Glossary / Engine

overhead cam

8 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

An overhead cam is a part of an engine that helps control the opening and closing of valves. It sits above the engine’s cylinders, making the engine run smoother and faster.

Technical Definition

An overhead camshaft (OHC) is a type of engine design where the camshaft sits above the combustion chamber, directly operating the valves. This allows for more precise valve timing and higher engine speeds.

Hear It Discussed

"They've gone overhead cam, right? And all that stuff. Yeah. Yeah. So actually, one of our colleagues just bought the new Sportster."
The One-Year Garage: 1980 Bring a Trailer Podcast 07:52

"...there was a run of overhead cam six Pontiacs and they want to have a curated section of that."
TMCP #626: Ask Rick – Preview for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals 2025, “The Pebble Beach of Muscle Car Shows” The MuscleCar Place 20:20

"I didn't realize it was overhead cam until like a week after I bought it."
The Car Show with Dane Donovan - 1/17/2026 The Car Show with Dale and Dane Donovan 23:52