Photos of cams.

vibrac

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Changes every day with shell companies being formed ,firms in administration,sackings,threats to villagers
last time I looked didn't look good.
But if I was VMCC I would be looking now but dont hold your breath their web site is still announcing the 2013 event!
 
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davidjoyner

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Excellent photo - as I have the cams out of my Rap at the moment and couldn't remember what I had. So - I have mk2 cams omega 8:0 to 1 pistons and 1and 1/16th carbs - how far is off the shadow spec - the carbs I know about. Regards Dave
 

Bill Thomas

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Hello David, You got me going there, I think you will find you have Better than a Shadow !! The mk2 cams were for the Lightning ! In my book , It shows 7.3 Pistons for the Shadow, 6.45 for Rapide. So yours will be a flyer !, There is not a lot of differance between the two, Maybe the cylinder head ports were 1 1/8" And they did the high first gear in the gearbox, Oh and the Black paint ! Have Fun, Bill.
 

A-BCD

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I didn't think there was any difference between Rapide and Shadow cylinder head ports ? Both 1 1/8" ? It's the carb adapters that are different.
 

TouringGodet

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There is a Vincent specialist in the Los Angeles area with a couple rows of spare cylinder heads on shelfs, and you can easily see two different sizes of port openings amongst them.
 

bmetcalf

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The Spares List shows a different part number for Rapide front heads and Comet heads, which implies a difference, possibly port size. In addition, bored out Rapide heads surely are out here by now.
 

Monkeypants

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Steve, there seem to be more altered ports than stock ports out there, that might account for the various sizes seen on the shelf. It is my understanding that the ports were 1 1/8" for both Rapide and Shadow. As mentioned above, the carb and stub were 1/16" larger on the Shadow.
Also, I read somewhere, probably in an old MPH, that US destined Shadows often were at 8 to one CR, UK and others at 7.3 to one. Apparently the US had higher octane fuel available at that time, so the 8 to one bikes could make use of it. Compression ratios varied greatly depending on where the bike was being shipped to for sale. .My Oz Rapide went to Malta when new. The fuel available there in 1947 must have been awful, the factory set the engine up with 5.9 to one compression.

When I was shopping for a twin in 2003 I asked Pete Gagan if there was much difference in performance between a Rapide and Shadow. He replied " After the first rebuild there isn't!"
Glen
 
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