Camshaft questions.

Posted By: 727builder

Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 05:29 AM

Sorry for the long post, But I'm freshening up a original 26K mile 440. Cam bearing looked perfect so i figured i wouldn't worry with replacing them.

Ordered a Comp cams solid lift cam and also had it nitrited when they made it. Problem it wont even try to go into my block.

Took the cam to local race machine shop. First think they wanted to check to see if it was warped/bent. Said a lot of comp cams they get are. It checked perfect.

So next they checked every main on it and compared it to their shop test cam they use when installing cam bearings. Every main on my comp cam was 1 thousandth bigger than the cam they use.

I have 2 questions???

Has anyone else ran into this problem?

And does anyone have the factory specs on what each main journal on the camshaft should measure?

Calling Comp tomorrow. Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

Posted By: Mopar_Rich

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 05:36 AM

It's not that unusual to have to shave the cam bearings with a bearing knife, but that's when new cam bearings are installed. I have never seen it happen with cam bearings that were already in the block and run prior. Let us know what Comp says.

Posted By: Sport440

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 05:52 AM

Never seen it with old original bearings before, but I do know that different cams journals can vary in size causing your problem.

Member ProSport had some fit issues awhile back. He tried a few different cams and some fit and some didnt. Your cams journals may be on the large side.

Like said, usually this is a new bearing fit issue 90% of the time. Try a few other cams if you have any sitting around to verify that it is That Comp cam that may be the issue.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 06:01 AM

Quote:

It's not that unusual to have to shave the cam bearings with a bearing knife, but that's when new cam bearings are installed. I have never seen it happen with cam bearings that were already in the block and run prior. Let us know what Comp says.

He had the cam nitrided.. thats adds a small bit to the
surfaces MAINLY the bearing areas... he will have
to remove some bearing material to get it to fit...
the standard cam with the slots cut in it to fit a
new set of bearings will still be under size... a
bit of fine paper will fix the bearings

Posted By: Sport440

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 06:11 AM

As far as Factory specs here are some that I got of one cam.

From rear to front of course.

1.75
1.95
1.96
1.98
1.99

A MP after market.

1.749
1.95
1.97
1.98
1.99

Posted By: 71yelladustr

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 07:41 AM

I ran into a similar issue with a comp solid roller in my buddies 440 based 496 stroker. The engine had been together before previously with a 292/.509 purpleshaft installed with no cam fitment issues. We decided to freshen it up and and upgrade to a roller cam from Comp. After driving in a new set of cam bearings, the new comp roller wouldnt begin to go into the block. I then grabbed the old purple shaft and it went in just like it should and turned freely.

Next I grabbed my new in the box Comp solid roller for my hemi project and tried to slide it into the 440 to see if it would fit. To my disbelief, it went right in and, turned freely. I then got the micrometer out and started measuring the journals. They were the same. So then I called Comp and told them what was happening. At first they tried telling me the camshaft bore was off in my block.

After explaning that I had tried another of thier own new cams and it fit well they agreed to get me another cam. Got the new cam back and all was good.

Posted By: cknight

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 03:54 PM

Chrysler factory B/RB & 426 Hemi cam bearing journal specs are:
1.7490 - 1.7480
1.9520 - 1.9510
1.9680 - 1.9670
1.9830 - 1.9820
1.9990 - 1.9980

Small block is the same as above, except the rear journal is 1.5615 - 1.5605

Regards, Chase

Posted By: 727builder

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 04:55 PM

Thanks for the reply guys. I tried 2 other comp cams a buddy has. Both went in too tight. 2 other stock cams both went in and would spin fine. This cam they made me won't even start into the bearings.

Chase, Thanks for the factory specs.

Posted By: 727builder

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 09:40 PM

Just got off the phone with a tech at comp cams. Since it was a special ordered/built cam? They had a record of all the specs on the cam. Said it was their fault. The cam went out the door not within specs.

I'm not wasting a week sending it back to them to correct. Will let my machine shop correct it. And send Comp the bill. Wanting to hear back if their warranty dept is ok with that? They better be!!

Posted By: BradH

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/29/14 10:49 PM

Quote:

Just got off the phone with a tech at comp cams. Since it was a special ordered/built cam? They had a record of all the specs on the cam. Said it was their fault. The cam went out the door not within specs. I'm not wasting a week sending it back to them to correct. Will let my machine shop correct it. And send Comp the bill. Wanting to hear back if their warranty dept is ok with that? They better be!!

Bet they won't... better plan to send it back, since they won't pay the bill for a cam that they can't even inspect first-hand to confirm the issue.

