Is it necessary to replace cam bearings when installing a cam? What happends if you dont?

If they are in good shape and the cam turns free they dont need replaced.Usually they get replaced if they are bad or engine rebuilt.Rocky

Usually cam bearings are done when the engine's hot-tanked because that kills the cam bearings. Just be careful when doing your cam swap not to nick the cam bearings and you'll be fine.

If your just doing a cam swap, possibly ok if you ran and know the engine had good oil pressure, but
if the engine is bare bones or not installed in the car yet I would change them if I'm changing the cam because I cannot see the condition of the 2,3,4 cam bearing, nor do I know the history of the engine. Oil pressure means something.

logan426

the oil pressure goes to 40 psi going down the road. Can the cam bearings be replaced without a complete tear down? How much more labor intensive is it to replace the bearings? And if they are replaced along with new lifters, will that give me more oil pressure?

Unless they are twisted it probally wont give you any more pressure.You need a bearing install tool to remove them and install them.Then a new plug in the back is usually needed.Rocky

engine needs to be out and off the tranz

the cam plug and the rear cam bearing goes in from the back..IIRC

look for flaking,galled,nicked cam bearings

check that cam turns freely by hand

the car is up and running now. So I probably don't need cam bearings. I just want some insurance by putting in a new timing set cam and lifters. The engine is a 1970 440 all original with 86000 miles. I plan to do a rebuild in a couple of years but maybe not then if this task brings out more juice.

Thanks fellows

I swaped a sb slider cam to a sb roller cam with well over 150,000 miles 2 yrs ago

my bearings had a couple small nicks from who knows...

but it uped the power and the oil pressure is the same,still going strong

I have done a few with used cam bearings

add cam,new lifters,t-chain with gears,run it

thanks. I plan on doing it after Christmas. The kids and wife before me. But I am xcited at the possible difference it will make.

I changed the front 3 bearings in a dart during a cam change, only because I found the oil hole in one of them almost covered (babbit piled up)from initially too tight of fit from a year earlier. The big block mopars are easy change from top. A few in front anyway. New cam and 3 new bearings fit great. Agreed though, if they look good leave em.

Will the springs need changing off the heads and torque converter?

If the eng is not coming out I'd leave the cam bearings alone and possibly add a HV pump (clean/deburr/check clearances on the new pump) if your psi is low. A new cam/lifters/tchain set will will make a world of difference.

Everyone is telling me I will love the change that the cam lifters and timing set will bring.

Will a stock replacement cam deliver more power then the stock cam that's already there? Just curious

no,its the same cam,a stock replacement is a stock cam to replace a worn stock cam

the springs should match the cam selected,they can be swaped with the engine in the car and heads still on the engine.

replace the valve seals when the spring are off also

any cam larger than stock is gonna be a gain in performance...how much depends on the selected cam and intended use

you can get a cam that will work with the stock lower CR and still use the stock converter in the tranz

Will there be an issue doing this cam swap with the valve seats being originally set up for leaded gas? Just curious

no

heads need to come off and have a valve job and seat pressed in

has nothing to do with a cam swap

unless the valves are sunk and out of specs

it runs good now before the cam swap..correct?

yes it runs fine now. I just want more pop and like I said some insurance with the Timing Chain and cam and new lifters since its a 40 year old engine. I'll do a rebuild in a couple of years. I just want a little more pop. If I put another intake besides the cast iron one, what difference in performance will that make? Sorry if I'm off the topic guys