8BA cam walk?

[40Pickup]

Sorry if I made it a little confusing, I apologize for that.
You know, you want so badly to show your devotion to these old flatheads! ......

Jorgen

[tubman]

Bruce Lancaster backed me up, so I'll back him up. Read his post. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. "If you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras".

[Binx]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

one reason I run the early gears in an 8BA.

The more I think about this, the more it makes sense! The timing gear is always under stress so even if you snap on and off the throttle, the timing gear won't go slack with normal operation. So why not use 59A gears in an 8BA? Was there a reason for the gear change?

Lonnie

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Binx

The more I think about this, the more it makes sense! The timing gear is always under stress so even if you snap on and off the throttle, the timing gear won't go slack with normal operation. So why not use 59A gears in an 8BA? Was there a reason for the gear change?

Lonnie

I've pondered the same thing - have wondered if Ford wanted the distributor drive gear to align to the front cover - to mesh with the side-mount distributor gear in a certain manner. This is the only reason I can think of changing it - seems it had to be related to the distributor drive change??? (Just my wild-ass guess).

[chuck stevens]

The only thing I can come up with as far as cam movement, would be if the cam isn't perfectly straight as it rotates it would try to walk one way or the other. In my case it can't keep making noise after 1500rpms, just not enough time, as the r's go up. I don't think it would hurt anything, but it is an embarrassing sound.

Originally Posted by Binx

The more I think about this, the more it makes sense! The timing gear is always under stress so even if you snap on and off the throttle, the timing gear won't go slack with normal operation. So why not use 59A gears in an 8BA? Was there a reason for the gear change?

Lonnie

[JWL]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Several years ago I explained the reason for the front thrusting gears. It seems at least one person remembers the engineering design theory I explained. Frankly I think it was fixing a problem which would not have been and agree the rear thrust design would be ok to use in all engines if proper end clearances are set.

[jrvariel48]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

one reason I run the early gears in an 8BA.

Can anyone tell me more about the install of early gears?
Thank you,
Joe

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by jrvariel48

Can anyone tell me more about the install of early gears?
Thank you,
Joe

The angle/direction of the gear teeth are different between 32-48 engines and 49-53. The earlier design caused the cam to want to push back against the block, instead of pushing forward toward the timing cover (the later design).

Also, the early timing cover was also a 'stop' - in that the cam end-play was determined by the actual cam gear running up against the timing cover. The thickness of the cam timing gear bolt flange is key to the equation (I've seen cams where the flange thickness was not to spec). In the later engine, the 'stop' was accomplished by the front of the cam snout (not the gear) running up against the timing cover.

You can replace the later crank/cam gears of a 49-53 engine with the earlier 32-48 set (still running the later timing cover and side-mount distributor), but you still must ensure that the end-play is correct -- about .005 to .010. Again, the end-play in this case will not be determined by the cam gear, but by the snout of the cam and the later timing cover.

You can also put the earlier 32-48 timing cover and cam in a later 49-53 engine - in this case the end-play will be driven by the cam gear to cover relationship. Also, you'll then be running a front-mount distributor/magneto.

As JWL mentioned - regardless of which system you're using, you still need to pay attention to camshaft end-play. Make sure it is correct!

I hope that "covers" it!

Dale

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

The angle/direction of the gear teeth are different between 32-48 engines and 49-53. The earlier design caused the cam to want to push back against the block, instead of pushing forward toward the timing cover (the later design).

Also, the early timing cover was also a 'stop' - in that the cam end-play was determined by the actual cam gear running up against the timing cover. The thickness of the cam timing gear bolt flange is key to the equation (I've seen cams where the flange thickness was not to spec). In the later engine, the 'stop' was accomplished by the front of the cam snout (not the gear) running up against the timing cover.

Dale,

Being strictly an 8BA guy, I'm kind of in the dark here, but it seems to me that these two statements are mutually exclusive. I am very curious as to how a cam that thrusts backwards in the block can be controlled by the timing cover in front of it. Could you clarify this for me?

Denny

[George/Maine]

I think maybe try a stock dist,
had a car years ago with knock and the rings on one cylinder was to front and not to side and was cutting into cylinder. I don't think it a cam problem. my 2 cents.
George

[jrvariel48]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

The angle/direction of the gear teeth are different between 32-48 engines and 49-53. The earlier design caused the cam to want to push back against the block, instead of pushing forward toward the timing cover (the later design).

Also, the early timing cover was also a 'stop' - in that the cam end-play was determined by the actual cam gear running up against the timing cover. The thickness of the cam timing gear bolt flange is key to the equation (I've seen cams where the flange thickness was not to spec). In the later engine, the 'stop' was accomplished by the front of the cam snout (not the gear) running up against the timing cover.

You can replace the later crank/cam gears of a 49-53 engine with the earlier 32-48 set (still running the later timing cover and side-mount distributor), but you still must ensure that the end-play is correct -- about .005 to .010. Again, the end-play in this case will not be determined by the cam gear, but by the snout of the cam and the later timing cover.

You can also put the earlier 32-48 timing cover and cam in a later 49-53 engine - in this case the end-play will be driven by the cam gear to cover relationship. Also, you'll then be running a front-mount distributor/magneto.

As JWL mentioned - regardless of which system you're using, you still need to pay attention to camshaft end-play. Make sure it is correct!

I hope that "covers" it!

Dale

Thanks Dale, big help!!