Cam Bearings? PIC INSIDE
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 125
Cam Bearings? PIC INSIDE
NO Help in LT1 Tech so ill try here...
What is the trick on installing them again? Where do the little dowel holes have to be lined up at? I thought you were alway's supposed to install the bearing's as follows.
FRONT bearing with the two holes lined up at 2 and 10 o'clock with the block facing upright standing in front of the block.
Then the rest of them the lil hole needs to be at the 3 o'clock position with the block facing upright standing in front as well..
BUT if you look at THIS you will see that they have the bearing in the 5 o'clock position if you had the block upright standing in front.. As you can see in the pic the block is upside down so it would appear that they are installing the bearing in the 11 o'clock position.. Isn't that wrong?
What is the trick on installing them again? Where do the little dowel holes have to be lined up at? I thought you were alway's supposed to install the bearing's as follows.
FRONT bearing with the two holes lined up at 2 and 10 o'clock with the block facing upright standing in front of the block.
Then the rest of them the lil hole needs to be at the 3 o'clock position with the block facing upright standing in front as well..
BUT if you look at THIS you will see that they have the bearing in the 5 o'clock position if you had the block upright standing in front.. As you can see in the pic the block is upside down so it would appear that they are installing the bearing in the 11 o'clock position.. Isn't that wrong?
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,147
From: Phila., PA
Assuming the LT-1 is still laid out basically like an older SBC in that area, I install mine different from either of the ways you described (coudn't tell anything from the picture- too grainy).
I install mine with the oil holes pointing straight down (6 o'clock) for all the rearward ones. The front one I have one hole at 2 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock.
I have played around with putting the holes in different positions like at 4 o'clock on the rear bearings and 1 & 5 o'clock on the front. Worked just fine. Didn't help, didn't hurt.
There's quite a bit of flexibility since the oil annulus (groove) in the block around the cam bearing goes the whole way around the bearing. Oil will always get inside the bearing regardless of what position you point the holes. Obviously, however, the load is basically straight down on the cam so you want to make sure you have plenty of lubrication at the bottom of the bearing. Since the cam rotates clockwise it also makes sense that you might want to put the oil hole slightly before the bottom and have the rotation of the cam "sweep" the oil down towards the bottom of the bearing.
Long story short, I found it's one of those things that it's easy to spend too much time thinking/worrying about.
I install mine with the oil holes pointing straight down (6 o'clock) for all the rearward ones. The front one I have one hole at 2 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock.
I have played around with putting the holes in different positions like at 4 o'clock on the rear bearings and 1 & 5 o'clock on the front. Worked just fine. Didn't help, didn't hurt.
There's quite a bit of flexibility since the oil annulus (groove) in the block around the cam bearing goes the whole way around the bearing. Oil will always get inside the bearing regardless of what position you point the holes. Obviously, however, the load is basically straight down on the cam so you want to make sure you have plenty of lubrication at the bottom of the bearing. Since the cam rotates clockwise it also makes sense that you might want to put the oil hole slightly before the bottom and have the rotation of the cam "sweep" the oil down towards the bottom of the bearing.
Long story short, I found it's one of those things that it's easy to spend too much time thinking/worrying about.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 125
Originally posted by Damon
Assuming the LT-1 is still laid out basically like an older SBC in that area, I install mine different from either of the ways you described (coudn't tell anything from the picture- too grainy).
I install mine with the oil holes pointing straight down (6 o'clock) for all the rearward ones. The front one I have one hole at 2 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock.
I have played around with putting the holes in different positions like at 4 o'clock on the rear bearings and 1 & 5 o'clock on the front. Worked just fine. Didn't help, didn't hurt.
There's quite a bit of flexibility since the oil annulus (groove) in the block around the cam bearing goes the whole way around the bearing. Oil will always get inside the bearing regardless of what position you point the holes. Obviously, however, the load is basically straight down on the cam so you want to make sure you have plenty of lubrication at the bottom of the bearing. Since the cam rotates clockwise it also makes sense that you might want to put the oil hole slightly before the bottom and have the rotation of the cam "sweep" the oil down towards the bottom of the bearing.
Long story short, I found it's one of those things that it's easy to spend too much time thinking/worrying about.
Assuming the LT-1 is still laid out basically like an older SBC in that area, I install mine different from either of the ways you described (coudn't tell anything from the picture- too grainy).
I install mine with the oil holes pointing straight down (6 o'clock) for all the rearward ones. The front one I have one hole at 2 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock.
I have played around with putting the holes in different positions like at 4 o'clock on the rear bearings and 1 & 5 o'clock on the front. Worked just fine. Didn't help, didn't hurt.
