Oil pump shaft question

The gear doesn't position the cam. It turns it. when the gear is in you will be able to move the cam the same distance front and back. the drive gear will just turn. The cam plate is there to hold the cam from moving rearward with tappet lifters. the timing gear rides on the cam plate. If you want to control cam movement you shim the cam behind the plate. which is usually never needed. unless you have a wear issue. Or a cheap Cam.

A billet cam always needs a bronze drive gear. A standard hardened shaft with gear will destroy the gear on the cam. Billet cams have soft gears and won't hold up against a cast gear. Get a bronze drive gear on a hardened shaft. also make sure you size the bushing in the block before assembling the engine. You don't want the filings floating around in your engine.

Also re-drill and chamfer all oil feed hole and cam bearings after the bearings are installed. then wash the block. this will insure your bearings are not partially covering the oil feed holes.