ok, i'm a bit nervous now. I did not see anything in my Detroit iron cd about a snap ring that helps retain the cam shaft. This is my first ever project, and i removed the cam per the instructions that i had. Now i have ran across many articles talking about possibly ruining the block and the cam. I am replacing the cam, but now am concerned about what i have read as it pertains to the block. What should my next step towards this rebuild be, in regard to the new cam i have ordered. Thanks
Well, I think a '56 and a '55 Nailhead are pretty much the same, and I didn't have a snap ring on mine. It does, however, have a spacer ring or "collar" behind the cam gear-it's very thin, and I discovered mine still stuck to my old camshaft,when it came up missing during reassembly of the engine. I discovered this "spacer" when, during reassembly of my engine, I tightened the cam gear retaining bolt, and it bound the camshaft up-i.e.-it wouldn't turn freely by hand. So, I consulted the service manual, and there it was-in the diagram. After installing it, everything was fine. When in doubt, consult a factory manual. It is the best source of information.
