Mondello roller RV CAM KIT

[grant schaffer]

I am checking the masses, has anyone used this set up? I have seen some traffic on the net that Mondello in Paso Robles is marginal at best. I see
they have a roller cam and roller tip rocker set up that is a direct fit in a stock block.
Thanks
Grant
--
1974 GMC Sequoia 26'

 

[gworobec]

Grant, Mondello makes great 10 second engines for drag racing but I don;t believe the GMC community has had much success with their stuff. There is not much transfer between their race type engines and the ability to push 12,000 lbs.

GW

>
> I am checking the masses, has anyone used this set up? I have seen some traffic on the net that Mondello in Paso Robles is marginal at best. I see
> they have a roller cam and roller tip rocker set up that is a direct fit in a stock block.
> Thanks
> Grant
> --
> 1974 GMC Sequoia 26'
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Gary Worobec
garytwmw
(o) 951-763-0518
(cell) 773-230-6226

 

[johnny]

They are pretty much trading on the late Joe Mondello's name.

--johnny

--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[jim kanomata1]

If your interested in Roller Lifters,Contact Comp CAM as they make good
cams and be sure you get the RV cam profile.
Once you get the part#, hit Summit and us for pricing.
Depending on which intake your running, I'l need to advise on a slight mod
you'll need to do.
Also the distributor gear must be addressed.
We have done few on the coaches so we know the issues. Call me for free
advise before you do it.

> Grant, Mondello makes great 10 second engines for drag racing but I don;t
> believe the GMC community has had much success with their stuff. There is
> not much transfer between their race type engines and the ability to push
> 12,000 lbs.
>
> GW
> > On Jun 6, 2017, at 10:44 PM, Grant Schaffer

> >
> > I am checking the masses, has anyone used this set up? I have seen some
> traffic on the net that Mondello in Paso Robles is marginal at best. I see
> > they have a roller cam and roller tip rocker set up that is a direct fit
> in a stock block.
> > Thanks
> > Grant
> > --
> > 1974 GMC Sequoia 26'
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> Gary Worobec
> garytwmw
> (o) 951-763-0518
> (cell) 773-230-6226
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[grant schaffer]

They claim they have a matched set , rv grind, drop in roller lifters with matched push rods and roller rockers with guide plates. I also understand
with late model chevy's that they need a cam button to keep things from walking is his the same with the Oldsmobile?

Overall I guess that wannabe morello in cali Is full of it?

I have a .60 over block that is all together recently re manufactured so thinking about changing the cam to a roller. Seems to be more trouble than
it's worth as I am running to most things with an Oldsmobile coach.
Thoughts?
--
1974 GMC Sequoia 26'

 

[grant schaffer]

Thanks Jim , I am running a offenhouser intake. I have decided to raise the deck and push away from the sunken in stock intake. Not sure this helps
but I have seen too many posts on making adjustments to the "new" aluminum stock I take and the cast iron needs to go in my opinion.
Grant
--
1974 GMC Sequoia 26'

 

[johnny]

The engine in my coach is a roller motor, although at the speeds we turn them I fail to see much benefit. If you use a Diesel grade oil, it probably
has sufficient zinc to keep the lifter surfaces alive, or you can toss in a can of additive.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[jim kanomata1]

Grant,
The type of metal used on the roll cam is not compatible with our
distributor gear.
I heard that they have overcome that.
Never use Brass gear on distributor.
We used them for drag racing, but caused 3 engine failure wen the brass got
into the bearings.

On Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 11:22 PM, Grant Schaffer
wrote:

> Thanks Jim , I am running a offenhouser intake. I have decided to raise
> the deck and push away from the sunken in stock intake. Not sure this helps
> but I have seen too many posts on making adjustments to the "new"
> aluminum stock I take and the cast iron needs to go in my opinion.
> Grant
> --
> 1974 GMC Sequoia 26'
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[kab7]

After a ton of research, I used a Lunati roller cam. The specs on this keep it within safe lift range for our engines.
I tried to check out the mondello stuff, but it was pretty much a joke. There's no "Joe" left there and the company is a lot less than helpful.
(The east coast company doesn't do the cams, and seemed really disgusted with the west coast company, which is now an unrelated entity.)

