actually, no, the older ones didn't use the cover to keep the cam from walking, there was no need to keep it from walking, the flap tappet cams had the lobes tapered, so the force of the valve springs kept the cam forced to the rear of the block


there are some aftermarket hycraulic roller retrofit cams that use the cover, but no stock SBC

 

Exactly how do I check this with it installed? I think wrd is checking his on the bench not in the block, is that right wrd?


Here's another pic with the cam retainer off, I noticed that the front cam bearing looks almost beveled like the bearings in the center of the cam, which is different than my stock cam which is a sharp edge...look closely at the front edge of the cam in this pic, does that look to be normal? I can't say if it was this way before the install or not and it was a used cam from a friend of mine who had no probs.

 

Yeah I am checking this with the cam, retainer and sprocket on the bench. I dont see how you can do this with the cam in the block.

 

you need a dial indicator set up on the front of the gear. Pry the cam/gear out and set the indicator to 0. then push it in and take your reading. Repeat this process several time untill your sure you have the right reading. Checking this on the bench is ok but you still have to check it in the block. If something was wrong and pushing the cam forward you would not have any endplay while in the block.

somthing doesnt look right with the bearing either. Whats that on the right side of the pic at the bearing. It looks like there is a notch in it or something. Is that bearing spun a bit? Slide the cam out and see what the bearing looks like. The end of the bearing shouldn't look like that.

 

That bearing does look like its sticking out toward the front some.

 

I was wondering the same thing...

 

Yeah it looks like you can see the back side of part of the bearing. But its hard to tell from the pic. the beveled spot there looks gold on the left side and silver on the right... which is making it hard for my brain to evaluate what it is. I think its just from the flash on the camera making it a bit hard to tell where the cam ends and the bearing begins.


I think you need to pull that cam out of there...

 

Here is what my bearing looked like once I pulled the cam out for a comparison. Looks similar to the one above and yes I know its worn out.

 

Ok, red circle... looks like there is a notch in the bearing here... shouldnt be that way I dont think (edit: I guess it should)

blue circle. I can clearly see the back side of the bearing. (edit looks normal now that we have another pic to compare to)

green circle.... this "chamfored" part looks like part of the cam now...

Pull the cam out.

EDIT: we posted at the same time and now I can see more clearly.

 

yeah that is shot...

ok, that notch is in the right place and it is supposed to be there. Its been a long time since I've seen a stock cam bearing.

Its in teh same place too so his bearing isnt spun. But the beveled part is hard to tell if its part of the cam or the bearing in the original pic. My guess now is that its part of the cam.

 

The notch is machined into the bearing in my photo I assume to clarify that it is the front bearing. It is very square and obviously intentional.

Bear in mind that the above photos are not of the same engine, even the orientation of the two notches seams a bit different.
__________________

 

yeah I got that now... we both posted at the same time and I thought your pics was his motor... I edited it all now...

 

Oh and the notch looks like its oriented the same to me. Look at the relation of the notch and the bolt hole next to it.

 

Yes the beveled worn part of the cam bearing is gold in color, and yes the notch appears to be intentional. Here's a straight on shot....that it matters I guess at this point.. I agree is does not look right so I guess I'll drop the motor out and tear the top down and get the cam out..I didn't really like this cam much any way..really hurt daily driving quality but sounded good, yet never made the #s I was expecting.....

Thanks all that have responded to my numerous posts

 

Something I forgot to mention, per one of my other posts, when the cam sprocket was installed, the cam bolts actually pulled the cam out to the sprocket, the sprocket was bottomed out on the cam retainer and there was 1/16-1/8" between the sprocket surface and the cam front surface, so that was pulling the cam into the retainer on the back which probably caused that bevel/wear there, and that would also pull the sprocket into the front of the retainer....

So yes, I think its time to remove the cam......something else I noticed, the cam dowl pin is about an 1/8-3/16" shorter than the stocker ??