Posted By: 727builder

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 01:29 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Just got off the phone with a tech at comp cams. Since it was a special ordered/built cam? They had a record of all the specs on the cam. Said it was their fault. The cam went out the door not within specs. I'm not wasting a week sending it back to them to correct. Will let my machine shop correct it. And send Comp the bill. Wanting to hear back if their warranty dept is ok with that? They better be!!

Bet they won't... better plan to send it back, since they won't pay the bill for a cam that they can't even inspect first-hand to confirm the issue.

They may not? But the tech guy i called looked up my name. The cam and the specs on what the cam mains was turned down to. And then admitted it wasn't within specs and shouldn't have went out the door like that. He brought up the point about seeing if the warranty dept will just let my local machine shop correct it and me send them the bill to reimburse me. Either way?? If i have to eat the cost? I will. But i won't wait another week for them to make it right. I can finish building my engine and transmission and have it down in the truck by then. Won't be the first product i bought that cost me extra money to correct their mistake.

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 04:35 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Just got off the phone with a tech at comp cams. Since it was a special ordered/built cam? They had a record of all the specs on the cam. Said it was their fault. The cam went out the door not within specs. I'm not wasting a week sending it back to them to correct. Will let my machine shop correct it. And send Comp the bill. Wanting to hear back if their warranty dept is ok with that? They better be!!

Bet they won't... better plan to send it back, since they won't pay the bill for a cam that they can't even inspect first-hand to confirm the issue.

They may not? But the tech guy i called looked up my name. The cam and the specs on what the cam mains was turned down to. And then admitted it wasn't within specs and shouldn't have went out the door like that. He brought up the point about seeing if the warranty dept will just let my local machine shop correct it and me send them the bill to reimburse me. Either way?? If i have to eat the cost? I will. But i won't wait another week for them to make it right. I can finish building my engine and transmission and have it down in the truck by then. Won't be the first product i bought that cost me extra money to correct their mistake.

So your local engine shop has a cam grinder???......to fix this cam, or you going to open the bearings?

If the cam is too big, sounds like you have no choice other than send it back

Monte

Posted By: 727builder

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 04:54 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Just got off the phone with a tech at comp cams. Since it was a special ordered/built cam? They had a record of all the specs on the cam. Said it was their fault. The cam went out the door not within specs. I'm not wasting a week sending it back to them to correct. Will let my machine shop correct it. And send Comp the bill. Wanting to hear back if their warranty dept is ok with that? They better be!!

Bet they won't... better plan to send it back, since they won't pay the bill for a cam that they can't even inspect first-hand to confirm the issue.

They may not? But the tech guy i called looked up my name. The cam and the specs on what the cam mains was turned down to. And then admitted it wasn't within specs and shouldn't have went out the door like that. He brought up the point about seeing if the warranty dept will just let my local machine shop correct it and me send them the bill to reimburse me. Either way?? If i have to eat the cost? I will. But i won't wait another week for them to make it right. I can finish building my engine and transmission and have it down in the truck by then. Won't be the first product i bought that cost me extra money to correct their mistake.

So your local engine shop has a cam grinder???......to fix this cam, or you going to open the bearings?

If the cam is too big, sounds like you have no choice other than send it back

Monte

Monte, Not going to open the cam bearings. I live a few miles from Race engine design. They checked the cam for me and said it won't be a problem to turn the mains on the cam down to the correct sizes.

Posted By: CompWedgeEngines

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 04:04 PM

Probably going to turn it on the crank grinder?

Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 06:05 PM

Quote:

Probably going to turn it on the crank grinder?

I would hope so........SURELY they are not just gonna chuck it in a lathe and go to town. If they are, he needs a new shop......LOL!!!!

Monte

Posted By: CompWedgeEngines

Re: Camshaft questions. - 01/30/14 06:10 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Probably going to turn it on the crank grinder?

I would hope so........SURELY they are not just gonna chuck it in a lathe and go to town. If they are, he needs a new shop......LOL!!!!

Monte

Monte ,

You been at this WAY too long to not think it couldnt happen! You shouldnt be surprised at some of the " suggestions" that the customers can offer.....lol

I've actually had this a fair amount of times, where the journals arent sized correctly, and when you have to explain a day or two delay in the build process to fix the cam, they ask, " cant you just chuck it in the lathe and polish it a little with some sandcloth".?

It kind of falls into the " can you throw this on the mill and give it a quick cut", or a " just needs a quick turn in the lathe"....oh boy....