64 wildcat cam

[Davan]

I am looking for a good place to order a cam lifters bearings and chain for my 401. I also need some advice on how to remove the cam bearings. I undestand they can be removed without removing the pistons and bottom end. I currently have the cam removed and bearing are exposed. is there a special tool for this job ?

[doc]

Davan,
Pard you need to be very carefull here,,,, Yes , there is a special tool to do this operation,,,, It is expensive and generally the supply stores do not have them for rent .... I gave $ 180 for mine,,,, but i rebuild engines fairly regularly....
This part of engine rebuilding is not rocket science or voodoo.....it is just care and good old common sense.... You will have to gain access to the rear cam plug and remove it and the snap ring , this will require you to pull the engine out of the car, next, you have to bump the old bearings out and then you have to clean the area and after you mark the oil holes on the edge of the new bearing and the block... then you can bump the new ones into the block being very carefull to get them into the right depth... so t he oil holes line up.... then you can try fitting the cam in.... if it goes in all right then you are ok... if not, you will have to ream the bearings.... you will have to make a bearing reamer out of your old cam by making a L shaped cut into the bearing journals so that the cut faces to the right.... this allows you to turn the cam/tool to the right with your rachet.... work slowly and gently .... when the cam/tool is all the way in the engine,,,,on a new engine, remove it and then lightly dress the bearing surfaces with 0000 steel wool .... makes a beautifull bearing surface if you do it right....be sure to blow the engine out with compressed air....I would not use steel wool on an engine that is partially assembled , use 2000 grit wet or dry sand paper... very carefully...because bearing material is soft and cuts quickly...
When you are done the new cam will slide in and turn easily...
This part of engine building has to be done just right because cam bearings really affect the oil pressure and the supply of oil up to the rocker arms.... You will need to figure out how you are going to keep the shavings from going down into the oil pan and contaminating the oil... maby drop the pan and blow them out with compressed air/solvent....????
but it is doable and doable by you....cam bearing tools come with instructions and if you follow them to the letter , the results will be good.....
there are several suppliers out there , i have been able to order parts thru my local machine shop.... ta performance, cars, egge, ect.....

[Davan]

Thanks for the advice. I decided to dust off a turn key 401 that I’ve been storing and install it in my 64. I installed it this week and all is good. This will buy me some time to decide if this engine needs more than just a cam and bearings. The engine has about 60,000 miles 140 psi all around. and good on oil. The cam had one lobe completely roasted off . Do I replace the cam and bearings or is it time for full rebuild ?

[doc]

If the engine had that much mileage on it ,,,,, and you go thru it now most likely it can be honed to an over bore of min. size.... or just hone and reuse the pistons that are in it... ck the bottom end real good and install a new oil pump.... and screen.... good timeing chain and gears.... along with the cam and cam bearings.... rework the heads , paint it all up and it should be good for a long time.... just be absolutely sure that you put zddp additive in the oil every time and every time you change the oil and filter after that....otherwise you will lose the cam again....use moly rings...

[wkillgs]

Doc, I used your method to size my new cam bearings. It worked well.:TU:
However, my machinist wanted to polish down the journals on the camshaft instead of messing with the bearings. I didn't want to go that route since I may swap cams in the future.
But polishing cam journals to fit new cam bearings may be an option for others.

[SpecialWagon65]

For cam/lifter/engine parts i call Carmen Faso @ J & C's parts, Buffalo NY
716-693-5090

[doc]

Walt,,,, Pard, i would think that polishing the cam journals down that much would be a no-no..... i have polished the journals on a lot of cams, but only with very fine emery and by hand only.... taking one down that far would probably get past the flame hardened layer and also any cam bearings that were installed later would not fit.... no, personally, I would not....

[wkillgs]

Walt,,,, Pard, i would think that polishing the cam journals down that much would be a no-no..... i have polished the journals on a lot of cams, but only with very fine emery and by hand only.... taking one down that far would probably get past the flame hardened layer and also any cam bearings that were installed later would not fit.... no, personally, I would not....

The cam would 'tap-in' to the new bearings, but was tight to turn. I would think only a thou or two would need to be polished off for the proper fit. I thought the surface hardening on the cam was relatively thick?
I did check with the bearing manufacturer (Dura Bond). He told me the bearing layer was around 0.012" thick.... so there is plenty of material on the bearing to shave for a proper fit. I did go that route.

[doc]

Yep, the case tuftriding on the old cams was like .03 or so....

[Davan]

All good advice. As far as a zinc additive I’m limited to what I can buy off the shelf. Can I use the lucas "break in treatment" with my regular oil changes or should I seek out the Zddp ?