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I’m going to have ti get some paint. It’s definitely tightening down to the retainer plate. This it the second cam gear I’ve tried and third retainer plate.
I’m going to have ti get some paint. It’s definitely tightening down to the retainer plate. This it the second cam gear I’ve tried and third retainer plate.
Sounds like past time to pull the cam and follow up on the other suggestions.
I’m going to have ti get some paint. It’s definitely tightening down to the retainer plate. This it the second cam gear I’ve tried and third retainer plate.
Starting to look like the cam isn't ground correctly!! 2 gears and 3 plates are probably not all wrong. Cam is only constant that hasn't been swapped. If you have the stock cam, try installing that, and check for interference.....
Unless the interference is the cam bearing surface face rubbing the inside of the retaining plate. The dykem idea would be best to narrow down the interference.
I am running into the exact same issue. Was the replacement camshaft the issue?? Im running a stock cam from ebay and when I tighten the cam gear the camshaft stops rotating
I'm in the same boat. Done a couple cam swaps over years never had this problem. When I tighten the cam sprocket bolts it pulls the cam forward... all the way tight to retaning plate making everything lock up. What gives? What normally prevents this? Doing a Texas speed low lift truck cam. Its an afm delete, so pulled vvt phaser stuff and associated afm stuff. Did i forget a step? Missing a part? New Camshaft looks a little different than the old afm one. Found a few threads all were open ended without absolute resolution. I spent a couple hours trying different combos of old sprockets and retaining plates. Same bind everything when bolts tightened up. Any ideas on my next step would be appreciated.
Spins nice and good until the 3 bolts get torqued. Then cam is pulled too tight against retaining plate and won't spin. Its the cam bearing face rubbing the inside of the retaining plate. Looks like the the cam needs more length so it hits the sprocket before face of bearing hits the retaining plate.
Last edited by texasdigger35; Feb 25, 2025 at 10:10 PM.
I reused original retainer, then I swapped in a retainer from different cam swap off gto. I had them side by side and very similiar thicknesses, Original had countersunk holes, gtos didnt have countersunk holes, same result.
This is the sprocket used.
Last edited by Texasdigger; Feb 26, 2025 at 06:50 AM.
I reused original retainer, then I swapped in a retainer from different cam swap off gto. I had them side by side and very similiar thicknesses, Original had countersunk holes, gtos didnt have countersunk holes, same result.
This is the sprocket used.
Did you buy that kit off of Ebay?
If so, that might be your problem.
Show us the factory cam sprocket next to your new one, from the back.
One look at those 2 cam noses tells what's wrong; and it AIN'T the retainer plate, or the gear, or the button head vs flat head screw thing.
The new cam's nose is sized for a retainer plate about half as thick as the old one is. No idea why a cam would be that different from a stock one. I do note that your new one is set up for a 3rd gen w rear-block cam sensor, where the one you took out is a later one; butt I can't see where that matters. I'm not aware that the retainers are any different for the 2 applications.
I'd recommend sending that pic to whoever the cam came from and see what they tell you. Gut says you'll be getting another cam in the mail.
Its 2013 5.3 had vvt there with single bolt and phaser. Once removed looked like every other Ls. Just needed a regular timing cover to locate sensor in standard spot.
Wait, are you trying to use a Gen III (three bolt) cam with a Gen IV (single bolt) cam sprocket/ phaser?
Because you're showing us two incompatible parts.
Just show us a picture of the cam and sprocket In the same shot
One look at those 2 cam noses tells what's wrong; and it AIN'T the retainer plate, or the gear, or the button head vs flat head screw thing.
The new cam's nose is sized for a retainer plate about half as thick as the old one is. No idea why a cam would be that different from a stock one. I do note that your new one is set up for a 3rd gen w rear-block cam sensor, where the one you took out is a later one; butt I can't see where that matters. I'm not aware that the retainers are any different for the 2 applications.
I'd recommend sending that pic to whoever the cam came from and see what they tell you. Gut says you'll be getting another cam in the mail.
Certainly seems like nose is too short, if was longer would hit sprocket before retaining plate and be good... i think.
When I get home I do have a stock gto camshaft to check it against and see which nose is the odd ball. My stock one or new one.
Wait, are you trying to use a Gen III (three bolt) cam with a Gen IV (single bolt) cam sprocket/ phaser?
Because you're showing us two incompatible parts.
Just show us a picture of the cam and sprocket In the same shot
no not using single bolt cam or phaser/gear. Someone asked for pic of the gear I removed so i just showed him it. Its the newer looking of those 2 camshaft. It has 3 bolt and using a 3 bolt gear sprocket. They loosely installed in pic above.
Got home and decided to bolt the cam, retaining gear and sprocket together outside the motor. Want to double check this interference issue and if retainer has any movemet outside motor. So did that and the plate is totally tight to the cam bearing tight, tight, they spin as an assembly, the retainer has zero play... Tells me either cam ground wrong or plate is too thick. Maybe I'll look for the cheapest pos retainer I can find hoping it'll be a little thinner... never thought I'd be on Amazon looking for the LOWEST rated cam retainer...lol! Things like thin and flimsy in reviews is what I'm looking for...
I don't really have a micrometer to measure it out but maybe .005 thinner than gap between cam and sprocket should work.
Last edited by Texasdigger; Feb 26, 2025 at 04:25 PM.
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