440 cam bearing question

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midnight340

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My friend picked a 440 and pulled the distributor to spin the oil pump ...and found this:
What happened???
upload_2020-11-28_9-55-44.png

upload_2020-11-28_9-56-37.png
 
Wow! Have never seen that before. The bearing has come apart and shifted. You are so lucky that it hasn't wiped out the cam. At the very least you will need to remove the cam, install new bearings and inspect the cam. This might be the time to consider a complete rebuild because of all the metal that has gone through that motor.
 
I have heard many horror stories of cam bearings in big block mopars. I will never change cam bearings in a big block again, unless i run into something like yours. My guess is that that one had problems with installation that were ignored , cam too tight and binding, some one said "run it, it'll be fine".
 
You better look at the block for cracks real close. I've seen them crack at the oil hole.
 
Compared to another 440 photo this block casting looks incomplete or broken around the bearing. In the one I saw the casting edge was parallel to the bearing.
 
Compared to another 440 photo this block casting looks incomplete or broken around the bearing. In the one I saw the casting edge was parallel to the bearing.
SHAFT-INSTALLED.jpg


Looks like the bearing pushed in and is not even on the journal. Note clearance on this 499 in front of distributor gear
 
SHAFT-INSTALLED.jpg


Looks like the bearing pushed in and is not even on the journal. Note clearance on this 499 in front of distributor gear
Yeah no kidding. It's hanging over the fuel pump lobe.

I bet it still ran fine though...it's a Chrysler:D
 
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