From the Indy 500 through LS Fest
Grassroots Racing Nationwide
Starting in 1919 Elgin’s founder improved the process to manufacture piston pins for Model T Fords.
In 2025, Ford is still our biggest customer, and two of our founder’s grandsons are still running our factory here in Elgin Illinois USA.
Ford, Chrysler, John Deere pick up from here everyday, to deliver Elgin made parts to new engine assembly plants around the world.
Other customers include General Motors, Harley Davidson, Mack/Volvo Truck, Navistar, Polaris. We also manufacture performance aftermarket parts.
Decades of Elgin’s ‘Piston Pin Specials’
Elgin raced the Indy 500 from 1927 – 1954. Our cars included Miller’s, Maserati’s, Kurtis’, with drivers such as Maury Rose, Frank Brisko, and Andy Granatelli.
Competition and sponsorships continued at the Elgin Road Race during the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.
In the early 1950’s we partnered with Dick Doane to campaign AAA stock cars (pre-NASCAR) and complete the Pan Americana Road Race.
Precision engineering moved from the race track to the laboratory to meet and exceed specifications of Original Equipment Manufacturers.
Duntov 097 and the first Muscle Cars
Elgin’s first part number in it’s history of performance camshafts is the E-900-P Duntov “O-97”.
Second is the Elgin E-901-P, the Duntov “30-30″ (hot lash is .030”).
More Chevrolet and General Motors cams followed such as, Z-28, LT1, LS6, LS7, W-30, W-31, and Ram Air III.
Pony Cars and Muscle Trucks
Elgin continued to expand the line of performance engine parts and camshafts to include FoMoCo, Mopar, and AMC.
Still popular today are the inline 6 cylinder Ford 300″ and AMC 258″/4.0L torquer RV camshafts, as well as other performance trucks’ off-road and drag racing.
From the short track to your local track
The line of solid-flat-tappet mechanical and hydraulic lifter performance camshafts quickly grew into short track versions.
The E-1091-P and E-1090-P continue to win national championships, and are available in standard heat treat, as well as Black Ice cryogenic super hardened versions.
Retrofit Roller Cams
Old school engines need old school oils. Engine oil for modern cars lacks the zinc and other important minerals to protect flat tappet cams and lifters. Elgin recommends running the correct pre-blended oils designed for older engines.
Elgin also offers retro-fit roller camshafts and tie-bar lifters for Fords, and Chevrolet SBC/BBC.
LS Swap the World
Home of the original Made in USA Sloppy Stage 2 Camshaft, Elgin offers LS cams from mild to wild.
The SS2 is good for 60 hp in a stock engine, and with power adders can easily pass 1,000 whp.
Elgin supplies LS cams for boost such as turbo or blower. Nitrous and truck cams are also available.
Performance today
Elgin continues to actively sponsor racing coast-to-coast in 2025 :
- LS Fest
- Sick Summer
- Contingency Connection
- Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
- Sycamore Speedway
- Elgin Road Race Show
Find complete valve train solutions in our Performance Catalogs
