Camshafts..

[oldblue1968chevy]

Started up when cold 60+psi (hv pump) I rebuild the motor about 2 years ago and have put about 6000-8000 miles on it

[litew8]

edit: nevermind -

"I got a little rough with it 2 times (turning via cam sprocket)"

[oldblue1968chevy]

Warm at idle was probably about 30-40

[oldblue1968chevy]

It was real tight comming out. I think new bearings would be good for it I'd say they are questionable

What're the bearings made of? STeel or no? (I could magnet one and see if its steel or not)

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

It was real tight comming out. I think new bearings would be good for it I'd say they are questionable

What're the bearings made of? STeel or no? (I could magnet one and see if its steel or not)

The bearings should be a steel back, with a copper/lead babbit face. The top is soft, & easily scared. The scuffs outlined on the front bearing , didnt rattle me too bad, but it did show some wear. This is not good, but if you had good oil pressure before....you can gamble either way. The worst part is you may have a low oil pressure situation, if the bearings are "torn up". I have seen old motors like that run a bunch of miles...your call crazyL

[oldblue1968chevy]

I'll see what material it is tomorow. Engine only has about 6000 miles on it (all new) so its not that old. Theres no metal in the oil pan (had it off like 3 weeks ago to replace oil pan gasket).

Hmm I'll sleep on it I guess and go from there. I might just pull it and go thru it and store it on a stand.

[prostreetC-10]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Are you sure prostreet?

Not real sure what your saying lol..

Sorry for dumb questions but how'd it get too far forwards?


So whats the BEST/RIGHT way to fix it?

Edit-Its only got like 6000 miles or so on it?!!?

It only has 6,000 miles on it but were the cam bearings replaced at that time? I'm assuming a SBC is like a BBC.....if you look at the pic with the arrow, it's pointing toward a rear soft plug. If that is driven in too far, it will not allow the cam to go all the way back and center on the bearings. Let's just say I know from experience.

Man...those things look bad for such low miles.

[oldblue1968chevy]

yeah im pretty sure the ticket says cambearings/freeze plugs

Options/opinons for fixing.

[prostreetC-10]

Personally.....I would not run those cam bearings. They are just too chewed and we are only looking at the front one. That motor should come out and gone through. Each bearing has to be set next to the bore and driven in. I'm not sure if that can be done with the crank in. Sounds like you have yourself a project.

Is it just the pic or is that bearing much thinner on the bottom side than say the top? If so, you must have had a serious oiling/break in problem.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ricky booby-If you dont wanna run em I dont either

I'll check the bearings out better tonite. At this point Im thinking pull the engine and button it back up and park truck on rollers behind barn.

[prostreetC-10]

What's the saying......do it right now or be forced to do it right later.

THese are the things that get me thinking....."okay, do I want to go through this one or get me a BBC". It was a wiped flat tappet lifter that caused me to take the roller plunge.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Now you got me thinking...

I think im going to try to borrow a cherry picker (need to buy one) and pull the motor and TRY to leave transmission)

And put it on a stand and oneday tear it down

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Ricky booby-If you dont wanna run em I dont either

Freudian slip. as a teenager, you're excused

[prostreetC-10]

I don't think that was a slip at all!!!!! Time to give you my studly evil stare.......

[fleetsidelarry]

sorry, Mr. BOOBY, I thought you were Ricky BOBBY

[oldblue1968chevy]

no no no the french guy says it like boobie lol

The bearing isnt thin in the front.

I think im going to pull it and have new bearings put in anyways im not real sure what to do

[prostreetC-10]

Look at it this way...it will give you a chance to make sure the metal from the other bearings is out of the motor. I think it's a good call unless you just don't really care what happens.

[GASoline71]

I've seen guys gouge the crap outta cam bearings by turning the cam too much when pulling them out.

Did you ever have excess metal and "hairs" in your oil when you would change it?

I set a cam too far forward once way back in the day. Had all kinds of junk in the oil pan. That was way back before the whole "no zinc in oil" thing was happenin'. I was changing cams in a '67 C10. Got a used cam and lifters from my dad. They had been sittin' on a shelf in his shop for eons. Guy he got it from said it was out of a drag car.

We had no idear what the specs were. But I slapped that sucker in my truck and holy cats! That cam was wicked... got me hooked right then and there on snotty cams. Anyways... I ran that thing for another 3 years before selling the truck to my brother. Even with banged up cam bearings... it lasted quite some time. But again... that was back when oil had all the additives in it.

prostreet my brutha from a different mutha... I tried to take the day off to get down there. But just couldn't swing it. My bro in law picked up some NOS Ford parts for a '67 Mustang Fastback he has. Good find on the LS6 carby. Funny you mention the ebay thing. When I was sellin' a bunch of Chevelle and ElCamino parts I had layin' around 15 years ago... I was labeling everything as "LS6". "Get your LS6 rear view mirror and tailgate hinges here!"

Gary

[litew8]

Magnetic drain plug? If not now, get one later.

[prostreetC-10]

Even better than that.....you can get some nice, flat industrial/heavy duty type magnets and stick them right on the bottom of your oil pan. Much greater contact area than a plug. This would be if you planned on trying to run it.

[litew8]

^ that and if you're extremely paranoid

[prostreetC-10]

It's just easy for a lot of the oil to miss the small drain plug. Magnets are cheap insurance. I have them on my fuel lines and I get 87 MPG! lol

[79shortbed]

Cam bearings are fairly inexpensive to have install anyway, though it is a hassle. I just checked locally, and a machine shop said as low as $30 for cam bearings installed. Good insurance

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

no no no the french guy says it like boobie lol

The bearing isnt thin in the front.

I think im going to pull it and have new bearings put in anyways im not real sure what to do

Hell, we are all looking at a pick....damn hard to say from that! If it were mine, I would "mike up" the bearing, & the cam journal, & see where it goes if you have a couple tho or 3 clearance, you should be ok. If you are worried about the cam being too far foward....dont worry, CHECK IT! The cam gear needs to set against the face of the block, with a little clearance on the back. In other words, when you set the cam in the motor, & it slides to the rear....you will MOST LIKELY be pulling that camshaft foward to bolt the top sprocket. I said it once, & will say it again....if you run nicked or worn bearings, you will see low oil pressure(not what you want), but I have seen those old motors run for many miles. Mike up the hole & the journal....then you know. crazyL

[oldblue1968chevy]

Engine is out and going to machine shop friday $55 installed

Id do it tomorow but its gonna rain

Thanks guys im trying to do it right.

If I dont get it done before i leave for A/F I think i'll go roller but idk yet

pix later gf helped but no pix (she wanted me to tell u that) lol