Cam bearing oil holes
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,220
From: houston, texas
Cam bearing oil holes
I was reading "How to Rebuild SBC LT-1/LT4 Engines" today and it says, "So, while bearing oil hole position is not absolutely critical in the LT-1/LT-4 block, it's best to position each cam bearing's oil hole at about the 2-3 o'clock position for optimum oil wedge." pg. 125
2 ?'s
-Can someone explain this "oil wedge" to me?
-And do most engine builders know this? Mine installed the holes at 6oclock?
thanks,
-b
2 ?'s
-Can someone explain this "oil wedge" to me?
-And do most engine builders know this? Mine installed the holes at 6oclock?
thanks,
-b
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
Moderator
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
Thanks. I wrote all of them on the site. Some are pretty good, if I do say so myself! I have been working on an article "Basic Cam Principles" but that is a lot to chew up and digest. Also pretty controversial. So, I may just do some specifc cam stuff like the one on nitrous cams.
I don't usually install cam bearings myself, it's a PITA. But the right way is to line the hole in the bearing up with the oil supply hole,
Rich
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 247
From: Kingsport,TN
I have had 4 motors built 1 guy done 3 of the cam bearings he told me it really dont matter wher they are at. But on a 3 he lined up the holes with the hole in the block and I never had a problem with oil pressure.
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 473
From: Lexington Park, Maryland, USA
It probably does not matter where the oil hole is, but....
The GM LT1 cam bearings are lined up like this....
(perspective of man looking at front of motor)
#1 (front) bearing oil holes are 1 and 5 o-clock
#2, #3, #4 bearing oil hole is at 5 o-clock----pointing to the oil filter in other words.
#5 (rear) bearing oil hole is at 12 o-clock
I've seen builders put them all different ways.
I put them in like the factory did but it probably doesn't matter all that much.
Karl Ellwein
The GM LT1 cam bearings are lined up like this....
(perspective of man looking at front of motor)
#1 (front) bearing oil holes are 1 and 5 o-clock
#2, #3, #4 bearing oil hole is at 5 o-clock----pointing to the oil filter in other words.
#5 (rear) bearing oil hole is at 12 o-clock
I've seen builders put them all different ways.
I put them in like the factory did but it probably doesn't matter all that much.
Karl Ellwein
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,800
Thank you Rich, as always very informative.
If I might present a guess as to why you heard 2-3 o-clock it seems to me that would be feeding the oil in right ahead of the high load surfaces as the valvetrain is pushing down on the cam. Makes sense too me why someone would say to put them there but then again lining them up with the feed hole is logical too.
If I might present a guess as to why you heard 2-3 o-clock it seems to me that would be feeding the oil in right ahead of the high load surfaces as the valvetrain is pushing down on the cam. Makes sense too me why someone would say to put them there but then again lining them up with the feed hole is logical too.
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