Fitting cam bearings? - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Unlawfl's Race & Engine Tech Fitting cam bearings?

Print Thread

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Fitting cam bearings? #558614 12/20/09 04:43 PM 12/20/09 04:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 370 Northeast Georgia 47hudson OP enthusiast
47hudson OP enthusiast Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 370 Northeast Georgia	My favorite machinist has retired. I tried a new guy I had good luck with in the past, on chevy engines, but left feeling a little uneasy. He had to "fit" my cam bearings. The cam was too tight and would not install and turn. I had to take the block back along with a cam for him to "fit" the bearings? I have never had this issue before so is this just an issue with some blocks or do I need to take my next block down the road? your appreciated.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: 47hudson] #558615 12/20/09 04:50 PM 12/20/09 04:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 691 ohio 1 1Bad440 mopar
1Bad440 mopar 1 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 691 ohio	I had it happen before after the short block was assembled. I always take the cam now

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: 47hudson] #558616 12/20/09 04:50 PM 12/20/09 04:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 19,367 Las Vegas Al_Alguire I Live Here
Al_Alguire I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 19,367 Las Vegas	Pretty common on a BB Mopar... "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know." "It's never wrong to do the right thing"

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: Al_Alguire] #558617 12/20/09 04:58 PM 12/20/09 04:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL G goldmember master
goldmember master G Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL	I've had a few SB cam bearing troubles. My new machinist does it a little different than most. He measures the cam bearing bores and claims he finds them often on the small side. He hones any that need attention before installing the bearings. I have had no issues since I started having him do his thing. LOL

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: goldmember] #558618 12/20/09 05:37 PM 12/20/09 05:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,938 Sonora CA Mopar_Rich top fuel
Mopar_Rich top fuel Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,938 Sonora CA	Many people have never heard of a "bearing knife", or seen one used - but this is very common with a mopar. Sounds like you're in good hands.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: Mopar_Rich] #558619 12/20/09 06:27 PM 12/20/09 06:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ SSDAcuda super stock
SSDAcuda super stock Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ	I like to do my own cam bearings and am very careful. You need to lube them up and stay on top of the tool to keep it as close as you can to alignment. Haven't needed to scrape since I've been doing it myself. And checking the bearings before is inaccurate since the bearings are an interference fit in the block. The problem is usually mis alignment which can only be fixed by scraping or replacing. SS/DA 1924

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: 47hudson] #558620 12/20/09 06:52 PM 12/20/09 06:52 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: My favorite machinist has retired. I tried a new guy I had good luck with in the past, on chevy engines, but left feeling a little uneasy. He had to "fit" my cam bearings. The cam was too tight and would not install and turn. I had to take the block back along with a cam for him to "fit" the bearings? I have never had this issue before so is this just an issue with some blocks or do I need to take my next block down the road? your appreciated. Alot of shops have a old cam with a slot cut it in the bearing journals as a cutter blade.... makes a perfect sizer, put it in and give it a few spins... I have one myself and spin it with my impact.... perfect Last edited by MR_P_BODY; 12/20/09 06:54 PM.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: MR_P_BODY] #558621 12/20/09 06:57 PM 12/20/09 06:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ SSDAcuda super stock
SSDAcuda super stock Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ	It is cutting material from the bearing which shouldn't have to be cut. SS/DA 1924

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: MR_P_BODY] #558622 12/20/09 07:06 PM 12/20/09 07:06 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL G goldmember master
goldmember master G Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL	I've scraped cam bearings over the years and yes,I feel the modified camshaft trick may work fine. In the future I won't have to worry with those tricks,I hope.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: MR_P_BODY] #558623 12/20/09 07:14 PM 12/20/09 07:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,813 Rio Linda, CA John_Kunkel Too Many Posts
John_Kunkel Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,813 Rio Linda, CA	I've used the old cam with slotted journals for years, works every time. 5679954-Cambrgream.jpg (109 downloads)

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: John_Kunkel] #558624 12/20/09 07:54 PM 12/20/09 07:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ SSDAcuda super stock
SSDAcuda super stock Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ	Not saying it wont work, just saying it is a bandaid for misalignment by the installer Would you scrape your rod or mains for extra clearance?? SS/DA 1924