Lunati, on the other hand, was terrific to deal with and super helpful. Anyway, here are the part numbers:
Lunati 20420503 http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=3202&gid=137

I used the Comp Cams lifters because Lunati didn't have anything appropriate and suggested the compcams.
The tops of these are cut so they fit under the stock manifold without modification:
COMP Cams Hydraulic Roller Lifters 857-16 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-857-16

After discussing it with Lunati, I went with our stock rockers but upgraded the springs since I didn't know what was on our engine.
Dick Paterson uses these valve springs on his (non roller) rebuilds:
COMP Cams Valve Springs 901-16 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-901-16
The machine shop guy who did the heads tested them and they were fine for the roller cam and our application.
(Turns out the ones on our engine were too wimpy, so good I had these in hand.)

If I were doing it again, I might go ahead and spring for roller tip adjustable rockers "just cuz".
It would certainly make the pushrod selection easier. I'm told now there are some roller tip rocker kits that fit
without extra machining, which I was trying to avoid.

Since I didn't know what gear was on our distributor, I replaced it with this:
Summit Racing® Distributor Gears SUM-850006-12 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850006-12

It was really nice to be able to just start the engine without the teeth-gnashing startup procedure of a flat cam.
Good thing because there was a significant oil leak and I had to shut it down earlier than a flat cam would have needed for break-in.

So far (only about 5K miles), so good.

jwid,
Karen
1975 26'

 

[kab7]

oh yeah, no cam button needed.

Karen
1975 26'

 

[grant schaffer]

Thanks Karen
That's a lot of info which helps a lot. The big thing is the start up. What ever state California is in, for anything zinc oriented i have to travel
to arizona and get 20w50 racing oil. I don't want issues on initial break in so this is my reason. For all else , this is relatively a GM MOTOR. I am
finding a difficulty in the Oldsmobile is "special" in every aspect from bearings to the block to just about everything.

Can someone tell me after all these years, other than it's no longer manufactured, why GM went out of their way to have the Oldsmobile engine to be
different from any other? Diving into the forum seems there's always an opinion, at time good but usually different. I can go to any junk yard pull a
350 chevy hone it new parts and considerably run it successfully with very little machining. I know we don't want that in a 12,000 motor home but it
always seems that productions 403 and 455's are "special". Our coach is bad enough.

I am trying to understand why GM would go to these lengths to spend the extra time and money, if anyone knows what I mean. This overlying "special"
tone is convincing me that buying my coach was a mistake. Would this be why they were discontinued?
Thanks for anyone opinion.
--
1974 GMC Sequoia 26'

 

[thomas phipps]

Properly a very good question why GM choose to develop a different "455" engine for Olds, Pontiac, and Buick, with little interchange. Just because
they could is a poor answer. Both Ford and Chrysler were using corporate big blocks. Stockholders should have screamed.
Glad that I was not one of their bond holders.
Tom, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG

 

[grant schaffer]

The other reason for me selecting a roller cam is the torque curve is relatively flat not to mention to upgrade the old 455 to today's times would be
a plus. Hopefully my jet boat mechanic that deals with the 455 is a plus, at least he has the torque plates for the machining. The other issue is no
one offers warrantys for anything reasonable. It's not like there is a 3 yr 30,000 mile warranty. So really we all take a chance on what we purchase.

Like, we will put 10,000 miles on a coach a year anyway.
--
1974 GMC Sequoia 26'

 

[Matt Colie]

> Thanks Karen
>
> Can someone tell me after all these years, other than it's no longer manufactured, why GM went out of their way to have the Oldsmobile engine to
> be different from any other? Diving into the forum seems there's always an opinion, at time good but usually different. I can go to any junk yard
> pull a 350 chevy hone it new parts and considerably run it successfully with very little machining. I know we don't want that in a 12,000 motor home
> but it always seems that productions 403 and 455's are "special". Our coach is bad enough.
>
> I am trying to understand why GM would go to these lengths to spend the extra time and money, if anyone knows what I mean. This overlying
> "special" tone is convincing me that buying my coach was a mistake. Would this be why they were discontinued?
> Thanks for anyone opinion.

