Setting roller cam end play - in a bind

While setting up roller cam end play, with no shims the cam is binding with the front cover on. Fortunately I didn't tighten the bolts but only finger tight. With the thrust roller out, there's play. So I took apart the thrust roller to try to remove one of the washers, but it's not designed to do that - the washers are bearing surfaces for the needle bearings. So, do I grind on the thrust roller, grind on the timing cover thrust button, or stack gaskets or find thicker cover gaskets?

 

Usually machine the block area

 

The concern I'd have with gasket stacking is distributor/cam gear interface.

Devon

 

Are you sure that you don't have washers inside of the cam?

 

Machine the pad on the back of timing cover to get the clearance for the cam button.

 

That’s what I’d do, it’s the least intrusive and won’t effect any other dimensional fits other than what you want to change…. Cam end play.

 

Only the bronze washer remains but it appears non-removable

 

Machine.020 off the button

 

Whose roller cam is that.. never seen any washer in the recess for the roller cam button.. I think that's your issue.
JW

 

It's a TA core, lobes ground by Bullet

 

Then you have something goofy going on in there.. No TA core that I have ever seen has anything in that hole... That's why your having the spacing issue. Call TA and see if they ever installed anything in that cam bumper hole, as any kind of repair or something.. I doubt it, in that case, it would still be dimensionally correct. Might have been some type of centering deal left in there by bullet when it was mounted on the cam grinder.

JW

 

Mike replied to a FB post and verified what you said, it doesn't belong there so I will remove it. Thanks to all

 

Interesting, glad you got it figured out!

 

Success! The 0.040" will cure the problem


On a side note, what does the hole in the front of the cam snout do?

 

FWIW, the FelPro blue and Mahle black timing cover gaskets measure about 0.030". The SCE 17100 measures about 0.032". The Cometic c5777-018 is 0.018"

 

With my roller cam what I do is bolt the timing cover on with NO cam installed using whatever manufacturers gasket your using, and let the gasket compress or “set” for a day or so, then remove your cover and then proceed with your cam install and setting endplay.
Those thick cardboard gaskets compress quite a bit.

 

Funny you should say that! I did not do that. I just installed all, set the endplay, checked it, and tho it was on the tight side, I let it ride. After sitting overnight, the gasket compressed. I lost about 2 thou. Now I have to re-do it, bc I only have about .003 end play now

 

Yah learned something