Camshaft Thrust plate

[mustangboy67]

I have a 87 mustang motor with the stock 302 HO camshaft that I put In my 67. I lost the original camshaft thrust plate and got a new one and put it in. Well now that the motor is in the car you can hear the timing gear rubbing against the thrust plate and you can see the wear marks on the plate.

I was wondering if there was a difference in thickness between a roller and non roller thrust plate because the one I have may be for an older 302. Also there may be a spacer a may be missing and could that be why it is rubbing?

 

[oh9mustang]

As far as I know there is only one thickness of the thrust plate, Maybe a marine version might be different, I would look at the Fuel pump eccentric or the cam gear.
The only way a cam gear could hit the thrust plate is if you had the gear on backwards. The cam gear has a cast in spacer/washer that keeps the gear away from the thrust plate.

 

[D.Hearne]

You need a roller cam gear thrust plate for a roller cam. I had the same problem once in using a non roller thrust plate. The roller thrust plate is hardened to better match the steel roller cam.