First, let me say thanks to whoever answers what probably seems to be stupid questions that I come up with! I'm looking at my empty block, since I have the rotating assembly out, and I'm stumped with the oil path through the motor, particularly the cam bearings (410FE). I can see the passage from the mains to the cam bearings, looking down through the main bearing, but everything I read says the cam bearings supply other parts of the motor as well. My newly installed bearings have the 1 hole that lines up with the mains but nothing more, other than #1, which has 2 holes. Shouldn't there be other holes for means of oil supply? Are these bearings right?? Just another goofy question. Thanks

 

Try this thread, maybe it will help.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...e-rockers.html
Look at the diagram in post #5. It looks like there is a groove machined into the cam bearing bore to route oil around the outside of the bearing.
Also, this isn't a stupid question. You should see some of the questions I have to field at work (I'm a supervisor)!!!

 

That helps, but still a little confused. I guess simply put should the cam bearings have more than the 1 hole that lines up with the main bearings? (especially the ones in the diagram that feed the heads, #2 & 4? These were installed at the shop, I just want to make sure before everything is together.

 

I think I understand, rechecking the diagram. The oil is routed underneath the bearing, hence only the 1 hole to feed the mains and also the grooved portion underneath? That's engineering!

 

That is correct. If the oil was fed like you were originally thinking there would have to be either a groove in the cam bearing or a groove in the cam journal to keep the oil flowing to the mains non-stop.

 

Tater, on the 2,3,4, and 5 cam bearings, where is the hole for the oil to get to the cam ? Supposing the block is right side up, are the oil holes at 12:00 high ? 3:00 ? 6:00 ? sadly there are lots of shops out there that don't understand how the bearings are supposed to be in there.......DF

 

Appears that they are at 6:00, line up with the holes in the main bearing caps. Hope that's where they should be??

 

Tater, sorry, no. Thats not where they are supposed to be. You should take the block back and complain. The factory put them at 12:00 high. Oil goes around the groove and flows through the holes as the cam drags oil around with it as it rotates. The idea is for the oil to make a hydrodynamic wedge. If the oil hole is on the 6:00 position, oil pressure has to lift the cam up off from the bearing, while all sixteen valvesprings, with a 1.73 to 1 rocker ratio to help them, is pushing the cam down. No, they aren't right, yes, it is a big deal, and you shouldn't leave it that way.

We have several tech discussions from the AERA- Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association- at work that says to not follow the factory 12:00 installation. We install them with the oil outlet at 3:00 to maybe 4:30 position. The later ( 3-4:30 ) oil postion of the cam bearings gives more oil pressure at idle. But 6:00, no. Not ever. Whomever installed them doesn't know what are they doing. makes you wonder what else they did wrong, doesn't it ?


DinosaurFan

 

I'm finding out the hardway! Problem is I can't take it back, it wasn't a local shop and I had the long block shipped. I'm having the whole rotating assembly rebalanced right now, seems that some of the weights were off on the balance card. I'll probably have to drop the block off when I pick up the crank etc. and have the cam bearings looked over. It's one those great deals that is turning into a not so great deal!!

 

Dinosaurfan, did you ever get a response from the guy on the you tube Costa Mesa RD video? Seems there is a lot of misinformation on the bearing install. I will have the shop doing my balance take a look at those bearings, I just hope there's a knowledgeable FE guy in the house! Thanks for letting me know about the correct bearing positioning, I planned on having it back together next week.

 

Tater, no responce from Costa Mesa. Seems they think they know everything. No way to tell how many engine's lives they have shortened. It is interesting that the town I live in used to have 5 machine shops....the town hasn't gotten any smaller, it has grown. But the guy who taught me the correct way to do the bearings runs the single remaining machine shop in our town. makes you wonder what the four other shops were doing....... DinosaurFan

 

dinosaurfan, not that I doubted your input but I can confirm that you are correct on bearing placement. Just tore down a unmolested 428 and the cam bearings were at 3:30 from the factory.