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Mr. Buddy Branch DD 500 grind.
- Thread starter blowinangoin
- Start date
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
Why did you make a new thread for this😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
kwanjangnihm
Moderator
blowinangoin welcome to SA!
There is a lot of great information on Caddy engines here. Take a few minutes and become familiar with the search function in the upper right corner. We have a handful of knowledgeable Caddy guys always willing to share info & help!
Good luck with your build!
Note: we all have thick skin here and like to poke fun!
There is a lot of great information on Caddy engines here. Take a few minutes and become familiar with the search function in the upper right corner. We have a handful of knowledgeable Caddy guys always willing to share info & help!
Good luck with your build!
Note: we all have thick skin here and like to poke fun!
kwanjangnihm
Moderator
When using the search function, type the part/info in the top field (ie; camshaft) and choose members Deano, Swamphunter45 or John Fenner in the bottom field, as they have added great information to countless threads on Caddy's.
Cadillac 500 DD Airboat
Cadillac 500 DD Airboat
blowinangoin
Member
Will do. I'm starting to figure out how to work it finally.
kwanjangnihm
Moderator
What hull, rigging and prop are you planning on using and what area will you be riding?
blowinangoin
Member
I have a 15' rivermaster, gotta replace stringers and redo the bottom with thicker gel coat. Gonna build my rigging out of square tubing and hot dip it. Probably a 2 blade 74" Q, with a 500 Caddy. Gonna be out in the gulf up around the Suwannee and Steinhatchee rivers and everywhere in between.
SWAMPHUNTER45
Well-known member
Good luck with the build !
The 15 Rivermaster hull has several generations and little changes along the way. There were a lot of 15 Hoffman Rivermaster boats back in the day built up by Ned, Steve L. and Al & Tommy at Bayou, they ran great. That generation was a little lighter / rounder I suspect than the current mold I run.
Best advice is keep it light
Search the threads for info and dont let anyone try to tell you Chevy parts work unless your building a roller or stroker motor. Fastest way to wipe a cam or break a rocker is let JoeMachineshop put heavy chevy springs in your engine. There is no need unless your going Gear Drive or roller.
There is no holy grail cam. Mr Branch created half a dozen and made changes along the way. A version for closed chamber heads, open chamber heads, high compression or low compression. Back in the 80s he worked with Crane to build him custom cams but then Crane went out of business. When they reopened their catalog cams were the ones he had designed and built custom. But over 30 plus years its all been changed and I dont even think Crane is around any more. The pic you posted is definitely a Branch spec for a 500 low compression engine. Best for the 75 / 76 open chamber 120cc heads. If you use the Keith Black true flat tops with the 120cc heads it makes a good 9:1 pump gas 93 octane DD engine.
Fenner would probably tell you to use a fresh OEM cam, I like the CompCam 206/206 both are off the shelf and easy to find.
Like you have already been advised the good timing set is money well spent and proper installation is key. Over the years of hanging around the shop the only cams I ever saw Mr Branch find to be perfect were the roller cams we custom ordered from CompCams. Every flat tappet cam was several degrees off spec.
Share pics and get a build thread going !
The 15 Rivermaster hull has several generations and little changes along the way. There were a lot of 15 Hoffman Rivermaster boats back in the day built up by Ned, Steve L. and Al & Tommy at Bayou, they ran great. That generation was a little lighter / rounder I suspect than the current mold I run.
Best advice is keep it light
Search the threads for info and dont let anyone try to tell you Chevy parts work unless your building a roller or stroker motor. Fastest way to wipe a cam or break a rocker is let JoeMachineshop put heavy chevy springs in your engine. There is no need unless your going Gear Drive or roller.
There is no holy grail cam. Mr Branch created half a dozen and made changes along the way. A version for closed chamber heads, open chamber heads, high compression or low compression. Back in the 80s he worked with Crane to build him custom cams but then Crane went out of business. When they reopened their catalog cams were the ones he had designed and built custom. But over 30 plus years its all been changed and I dont even think Crane is around any more. The pic you posted is definitely a Branch spec for a 500 low compression engine. Best for the 75 / 76 open chamber 120cc heads. If you use the Keith Black true flat tops with the 120cc heads it makes a good 9:1 pump gas 93 octane DD engine.
Fenner would probably tell you to use a fresh OEM cam, I like the CompCam 206/206 both are off the shelf and easy to find.
Like you have already been advised the good timing set is money well spent and proper installation is key. Over the years of hanging around the shop the only cams I ever saw Mr Branch find to be perfect were the roller cams we custom ordered from CompCams. Every flat tappet cam was several degrees off spec.
Share pics and get a build thread going !
unforgiven11B
Well-known member
blowinangoin
Member
What did you change in the motor besides the cam? Did you just get more low end torque or did it turn on up in rpms?
unforgiven11B
Well-known member
This particular cam “IF” IRCC, was for a 509, with a reduction unit w/ max Rpm of 5500ish std. Stock crank, Solid shaft rockers, stainless valves. I can’t remember if this one was 76cc or 120cc heads but pretty sure it was for 120’s
One Eyed Gator
Well-known member
The duration, lift and lsa is only part of the battle you also need the valve timing events for a proper grind
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents