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Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings #2769708
04/30/20 03:49 AM
04/30/20 03:49 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Biginchmopar  Offline OP
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I need some help, I have a real nice B (400) Block and I need to fix a cam bearing problem. I believe you can go to 54mm Large Hemi core or 55mm cam core.
First of all where should I look for either cam core?
Is there enough material to go to roller bearings in a stock block?
Any help would be gratly appresiated.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769809
04/30/20 12:50 PM
04/30/20 12:50 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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What is the cam bearing problem?
I've had to scrape(with a bearing knife) more than one BB Mopar cam bearing to get the bearing I.D. correct for the cams to slide in properly, it is a problem with the factory machining them not big enough I.D. rant
I would say that 2 out of 10 blocks will need that, you can have the cam bore honed out also to make the bearings fit in them also.
I now install #5 cam bearing first and trial fit the cam and go from there if it fits and rotates scope wrench
I don't like having to scrape a new bearing but you do what you need to do to make them, I'm sure that is one of the reason the cam bearings are so soft work

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 04/30/20 12:51 PM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769832
04/30/20 02:01 PM
04/30/20 02:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
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I use a wheel cyl hone to clean up the bearings.. clean it alot.. use on the ones
that give you a problem.. I also have a cam that has cutter slots in it if I need it
wave

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Cab_Burge] #2769839
04/30/20 02:41 PM
04/30/20 02:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Carson City, Nevada
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
What is the cam bearing problem?
I've had to scrape(with a bearing knife) more than one BB Mopar cam bearing to get the bearing I.D. correct for the cams to slide in properly, it is a problem with the factory machining them not big enough I.D. rant
I would say that 2 out of 10 blocks will need that, you can have the cam bore honed out also to make the bearings fit in them also.
I now install #5 cam bearing first and trial fit the cam and go from there if it fits and rotates scope wrench
I don't like having to scrape a new bearing but you do what you need to do to make them, I'm sure that is one of the reason the cam bearings are so soft work


I have done everything with this block, this was the third time it has wipped out cam bearings.
This last time I installed Durabond coated bearings and then measured each cam journal bearing and then the cam. I then cut each cam jounal to give it 0.003" clearance. It turned real nice and I thought I had it finally fixed, NOPE!!!

I'm over it, time to make it work.

What I really need to know is, is there enough room to go to a roller bearing in a stock block?
Also is there a cam core that is avalible for either 54mm or 55mm cam.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: MR_P_BODY] #2769841
04/30/20 02:43 PM
04/30/20 02:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Originally Posted by MR_P_BODY
I use a wheel cyl hone to clean up the bearings.. clean it alot.. use on the ones
that give you a problem.. I also have a cam that has cutter slots in it if I need it
wave


I have tried it all and then some, for some reason this block is not happy in the cam tunnel. Time to make it right.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769850
04/30/20 03:15 PM
04/30/20 03:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,629
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
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I believe you can run a 55mm cam in those. A call to someone like Ray Barton can confirm/deny this. The cam won't be made from a $2 cast iron chinese cam core so it will cost a lot more money, but you figured that. But it will also be better. I don't believe you want roller bearings.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger
Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: rickseeman] #2769863
04/30/20 03:48 PM
04/30/20 03:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Originally Posted by rickseeman
I believe you can run a 55mm cam in those. A call to someone like Ray Barton can confirm/deny this. The cam won't be made from a $2 cast iron chinese cam core so it will cost a lot more money, but you figured that. But it will also be better. I don't believe you want roller bearings.


Yes, I do want roller bearings. I believe it would really fix the problem.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: rickseeman] #2769871
04/30/20 04:14 PM
04/30/20 04:14 PM
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Posts: 3,830
N.E. Ohio
6bblFLASH Offline
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I would suggest contacting someone like Best Machine,,Hughes Engine or other Mopar savy shops and see what tooling they have /use and their opinions on your issues.
Obviously something is wrong.
Not a typical failure in my opinion.


70` Cuda`,440 6BBL Jerico,Dana 4.56 Still on 93 Pump Gas
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Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769874
04/30/20 04:25 PM
04/30/20 04:25 PM
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Posts: 10,696
North Dakota
6PakBee Offline
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North Dakota
Originally Posted by Biginchmopar
I have done everything with this block, this was the third time it has wipped out cam bearings.
This last time I installed Durabond coated bearings and then measured each cam journal bearing and then the cam. I then cut each cam jounal to give it 0.003" clearance. It turned real nice and I thought I had it finally fixed, NOPE!!!


When you say it wiped out the bearings, just some clarifying questions: 1) what does the failure look like ? Camshaft Bearing Diagnosis 2) is it on all journals or is it a repeated failure on just one?


"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769877
04/30/20 04:32 PM
04/30/20 04:32 PM
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Posts: 1,990
s. e. pa.
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calrobb2000 Offline
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hi

many years back crower made cams with roller bearings to fit stock cam bore , cam had smaller dia jurnal. imperial roller i think it was called i think ? call crower !

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: 6PakBee] #2769911
04/30/20 06:36 PM
04/30/20 06:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Originally Posted by 6PakBee
Originally Posted by Biginchmopar
I have done everything with this block, this was the third time it has wipped out cam bearings.
This last time I installed Durabond coated bearings and then measured each cam journal bearing and then the cam. I then cut each cam jounal to give it 0.003" clearance. It turned real nice and I thought I had it finally fixed, NOPE!!!


When you say it wiped out the bearings, just some clarifying questions: 1) what does the failure look like ? Camshaft Bearing Diagnosis 2) is it on all journals or is it a repeated failure on just one?


Random cam bearings, first time it was on #1 durring a dyno session, second time it took out #2, #3 and #4, this time it took out #2 and maybe some others I can't see it all yet (not taken apart yet).

When it took out #2, #3 and #4 I has to use a slide hammer to get the cam out mad

I'm telling you Ive have tried everything, I believe the cam bore is offset somehow. The block has been measured a couple times and I was told good to go both times by real good shops.

I'm not looking for the problem anymre I'm just going to fix it.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: 6bblFLASH] #2769914
04/30/20 06:39 PM
04/30/20 06:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline OP
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Originally Posted by 6bblFLASH
I would suggest contacting someone like Best Machine,,Hughes Engine or other Mopar savy shops and see what tooling they have /use and their opinions on your issues.
Obviously something is wrong.
Not a typical failure in my opinion.


Well I can tell you this, it is a very typical failure, I have been racing Big Block Mopars for 35 years and when you start pushing the limit of a stock block there are tons of issues. Cam bearing failure is probably the #1 thing wrong with B/RB stock blocks.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769923
04/30/20 07:02 PM
04/30/20 07:02 PM
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Michigan
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A727Tflite Offline
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Originally Posted by Biginchmopar
Originally Posted by 6bblFLASH
I would suggest contacting someone like Best Machine,,Hughes Engine or other Mopar savy shops and see what tooling they have /use and their opinions on your issues.
Obviously something is wrong.
Not a typical failure in my opinion.


Well I can tell you this, it is a very typical failure, I have been racing Big Block Mopars for 35 years and when you start pushing the limit of a stock block there are tons of issues. Cam bearing failure is probably the #1 thing wrong with B/RB stock blocks.


Been racing and around Mopars for over 50 years, I can’t remember the last time I saw a cam bearing failure.
Super Stock, Modifed Production, Stockers, even fuel cars.

All using commercially available bearings, with nothing special being done to the bearings or cam.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: A727Tflite] #2769939
04/30/20 07:55 PM
04/30/20 07:55 PM
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Posts: 19,355
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire Offline
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Las Vegas
I thought there were some SS guys running 55MM deals in stock blocks, but don't quote me on that but pretty sure when I was talking to a cojuple of them they said they did as the iron blocks are scarce?!? Is this an oiling issue or?? I mean what else can it be if the cam slides in nice and easy?


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Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: Biginchmopar] #2769962
04/30/20 09:11 PM
04/30/20 09:11 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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How much valve spring pressure opened?


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: A727Tflite] #2769983
04/30/20 10:16 PM
04/30/20 10:16 PM
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Missouri
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jwb123 Offline
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Originally Posted by Transman
Originally Posted by Biginchmopar
Originally Posted by 6bblFLASH
I would suggest contacting someone like Best Machine,,Hughes Engine or other Mopar savy shops and see what tooling they have /use and their opinions on your issues.
Obviously something is wrong.
Not a typical failure in my opinion.


Well I can tell you this, it is a very typical failure, I have been racing Big Block Mopars for 35 years and when you start pushing the limit of a stock block there are tons of issues. Cam bearing failure is probably the #1 thing wrong with B/RB stock blocks.


Been racing and around Mopars for over 50 years, I can’t remember the last time I saw a cam bearing failure.
Super Stock, Modifed Production, Stockers, even fuel cars.

All using commercially available bearings, with nothing special being done to the bearings or cam.


I agree, been messing with mopars since 1974, lost track of how many cam bearings I have sanded and scraped to get the cam to rotate, knock on wood never had a problem either, or seen an engine fail a cam bearing.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: jwb123] #2770011
04/30/20 11:44 PM
04/30/20 11:44 PM
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Posts: 3,504
DFW
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mr_340 Offline
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DFW
The "54mm" roller bearings are really 2.125" INA roller bearings. Ford sells them for their BBF engines. My Hemi block had #1-4 cam bores cut to 2.500". I think most of the SS Hemi guys run all five. For some reason, Joe Allread did my block for the front four and left the #5 as standard. Here is the Ford bearing kit. Pretty good deal compared to buying them individually at the bearing house.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...Cld-R6QIVUtbACh2thw3QEAQYASABEgJWffD_BwE

Jegs has them for the same price.

Bearing house price.

https://www.motionindustries.com/productDetail.jsp?sku=02852350

Last edited by mr_340; 04/30/20 11:58 PM. Reason: Add bearing house link.

Floyd Lippencott IV
Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: mr_340] #2770040
05/01/20 08:14 AM
05/01/20 08:14 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,834
NW Indiana
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fbs63 Offline
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#5 journal is left STD size because the journal boss gets thin and enlarging the bore cuts off the oil passages. It can be done in a stock block but probably costs more than the block is worth.

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: fbs63] #2770120
05/01/20 12:14 PM
05/01/20 12:14 PM
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Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
stinger Offline
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Pardon my ignorance but how would you know if you have a cam bearing issue unless you find it on inspection? Makes a certain noise(i.e.) screeching,clacking noise?

Re: Fixing Big Block Cam Bearings [Re: stinger] #2770138
05/01/20 12:47 PM
05/01/20 12:47 PM
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Morrow, OH
markz528 Offline
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Same cam each time?

I wiped the inner cam bearings on my tow vehicle 454. Just the inners. What I found was that the cam inner bearing surfaces chattered when ground and you could not see it or feel it. Put it in the lathe and saw 0.001 tir pattern on all the inner cam bearing surfaces. The outer ones did not exhibit any of the chatter and those bearings were good.

Just saying - don't assume or overlook anything............


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