Grant,

It should be no embarrassment, but it is clear that you do not understand Detroit Original Equipment thinking.
GM was not first at anything. William Durant (who hated motorcars) was head of the Durant(Buick) Carriage company, but he could see the writing on
the wall. He started General Motors in 1908 and bought up all of Buick. So it went. He later bough Cadillac from remains of the first Ford Motor
companies failure. Then he bought Chevrolet from the two Swiss brothers that were making decent cars but having money troubles. Oldsmobile was
bought directly from the Olds family. They didn't get out of the business and when on with REO (Ransom E Olds) vehicles.

All this said, there were now a bunch of individual companies held be single management. After a few more acquisitions, there were a bunch that soon
formed into two groups. Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac (BOC - Big Opulent Cars) and Chevrolet, Pontiac and the Canadians (CPC aka Cheap Practical
Cars).

 

[bill wevers]

I can see why they use roller cams in hot boats and dragsters.
But for a motorhome that rarely sees 3500 RPM, it doesn't add much. It only costs more.

I'm happy with my $140 Sealed Power CS651 camshaft and $85 for a set of 16 flat tappets.
CS651 Cam----CS651 61 275/289 .437/.437 ILC=108 ELC=110 @ 0.050"-----194/207
No problem with cam wear using stock valve springs and ZDDP for break in.

--
Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
455 F Block, G heads
San Jose

 

[espen heitmann]

I had my roller cam made by Crane, the main reason is that they use a incorporates an integral cast iron distributor drive gear, aluminum-bronze
distributor drive gear is not required.
Their lowest stock Olds roller profile was a little high for the GMC so I had the cam made with a intake profile HR-204/286, exhaust profile
HR-214/325, on a 112 lobe separation, with 5 degrees advance, that is the same profile used on Chevy 454-502 Gen IV engines for towing with a 800 to
5000 Rpm range

My engine has s CR of 9.5 with alu heads, Rockwell intake and a Fitech TBI (That was started up for the first time yesterday) so I can not share any
driving experiense but it sounds good, a little low vacume due to the high lift but nothing to worry about (15 Hg)
--
1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green,
And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
in Norway

 

[johnny]

Why the different engines? Speculation: Oldsmobile wanted something smooth and effortless for your grandma in her 98. Cost wasn't a great factor,
load the block with a lot of nickle and it will run six forevers and hopefully grandma will buy another one in a year or three. Pontiac wanted a
hotrod, the Olds undersquare engine is hardly that. Plus, they could turn the blocks on the same transfer line as the 389CID setup I believe. Buick
- who knows, other than extending the 'nailhead' was possible. GM divisions at the time didn't talk to one another in the way the Mopar guys did,
which helped make the different engines appear.

Your speculation?

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[richard michelhaugh]

Could you list the part numbers for these parts?

Harland Sharp Roller Rocker Arms
HOWARD'S CAMS Street Series Retro-Fit Hyd Roller Lifters (This is the ones that other rebrands and say that are theirs)
Crane Pro-Series Pushrods

Thanks.

Rick M.

> I had my roller cam made by Crane, the main reason is that they use a incorporates an integral cast iron distributor drive gear, aluminum-bronze
> distributor drive gear is not required.
> Their lowest stock Olds roller profile was a little high for the GMC so I had the cam made with a intake profile HR-204/286, exhaust profile
> HR-214/325, on a 112 lobe separation, with 5 degrees advance, that is the same profile used on Chevy 454-502 Gen IV engines for towing with a 800 to
> 5000 Rpm range
>
> My engine has s CR of 9.5 with alu heads, Rockwell intake and a Fitech TBI (That was started up for the first time yesterday) so I can not share
> any driving experiense but it sounds good, a little low vacume due to the high lift but nothing to worry about (15 Hg)
>
> I also use :
> Harland Sharp Roller Rocker Arms
> HOWARD'S CAMS Street Series Retro-Fit Hyd Roller Lifters (This is the ones that other rebrands and say that are theirs)
> Crane Pro-Series Pushrods
> ARP 100-7101 Rocker Arm Studs
> Crane Cams 99838-16 Dual Valve Springs
> Crane Cams 99953-16 Valve Spring Retainers
> Comp Cams 3113 Timing Set
> Std Melling oil pump
> No oil restrictors from Mondello, they will only reduce oilflow to the camshaft and NOT to the cylinder heads, take a look at the Olds oil system
> and you will find that it is useless..

--
1974 26' Canyonlands
aka "The General"
Clinton, TN