The Ford Barn

Ol' Ron · 06-28-2013, 02:05 PM

I must say I didn't always check camshaft end play. JWL along time ago said how important it was, so I started checking it. At first the end play could be brought into a reasonable ant by just leaving the front timing gear gasket off and I did that on allot of engines, However recently I discovered the end play of several cams and covers to be over .020" and the only way to cure this is to put a shim behind the distributor drive gear on the 8BA style engines. But what to do with the early style engines. another problem that has shown up is oversize cam bearings. If you cam slides in with little effort, you probably have them. Measuring the ID of the bearing and the OD of the cam bearing journals should give .002-3" and no more as this can reduce oil volumn to the crank and rods. I usually use the old cam bearings mow, if they check out OK. Actually they are the best lubricated, least loaded bearing in the engine.
Just something to think about. You might mention this to your engine builder???

G32 · 06-28-2013, 02:37 PM

Ron,

Thanks !!
I still have your hand signed book and proud of it --And you. Keeps me going.

Gene, ---- In the Hot TULSA Sunshine with my Fords!

Ol' Ron · 06-28-2013, 03:16 PM

I try my best, take care.

BILL WZOREK · 06-29-2013, 04:31 AM

Ol'Ron:

Not a car engine " BUT "

A few years Back I had One of our Mack truck Diesel engine rebuilt by a very reputable Mack dealer I was so proud to have saved up enough $$$$$ to have one of our engine's
rebuilt professionally / then I find out they had checked out the cam bearings and left them in the engine . I was so Pi**ed off , But he told me & put in writting " IF THE ENGINE FALLED BECAUSE OF A CAM BERRING"( that was for a life time )
They would relplace the engine with a factory NEW one.
And we logged over 400,000 miles by the time we sold the truck to a local stone Quarry last fall and at that time it was using only 2 quart's of oil a Day and I think most was from a few small leaks on the out side.

Ol' Ron · 06-29-2013, 09:12 AM

Cam bearings are inexpensive and usually have to be removed to properly clean the block, so it's only natural to replace them. However, Making an assumsion that the new ones are the right size can ruin your day. One shop bought .010" oversize bearings and line bored them.

Bluebell · 06-29-2013, 09:05 PM

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Ron, is the bearing material thick enough for that? I thought the cam bearings were pre finished?

columbiA · 06-30-2013, 12:38 AM

One time I took a flat head apart that had very low oil pressure.Found out that the cam was ground .010 US ,but had std cam brg,s.

06-28-2013, 02:05 PM	#1
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	camshaft end plat I must say I didn't always check camshaft end play. JWL along time ago said how important it was, so I started checking it. At first the end play could be brought into a reasonable ant by just leaving the front timing gear gasket off and I did that on allot of engines, However recently I discovered the end play of several cams and covers to be over .020" and the only way to cure this is to put a shim behind the distributor drive gear on the 8BA style engines. But what to do with the early style engines. another problem that has shown up is oversize cam bearings. If you cam slides in with little effort, you probably have them. Measuring the ID of the bearing and the OD of the cam bearing journals should give .002-3" and no more as this can reduce oil volumn to the crank and rods. I usually use the old cam bearings mow, if they check out OK. Actually they are the best lubricated, least loaded bearing in the engine. Just something to think about. You might mention this to your engine builder???

06-28-2013, 02:37 PM	#2
G32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 258	Re: camshaft end plat Ron, Thanks !! I still have your hand signed book and proud of it --And you. Keeps me going. Gene, ---- In the Hot TULSA Sunshine with my Fords!

06-28-2013, 03:16 PM	#3
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: camshaft end plat I try my best, take care.

06-29-2013, 04:31 AM	#4
BILL WZOREK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence Ma. Posts: 2,404	Re: camshaft end plat Ol'Ron: Not a car engine " BUT " A few years Back I had One of our Mack truck Diesel engine rebuilt by a very reputable Mack dealer I was so proud to have saved up enough $$$$$ to have one of our engine's rebuilt professionally / then I find out they had checked out the cam bearings and left them in the engine . I was so Pi*ed off , But he told me & put in writting " IF THE ENGINE FALLED BECAUSE OF A CAM BERRING"( that was for a life time )* They would relplace the engine with a factory NEW one. And we logged over 400,000 miles by the time we sold the truck to a local stone Quarry last fall and at that time it was using only 2 quart's of oil a Day and I think most was from a few small leaks on the out side.

06-29-2013, 09:12 AM	#5
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: camshaft end plat Cam bearings are inexpensive and usually have to be removed to properly clean the block, so it's only natural to replace them. However, Making an assumsion that the new ones are the right size can ruin your day. One shop bought .010" oversize bearings and line bored them.

06-29-2013, 09:05 PM	#6
Bluebell Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 726	Re: camshaft end plat Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ron, is the bearing material thick enough for that? I thought the cam bearings were pre finished?

06-30-2013, 12:38 AM	#7
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: camshaft end plat One time I took a flat head apart that had very low oil pressure.Found out that the cam was ground .010 US ,but had std cam brg,s.