There's quite a bit of flexibility since the oil annulus (groove) in the block around the cam bearing goes the whole way around the bearing. Oil will always get inside the bearing regardless of what position you point the holes. Obviously, however, the load is basically straight down on the cam so you want to make sure you have plenty of lubrication at the bottom of the bearing. Since the cam rotates clockwise it also makes sense that you might want to put the oil hole slightly before the bottom and have the rotation of the cam "sweep" the oil down towards the bottom of the bearing.
Long story short, I found it's one of those things that it's easy to spend too much time thinking/worrying about.
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Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 71,094
From: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
According to this source....
How To Rebuild .... LT1/LT4 Engines
.... although it isn't "critical" where you put the oil hole, they recommend putting them in the "2-3 o'clock position for optimum oil wedge."
How To Rebuild .... LT1/LT4 Engines
.... although it isn't "critical" where you put the oil hole, they recommend putting them in the "2-3 o'clock position for optimum oil wedge."
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,147
From: Phila., PA
It doesn't matter where the holes in the block are- it matters A LITTLE where you line up the hole in the cam bearing, like Injuneer says.
It might be helpful to explain how oil flows through that part of the engine. Works like this.....
There is a "main oil galley" that runs the length of the block straight above the camshaft. Oil is fed into it at the rear of the block from the oil pump through a series of other passages, through the oil filter, etc. From the main oil galley there are 5 holes going down to each cam bearing. Oil can flow all the way around the OUTSIDE of the cam bearing through a full-circumference groove that goes all the way around it. As long as your cam bearing's oil hole lines up ANYWHERE with this groove, regardless of position, it WILL get oil. What oil does NOT go into the cam bearing continues to the bottom of the groove around the outside of the cam bearing. At the bottom there is another hole- this hole carries the oil down to the main bearings on the crank.
So the oil is fed to the cam bearings FIRST and then down to the mains. Sounds kinda backwards but that's how it works.
It might be helpful to explain how oil flows through that part of the engine. Works like this.....
There is a "main oil galley" that runs the length of the block straight above the camshaft. Oil is fed into it at the rear of the block from the oil pump through a series of other passages, through the oil filter, etc. From the main oil galley there are 5 holes going down to each cam bearing. Oil can flow all the way around the OUTSIDE of the cam bearing through a full-circumference groove that goes all the way around it. As long as your cam bearing's oil hole lines up ANYWHERE with this groove, regardless of position, it WILL get oil. What oil does NOT go into the cam bearing continues to the bottom of the groove around the outside of the cam bearing. At the bottom there is another hole- this hole carries the oil down to the main bearings on the crank.
So the oil is fed to the cam bearings FIRST and then down to the mains. Sounds kinda backwards but that's how it works.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 43
According to this source....
How To Rebuild .... LT1/LT4 Engines
.... although it isn't "critical" where you put the oil hole, they recommend putting them in the "2-3 o'clock position for optimum oil wedge."
How To Rebuild .... LT1/LT4 Engines
.... although it isn't "critical" where you put the oil hole, they recommend putting them in the "2-3 o'clock position for optimum oil wedge."
Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 856
From: Sheboygan, WI
free Bump.. I need this info also, I dont know how to subscribe to the thread without posting.
I have to install cam bearing in a week or so on my lt1.
(ok I got it, thanks injuneer)
I have to install cam bearing in a week or so on my lt1.
(ok I got it, thanks injuneer)
Last edited by ENRKyle20; Jun 7, 2008 at 02:53 PM.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 71,094
From: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
I don't have the book with me at the moment. But why not just buy it, if you have any intentions at all of rebuilding the engine. I'll take a look when I get home.
To "subscribe" to a thread, use the "Thread Tools" button on the red bar immediately above the first post.
To "subscribe" to a thread, use the "Thread Tools" button on the red bar immediately above the first post.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
Here you guys go. Scanned up right from the Rebuild LT1's Book! I recommend it to anyone doing a rebuild. It's got a lot of useful info 
CLICK HERE FOR IMAGE
CLICK HERE FOR IMAGE
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
"I" line them up wherever the machine shop puts them! I have never done the job myself. Tried it once and found it was a big PITA, maybe because I didn't have the right tool? Anyway, interesting discussion. I enjoyed Damon's description of the oiling system. It is kind of backwards.
Rich
Rich
Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 856
From: Sheboygan, WI
yea, not having the special tool would make it a PITA.. lol. I picked one up for $42 shipped on ebay. thats less then my machine shop wanted to do it and now I have the tool for next time.
I have done them in school using the right tool and it was easy.. I never tried it without the tool, that would suck. lol
I have done them in school using the right tool and it was easy.. I never tried it without the tool, that would suck. lol
