Hey Everyone, I was curious if anybody has any experience installing these TA Performance Cam Bearings with the double oil grooves ? They seem rather thin and I'm not sure if driving them in place with the standard driver type cam bearing installation kit is going to be what you want to use on these things. Anybody have any experience installing these TA Performance Cam Bearings ? What's the best method to prevent from damaging them ? Is one of those pull in place type cam bearing install tools the preferred method with these or what do most people do with these ? Any information you can give me on these would be deeply appreciated. Thank You. Bill
I always used the standard cam bearing installation tool and a rubber/plastic mallet. "Easy does it" and you should be OK.
X2. Like Steve said.....easy does it. Take your time and make absolute certain that you "clock" them right. Slow n steady. Good idea to test fit the cam after.
Thank You guys for the input, As thin as those things are and with the double oil grooves It makes me nervous to drive them in. I saw Jim on his oil mod tutorial in this section, kind of tapered the inboard front # 1 cam bearing block journal to make installation somewhat easier, and I wanted to assure at all cost I don't do something I regret. So I guess caution is the word here ? I appreciate the input everybody. Thank You.
one thing that i learned is to slightly campher the enter point of the cam journals. I didnt clock it correctly , so i removed it and noticed one of the dual groves was completely smudged over, making it a single grove. Im pretty sure i made a nick on the first cam journal when i was wacking out the old bearings. And I also learned its not good to be wacking and banging all your holes.............
I'm curious about any tips others may have as well. Machine shop installed my bearings wrong the first time and have the block at my shop now to find all the bearing edges are nicked and there are some score marks on the bearing surface. So I'll be doing the 3rd set myself if I can't clean these bearings up
I bought the tool years ago to install 'em myself. The tool was kinda pricey compared to having the machine shop install 'em, but I like to do as much stuff myself 'cause its fun:laugh:
you got that rite :laugh: I will say when i first used that cam install tool starting with the back bearing first , by the time i got to the num 1 bearing I was standing three feet away from the motor, makes it kinda hard to judge and see your progress. I end up using a transmission bushing driver.
Drive the front one in from the rear, so you can still use the centering cone. Yes, it may need to be off the stand or raised to clear. I still have to knock them out and re-do them when people bring a block to me already done, it sucks.
According to TA's instructions, the bearings are to be installed with the feed holes at the 3 and 7 o'clock position when viewed from the front of the engine. Here is an explanation from the TA Catalog.
The point for having the grooves is to provide an oil channel so that no matter where you clock them, there will be oil supplied. That being said you still have to follow T/A's instructions for proper clocking at 3 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Without a groove on the back of the bearing you would be forced to install the bearings in their original locations. When I install the dual groove cam bearings I take a utility knife (aka Stanley Knife) or small honing stone and carefully knock down the sharp edges of the grooves and any burrs that were formed during the machining process. You don't need to over do it just knock them down so they can't catch on the leading edge of the journals. As posted by others, a quality bearing installation tool is mandatory.... or have a professional do it. I have been using a Mac Tools Bearing kit for the past 25 years without a problem. I'm sure its the same kit as the Lisle #18000. To keep from damaging the installed bearings you can slide a piece of rubber hose the full length over the main bar. That way if it would happen to drop while you are sliding it through the bearings you would be safe.
