Advice on installing new cam

[Tjhoward84]

We are having a new, more mild cam installed into the 'Cuda. The installer called me last Friday and said the cam will not seat into the engine. Upon further analysis and comparing the new cam to the old one that came out of the engine (crate 360), the first cam bearing (closest to the firewall), appears to be .003" larger in diameter when compared to the same bearing surface on the old cam. All other cam bearings are within .0005" between the old and new cam.

We are thinking the new cam is a manufacturing tolerance issue. However, I don't see how the new cam would be able to pass the first 3 journals if it's oversized by .003".

Any ideas or something we are missing?

 

[diymirage]

did the installer pull the distributor and intermediate shaft?
sounds to me like the distributor drive is not meshing properly

I would check that first
if that doesn't solve the issue have him measure the bearings and see if your tolerances are stacking up against you

 

[RustyRatRod]

Journals on a Mopar camshaft are not all the same size. The rear most cam journal from the front of the engine is the smallest, so it could easily be over sized and still fit.

 

[Rapid Robert]

The journal closest to the firewall is the 5th journal. If its OD is three tho larger than the old 5th journal the problem is right there & no way it will fit wo turning it down

 

[Tjhoward84]

I've got a new cam on it's way from Comp Cams and Summit Racing. I could turn it down in my machine shop at work but WHY?? I'm not under a time crunch and don't want to risk messing it up and having to eat the cam. Summit has been great and had Comp send a new one out today.

Hope this solves my problem.

 

[MopaR&D]

I had an issue installing my cam in my 360 block once it got back from the machine shop after a hot-tanking and new cam bearings where they fit really tight and I would have had to use a hammer to get the cam fully seated in the last 1/2 inch or so. My machinist mentioned that might be a problem so I took the block back to him with the cam and he fixed it for free... not sure how but it couldn't have been by turning down the cam journals I don't think it would have been free if that had to be done and he probably would have told me if that was the case. I'm guessing he somehow gradually removed material from the bearings until the cam fit.

Then again .003" is quite a bit when talking about bearing clearances...

 

[pishta]

wonder if he reamed the bearing with a "cutter" cam core? Cut a diagonal in the bearing (last one) and use it as a reamer. Install it and turn it against the cut, reamer style so it doesnt screw in. Itll ream the bearing out to spec or enough to set the cam. I think triple R made one.

 

[krazykuda]

I could turn it down in my machine shop at work but WHY??

You shouldn't have to "fix" your "new" parts.... :violent1:

They should be made to spec in the first place, that's what you pay for... :banghead:

If you try to fix it yourself, you will void any warranty on the part... :finga:

 

[Tjhoward84]

You shouldn't have to "fix" your "new" parts.... :violent1:

They should be made to spec in the first place, that's what you pay for... :banghead:

If you try to fix it yourself, you will void any warranty on the part... :finga:

Agreed 100% that's why they are sending me a new one and picking up the bad one no questions asked. Great customer service by both Summit Racing and Comp Cams.

Very pleased so far. Hope this new cam goes in with any issues.