Cam walking???

[hummer784]

Hi, I posted here about a week ago with a question abotu why my distributor gear was chewed up. I have come to the conclusion that my cam is walking. How and why does this happen? The engine is a 289 with a comp cams mechanical lifter cam, cloyes double roller timing chain(the one with the spacer on the back). I think that that was all I changed when I switched cams, beforre the swap there were no problems. How do I fix this? Thanks.

 

[mp67]

Hi, I posted here about a week ago with a question abotu why my distributor gear was chewed up. I have come to the conclusion that my cam is walking. How and why does this happen? The engine is a 289 with a comp cams mechanical lifter cam, cloyes double roller timing chain(the one with the spacer on the back). I think that that was all I changed when I switched cams, beforre the swap there were no problems. How do I fix this? Thanks.

Maybe is wrong dist. gear for cam. Is it the stock distributor? Maybe new cam required a hardened gear.

 

[hummer784]

I just bought a new MSD hardened gear and had it isntalled on my distributor, but I cant get the distributor to drop down. The chewed up gear and the distrubutor not dropping down lead me to believe that the cam has walked. What I need to know is why the cam would walk?

 

[D.Hearne]

Did you remember to install the cam retainer plate? I made this same mistake last year on a 400. Destroyed the dist gear, wiped a couple cam lobes. All because I didn't double check to see if the retainer was in place.

 

[rbohm]

also if the retainer plate is worn it will allow the cam to walk. also are you using a high volume oil pump? it seems many people are having problems with high volume oil pumps and dist gears being chewed up.

 

[hummer784]

It could be the retainer plate...I didnt think of that. It was slightly worn...any idea on where to get a new one? Oh, by the way, rbohm, m yoil pump is a new stock replacement.

 

[D.Hearne]

I've got several cam retainers, send me $5 to cover shipping and I'll send a couple.