Cam movement ?

[Wannabfast]

So I slid in the Comp xe270hr today. Put on the retaining plate. Went to bolt on the timing chain pulley and as I tightened down the timing pulley the cam slid forward about 1/8 - 1/4 inch. Is this normal?? Help...........

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Some movement is normal, but that sounds a bit excessive. There should be thousandths of an inch of movement, not tenths. Is the thrust plate excessively worn?

 

[final5-0]

Since I can't be there and see it

I'm gonna say it ... sounds ... like a normal kinda thing

It sounds like you had the cam pushed back as far as it would go when you
slipped it in the cam bearings

When you started to snug up the cam bolt ......
you drawed the cam forward and took up all the slack

Now ... after you had all the slack taken up ...............

I'd be willing to bet
You could not slide the cam back and forth as much ........
as you were first talking about

Did this make sense

Grady

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I agree Grady, but that much movement fore and aft sounds excessive. We're talking .125-.250 inch based on the description he gave. IIRC, cam endplay should be around .005 inch max. Too much and it'll allow the cam to walk forward and push the timing gear into the cover.

 

[final5-0]

I agree Grady, but that much movement fore and aft sounds excessive. We're talking .125-.250 inch based on the description he gave. IIRC, cam endplay should be around .005 inch max. Too much and it'll allow the cam to walk forward and push the timing gear into the cover.

I do agree with you

But ... I have put more cams in sbf's than I can remember

When you slide them in and before you get it all bolted up .....
you can slide them back and forth a good bit

Again ... Neither of us can be there to take a look see

The best thing he can do is make sure it is like it needs to be

Grady

 

[Stanger007]

Sounds normal to me as well. The cams will slide around a good bit before they are bolted to the timing gear. Once the timing gear is properly torqued the endplay should be like Matt is saying.

Step 10: http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Instructions/Files/179.pdf

I would not be overly concerned if this is coming from a previously running engine. Try slipping the feeler gauge on it like CompCams recommends.

Wes

 

[5spd GT]

Sounds normal, but possibly not ideal.

I believe cam end play is 0.001"-0.007" up to .010" or so.

For what is is worth, my camshaft had a lot of movement as you described and I went 30k miles with it with no problems. I did not for see any problems with it.

As Grady stated, once you bolt it up, no gap

 

[Wannabfast]

Cool. Thanks guys!! The car ran great when I tore it apart so it sounds like it's normal. With the timing gear bolted up, it has very little play.

Wish me luck!!!

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

all it did was pulled the cam away from the freeze plug in the back and butted it up to the cam gear on the chain. It all depends on the depth of the freeze plug in the back that sets the back and forth while the plates on. when the cam gear draws the cam to it and the dampner pushes tight up against the drive gear on the bottom the only slop you have is the slop in the chain.