"Block relief" - L.M. Williams book

[Alan]

The Williams book was written when Sevens were cheap and expendable. Many cars were everyday transport and  young owners were desperate for power to keep reasonable pace with traffic. Preservation of the original was not a factor.
Diagrams and considerable else in Wiliams are dubious. The camshaft exactly as diagram duplicated could not operate, and is way through hardening. 
The sv Ford V8 had tilted valves so the chamber had to be formed part in the block.
With revs,  rods bored different, gaskets, disasters, pistons can rise further than normal.

Bob, I think you are a little harsh in your opinion of LM Williams. 
LMW was a pre-war tuner of 7s and a good one at that. He certainly had the respect of Austin’s competition department as various interesting bits were provided and his cars were invited to run with the Works team on more than one occasion. 
As for his book, it was aimed at the young special builder who did not necessarily have much technical knowledge. I admit it has suggestions that we wouldn’t do now, but in its time and for years after, it was as good as you could get. In fact, I’d still recommend it above all other books on this subject. 
I’m really interested in your camshaft comments, because I did one just like that, years ago, when you couldn’t get anything better. It did work, and it didn’t matter that the base circle went through the hardening. It lasted for years.