camshaft shift rod? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RIA69 · 10-23-2010, 08:35 PM

Is it possible to heat a camshaft ( an old useless one) into the right shape to use as a shift rod? I have a sm465 and i want to change things up a bit and cannot for the life of me find a shift rod that will work for it. the old one is very boring. I know its kinda extreme and possibly pointless but I thought it would be kinda cool. any thoughts or other ideas of what would make a cool or unique shift rod that wouldn't be to tacky? thanks for the input.

82swampthing · 10-23-2010, 08:43 PM

I like that idea of a cam shaft shift rod. I don't see why you couldn't heat it up and bend it and weld it to the bottom end of a old 465 shifter.what would also be cool would be a pool que or a walking stick or maybe some chain welded togther with a t-handle on it.

prostreetC-10 · 10-23-2010, 09:54 PM

The vast majority of camshafts are cast. I'm not sure if you can heat and bend cast parts like you can solid steel. Would look pretty cool though. I'm sure someone with the correct answer will chime in.

bigguy69 · 10-23-2010, 10:22 PM

are some of the roller cams made from billet steel?

69 longhorn · 10-23-2010, 11:13 PM

Yea, a lot of the roller cams are billet, that would work.....I just put a grenade on top of my shifter(works for me)

crazyAl

sixtyeightchevykid · 10-23-2010, 11:34 PM

the cam would be pretty cool looking, what i did today was heat my shifter and put another bend in it. then polished it up pretty good, nothing llike a cam tho. im pretty sure you could bend a cast cam but it would have to be extremely hot, and welding cast is a totally different game.

bitchin85 · 10-23-2010, 11:52 PM

ok take it from me.. i tried it for my buddies 62 rat rod.. old cast cam. it is VERY bard to bend anything thats cast.. when wed heat it up, the metal would drip off and we couldnt get the center hot enough to bend. we thought we had it and when i pulled it didnt bend at all but instead snapped right of it my hand. even if you some how did get it to bend, youd have to drill and tap the end the same size as your shifter rod, becaust you wouldnt be able to weld a nut to it or anything. unless you can find a cam thats not cast, its just a waste of time.

hope this helps

cdowns · 10-24-2010, 01:34 AM

i think if you could that it would be to heavy as a shifter and could shift gears with bumps in the road

69 longhorn · 10-24-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdowns

i think if you could that it would be to heavy as a shifter and could shift gears with bumps in the road

Sort of like an automatic /stickshift

sixtyeightchevykid · 10-24-2010, 09:49 AM

i got to thinking about it and i think if you bent the cam then it might take the "feel" away,

Slayre · 10-24-2010, 10:58 AM

I think GM went roller cam in there engines after 95 ? might be off on that but would those be billet cams? If they are those should be a dime a dozen in junk yards.

RIA69 · 10-24-2010, 12:10 PM

thanks for the input i was kinda thinking along the lines of it either being impossible or to heavy to use. but Hey ideas are just that I guess, finding out what works and what doesn't. thanks again

stllookn · 10-24-2010, 12:25 PM

Why not just cut a 3-4" section out of the cam, drill and tap it and use it as a shift knob.

10-23-2010, 08:35 PM	#1
RIA69 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: logan utah Posts: 78	camshaft shift rod? Is it possible to heat a camshaft ( an old useless one) into the right shape to use as a shift rod? I have a sm465 and i want to change things up a bit and cannot for the life of me find a shift rod that will work for it. the old one is very boring. I know its kinda extreme and possibly pointless but I thought it would be kinda cool. any thoughts or other ideas of what would make a cool or unique shift rod that wouldn't be to tacky? thanks for the input. __________________ 1969 C20 3/4 ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

10-23-2010, 08:43 PM	#2
82swampthing Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: taxachusetts Posts: 138	Re: camshaft shift rod? I like that idea of a cam shaft shift rod. I don't see why you couldn't heat it up and bend it and weld it to the bottom end of a old 465 shifter.what would also be cool would be a pool que or a walking stick or maybe some chain welded togther with a t-handle on it. __________________ R.I.P gm 1908-1986 1982 chevy k20,350,sm465,np205,10bolt and 14bolt s.f

10-23-2010, 09:54 PM	#3
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	Re: camshaft shift rod? The vast majority of camshafts are cast. I'm not sure if you can heat and bend cast parts like you can solid steel. Would look pretty cool though. I'm sure someone with the correct answer will chime in. __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video!

10-23-2010, 10:22 PM	#4
bigguy69 dazed and confused Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: marion nc Posts: 1,649	Re: camshaft shift rod? are some of the roller cams made from billet steel? __________________ members met: redbaron69, billsbowtie,nc67

10-23-2010, 11:13 PM	#5
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	Re: camshaft shift rod? Yea, a lot of the roller cams are billet, that would work.....I just put a grenade on top of my shifter(works for me) crazyAl __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

10-23-2010, 11:34 PM	#6
sixtyeightchevykid Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 194	Re: camshaft shift rod? the cam would be pretty cool looking, what i did today was heat my shifter and put another bend in it. then polished it up pretty good, nothing llike a cam tho. im pretty sure you could bend a cast cam but it would have to be extremely hot, and welding cast is a totally different game.

10-23-2010, 11:52 PM	#7
bitchin85 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lambertville MI Posts: 962	Re: camshaft shift rod? ok take it from me.. i tried it for my buddies 62 rat rod.. old cast cam. it is VERY bard to bend anything thats cast.. when wed heat it up, the metal would drip off and we couldnt get the center hot enough to bend. we thought we had it and when i pulled it didnt bend at all but instead snapped right of it my hand. even if you some how did get it to bend, youd have to drill and tap the end the same size as your shifter rod, becaust you wouldnt be able to weld a nut to it or anything. unless you can find a cam thats not cast, its just a waste of time. hope this helps __________________ "I'll keep my guns, money, and freedom. You can keep the "change"

10-24-2010, 01:34 AM	#8
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: camshaft shift rod? i think if you could that it would be to heavy as a shifter and could shift gears with bumps in the road __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

10-24-2010, 09:49 AM	#10
sixtyeightchevykid Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 194	Re: camshaft shift rod? i got to thinking about it and i think if you bent the cam then it might take the "feel" away,

10-24-2010, 10:58 AM	#11
Slayre Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Killeen Texas Posts: 3	Re: camshaft shift rod? I think GM went roller cam in there engines after 95 ? might be off on that but would those be billet cams? If they are those should be a dime a dozen in junk yards.

10-24-2010, 12:10 PM	#12
RIA69 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: logan utah Posts: 78	Re: camshaft shift rod? thanks for the input i was kinda thinking along the lines of it either being impossible or to heavy to use. but Hey ideas are just that I guess, finding out what works and what doesn't. thanks again __________________ 1969 C20 3/4 ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

10-24-2010, 12:25 PM	#13
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: camshaft shift rod? Why not just cut a 3-4" section out of the cam, drill and tap it and use it as a shift knob. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary) Last edited by stllookn; 10-24-2010 at 12:26 PM.



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