I also did not notice any loss at the bottom end. For my combination it was a win-win. In a lighter car, it should go very well. I do not know if the bottom end performance was helped by the carb/intake combo and or the head, but it all works together quite well. I do not drive it like a race car though, and love to drive it like a T. After getting use to my T, it was a surprise to drive my friends T that is more stock. WOW, I forgot what an improvement it made.

By the way, mine is stock 6V with coils and period champ X plugs. I also made some modification inside the muffler to improve flow, decrease back pressure.

Keep us posted on your project.

Don't forget that Stipe also builds the Laurel-Roof cam and with that Ruckstell and three to one gears in the rear end you will have the best of all worlds and be able to climb steep hills and get in and out of trailers easily. Don't be timid. The Laurel- Roof cam only has .001" more lift but .005" more duration for better breathing. That is a good cam unless you like to drive at six miles an hour in high gear all day. But, with your Ruckstell you can do that too in high pedal low gear. Too many of the folks on this site are afraid of a little lope at idle and don't like to shift down when they are going around a corner at slow speed. Like editor Jay, they like life in the slow lane. But you have already modified some things so you are already being naughty and have gone to the dark side.

I use a modified Model A cam and it is ground in a manner similar to the Roof but with a little less drivability, so I use the new K.C. Layne Warford and with six speeds and have no trouble going anywhere at any speed. I get 48.6 horswepower and 150 foot pounds of torque to the rear wheels on the dyno with my T crank splash flathead 1922 motor and Mary loves it too.

They say you lose torque with a modified high lift cam with duration but I have not noticed any loss of torque or having to shift a lot but then my car weighs in at under 1200 pounds. I can turn corners in traffic in direct gear and stay in it but I do have to retard the spark and bleed it in with advance as I accelerate.

Don't get me wrong, I love stock T's but yours is no longer stock so enjoy life and make the girls squeal as well as the rear wheels when you depart.

Thanks, Fred. Any experience with a stock T exhaust manifold using this setup? I plan on running the exhaust under the car since it is a factory body.

Why spend the money on a billet cam? If you have adjustable lifters get a regrind with a different profile. I'd Recommend the C-race from Ford-N-More. It is all round good touring cam, and for many years has been the choice of Montana 500 winners.

Mike

With all the fixin's on that engine, would $350.00 break the bank for a great camshaft from Bill Stipe ?????

I installled a Stipe 280 in my 12 roadster, all mechanicals rebuilt right but more or less stock. I didn't like the cam because there was a power drop off at shifting. I installed a Ford NOS cam and sold off the 280.

DannY;

I have the Stipe 280 cam in our '26 Runabout & very satisfied with the results. Good power at all speeds, good touring cam.