Cam, Lifters, Headers In An Inline Six

[Jbesotes]

Here is the problem that I am running into The clutch linkage is running into the header on the rear of the motor. I am debating on cutting the tube on the cluch back a bit and making a bracket to hold it coming off of the frame, to the clutch tube and back to the frame so that it wont hit the header.

[Shaky]

I can't for the life of me figure out why I didn't have that problem. Same engine, same headers, same cross-shaft.

[Jimmy S.]

Before you try to start and run the engine.Ask the machine shop if the aluminum timing gear was heated to exspand the aluminum gear.Before it was pressed on to the camshaft.

Also check the clearance between the timing gear and thrust plate.
Clearance no less than .001, no more than .005

I just went through a spun timing gear on my inline 250 camshaft.
The person who rebuilt the engine, hammered the gear on to the camshaft.

Just a little over 3000 miles since rebuild.

Jimmy S.

[Jbesotes]

It seems like both of your guys headers both sweep further foward to the front of the truck, where mine is located right ontop of the bolt holes for the mounting bracket.

[292farmer]

okay so i went and took some good pictures this time with wifes camera. the first two are of the linkage so u can see what mine looks like. the thrid picture is my motor mount measured from radiator(1 row radiator measured from firewall side) roughly 19.5in then the next picture shows that my linkage is actually connected by two bolts so i can guess that means that their are different linkage types(my truck is a 72 c25 292 w/sm465 trans) however i see a hole drilled in front of mine that lines up perfectly with my header, so if your linkage or mine were bolted in that hole it would create this problem im guessing. last pic shows my motor mount to linkage distance. hope this helps if u need more pics/measurements of anything let me know.

[Shaky]

My linkage is out of the truck now (since the headers are on 292Farmer's truck), but heres a pic of the cross-shaft and block-bracket. The second pic is the motor mount so maybe you can see if it's similar to yours. The truck is a '66, but I don't think things changed in this area too much.

[Shaky]

Here's another couple of pics from when it was assembled:

[Jbesotes]

Thanks guys I am going to hopefully get that clutch linkage done this weekend, I am slammed with college summer classes. About 4 hours of homework a night.

Shaky: Yea I do have the right motor mount good thinking I double checked it just in case. Also your cross shaft has quite a bend in it and mine is perfectly straight were there different styles throughout the years?

[dnorris009]

Here's my '70 set up,also straight.
Have you called Clifford & talked with them about the problem?
They may have come across this before & be able to help.

[Heater63]

Jbesotes, if all else fails, look at using a hydraulic clutch link using Novak bracket and slave. I'm about to install one on my 292.
Thank you Shaky for spreading the gospel. Santucci's book covers it all.
As to older posts, yes, break in the cam/lifters per Com's instructions and using an oil additive that provides high Zn. This is online at comps website.
Also, yes, you have to heat the cam gear to 450 or so before installing..it is an interference fit and you will gall off the aluminum if you press it on cold.
Balancers live a short life on the L6 if you rev them high, especially the 292. Read Santucci's book. You can get them rebuilt at Damper Doctor, etc; the just repour the elastomeric.
good luck,
Tad

[RichardJ]

A couple guys have mentioned how important it is to install the cam gear properly.
Not only should you heat the gear, but you should also freeze the cam. Even doing that I have had trouble getting it all the way on. If it doesn't drop all the way on, I have a rosebud torch at hand ready to be lit. Wave that around it two or three times and it will drop with a clank. They say not to heat the gear with a torch but this is just replacing some of the heat lost between the oven and the waiting cam.

The clearance Jimmy S mentioned is set by the ring that is inside the thrust plate. The ring is a couple of thousandths thicker than the trust plate and keeps the plate from being pinched and automatically sets the clearance.

You should also check the run-out of the gear. (Wobble) This will tell you, that you installed the gear properly. Run-out should be no more than .004" If it is more than that, you have galled the aluminum while pressing it on.
You can check the run-out by turning it in the block.

[Jbesotes]

So I ended up building a custom bracket for my clutch linkage to mount to the motor. I will be instaling it today and hompefully get the motor running I am going to try and post a video of it runnning if this site will allow im not sure if I can or not. Either way I will have pictures as I go.

[Jbesotes]

Alright everyone the truck is running!!! Only a minor oil leak, I am not liking rubber lifter cover gaskets...

I am having a little over heating going on, i think it mught be because I put a clutch fan on the truck and it is not kicking on in time?? I am thinking about putting a spacer on it to move it closer to the raidiator hoping it will pick up more heat and kick on sooner??

[geezer#99]

You mentioned side cover leaks with rubber gaskets. I've done two motors and used them. No leaks. Did you hammer the bolt holes back out. When the covers are overtightened the metal around the bolt holes sinks in. When you do the gasket replacement pop the holes and surrounding metal back out. I use a ballpeen hammer on a flat surface. Test fit a couple times with no gasket to make sure the bolt bosses don't hold the cover out. Should sit almost flat to the motor with no gaskets. I do the same on valve covers and oil pans.
Motor looks good. I'm running Langdon's and a soon to be installed offy on mine.

[Jbesotes]

Found the cause for the side cover leaks I got an aftermarket chrome distribuitor clamp and it was too big and it was up against the cover and bent it a bit so I went back to the old mount and it works like a dream.