Cam Install Nightmare!!!! Advice Needed!!!
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From: Mechanicsville, VA
Cam Install Nightmare!!!! Advice Needed!!! I've had my car down for several months in order to completely build the motor for a big shot of gas and am now starting to rebuild everything. I've had a local shop rebuild the shortblock and install new bearings, and am putting everything else together myself. I went to install the cam (MS4) today, and after it was installed, I noticed it feels VERY tight. In order to start it turning I had to put three water pump bolts in the cam and wrench on it pretty hard with my hands. Once it starts turning it feels free, but it takes a fair amount of force to start it spinning. I don't feel that there's enough clearance between the cam journals and the bearings, but the shop keeps telling me that cam bearings are "soft" and that there's nothing to worry about. I don't feel that this is an adequate answer..... Does anyone else have any ideas??? (sponsors, texas speed especially!!!) Am I being too worried about this??? I've never seen a cam that doesnt spin totally freely inside the bearings after installation and my gut is telling me that I'm getting screwed!!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
do you know the part #'s for the cam bearing they used? I could see the cam eating through the bearings in no time. I have never built an LS1 so what do i know, LOL. Doesn't sounds right though you are correct! My MS3 went in easy, and spun easy as well
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From: Mechanicsville, VA
Yes... There wasn't anything not done to the block according to both the shop and my work order... I need a difinitive word that the cam shouldn't be that tight, so that I can show this guy and get him to figure out what he did wrong. Right now he's sticking to his guns and saying that there's nothing wrong and that the cam bearings are "soft and forgiving" and that they will clearance themselves. He says that the tightness I am feeling is "not excessive." I don't buy this.... Seems like if that were to happen it would gall up the cam journals from heat and eventually leave me with 0 oil pressure
FormerVendor
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From: Houston, Tx.
Probably just a small burr somewhere or the cam bearing installer tool left a lip on one or a few of the bearings which you can usually clean up easily. Also make sure your cam is straight too. The cam bearings are able to take a lot of crap and are very soft usually but you do want to fix anything you can anyway if possible. We use a test cam after putting bearings in since this does happen more than some people would think but then it can be addressed right then. Also check that the cam journals aren't bigger than they should be. We've had a few cams that were big on one journal a few times too.
Erik is right I've seen comp build a few cams with the journals to big. Was that the same cam from your previous install?
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Jason
Co-Owner, Texas Speed & Performance, Ltd.
2005 Twin Turbo C6
404cid Stroker, 67mm Twins
994rwhp/902lb ft @ 22 psi (mustang dyno) www.Texas-Speed.com
Jason
Co-Owner, Texas Speed & Performance, Ltd.
2005 Twin Turbo C6
404cid Stroker, 67mm Twins
994rwhp/902lb ft @ 22 psi (mustang dyno) www.Texas-Speed.com
Get a micrometer and check the thickness of the new cam against the old one.Could be slightly too big or BENT.Also might want to put stock cam back in to see if it spins freely.
I am having the same problem it seems to spin freely till I get to the last lobe and then I cannot turn it by hand with all my might w/the 3 water pump bolts . I put a screwdriver there and like you said it turns freely after you brake it loose I tried my original cam its the same thing I have call the machine shop tommarow .
Any updates on this . I was hoping to have my motor in this weekend ,guess thats not going to happen
Any updates on this . I was hoping to have my motor in this weekend ,guess thats not going to happen
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Just for reference... My problem ended up being a piece of trash that was caught up under the bearing when it was installed in the block... It took quite a bit of convincing to get the machine shop to put a set of bearings in for the third time, but after they saw the problem they were very apologetic and the cam spun like butter.
I have had the cam install tool leave a small burr, went back and took the burr out with a sharp knife... then the cam spins free. The bearings are soft but you would want to get it to spin easily before it goes in for good.