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: SSDAcuda] #558625 12/20/09 07:59 PM 12/20/09 07:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,209 Fredericktown, PA 15333 maundmotorworks Stealth poster
maundmotorworks Stealth poster Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,209 Fredericktown, PA 15333	Quote: Not saying it wont work, just saying it is a bandaid for misalignment by the installer Would you scrape your rod or mains for extra clearance?? What do you think they did in the old motors with poured babbitt bearings? Cut to fit! Maund Motorworks--supplier of high performance Mopar engines--specializing in B, RB, and Hemi. www.maundmotorworks.com

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: SSDAcuda] #558626 12/20/09 08:07 PM 12/20/09 08:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio S Sport440 master
Sport440 master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio	Quote: Not saying it wont work, just saying it is a bandaid for misalignment by the installer Would you scrape your rod or mains for extra clearance?? Its not a alignment issue IMO, The bearing itself is so wide that once pressed in it would be self aligning. Its a thickness issue thats resolved by honeing/bearing knife or the Kunkle cam fix. I use the slotted cam fix, works great. This cam bearing problem is common with BB I guess its better to make the bearings a little thick vs a little thin. You can take clearence out but you cant put it back in. mike

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: Sport440] #558627 12/20/09 08:09 PM 12/20/09 08:09 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,209 Fredericktown, PA 15333 maundmotorworks Stealth poster
maundmotorworks Stealth poster Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,209 Fredericktown, PA 15333	Quote: Quote: Not saying it wont work, just saying it is a bandaid for misalignment by the installer Would you scrape your rod or mains for extra clearance?? Its not a alignment issue IMO, The bearing itself is so wide that once pressed in it would be self aligning. Its a thickness issue thats resolved by honeing/bearing knife or the Kunkle cam fix. I use the slotted cam fix, works great. This cam bearing problem is common with BB I guess its better to make the bearings a little thick vs a little thin. You can take clearence out but you cant put it back in. mike Exactly! I made my own cutter cams too and it does the trick! Maund Motorworks--supplier of high performance Mopar engines--specializing in B, RB, and Hemi. www.maundmotorworks.com

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: maundmotorworks] #558628 12/20/09 08:23 PM 12/20/09 08:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ SSDAcuda super stock
SSDAcuda super stock Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 872 NJ	Quote: This cam bearing problem is common with BB I guess its better to make the bearings a little thick vs a little thin. I guess my street hemis must use the thin bearings SS/DA 1924

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: SSDAcuda] #558629 12/20/09 08:54 PM 12/20/09 08:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio S Sport440 master
Sport440 master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio	Quote: Quote: This cam bearing problem is common with BB I guess its better to make the bearings a little thick vs a little thin. I guess my street hemis must use the thin bearings Wait a minute, are you onto something? Do they sell thin and thick Cam bearings. Fill us in , mike

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: Sport440] #558630 12/21/09 12:24 AM 12/21/09 12:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 760 Southington Ct. T turbobitt super stock
turbobitt super stock T Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 760 Southington Ct.	FWIW , my mopar mega block had cam bearing journals #2 and #3 .0015" undersized and wouldn't allow the cam to spin because of tight fit. My machinest and I made special mandrels to fit in the nearest bearing bores and align bored the undersized bores to the correct dimensions. Allan G. 1970 Challenger w/572 Hemi street car and my pride and joy. 1986 T-Type with 272 Stage 2 Buick V6 engine - True 8 second street car. Just updated the engine and put down 928 HP @ 35# boost to the ground on chasis dyno. 1976 Cee Bee Avenger Jet Boat - 460 Ford powered.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: Al_Alguire] #558631 12/21/09 12:18 PM 12/21/09 12:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 370 Northeast Georgia 47hudson OP enthusiast
47hudson OP enthusiast Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 370 Northeast Georgia	Thanks guys that's what I was hoping to hear. He mentioned the grooved cam trick but said he could no longer locate his for a Mopar. I feel better now.

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: 47hudson] #558632 12/21/09 01:15 PM 12/21/09 01:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 232 Lansing, MI M MuscleMike enthusiast
MuscleMike enthusiast M Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 232 Lansing, MI	Cure the problem not the symptom! On my web site I wrote a quick few paragraphs in "Mikes Blog" about "the real real reason why your cam won't turn." It is a block issue not a bearing issue. Click below to goto my web site. Mike @MM

Re: Fitting cam bearings? [Re: MuscleMike] #558633 12/21/09 03:28 PM 12/21/09 03:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,813 Rio Linda, CA John_Kunkel Too Many Posts
John_Kunkel Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,813 Rio Linda, CA	If it's a block problem what did the factory engine plant do to size the bearings? The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1