Cam thrust plate material?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Houston
Cam thrust plate material?
I tried to find my old posts but Ive made so many it became a chore.
I am double checking my part stash for my engine build to make sure I have all I need and I cant remember if my thrust plate is right or if I decided to make a change.
The cam I have is a Crane cam # 449541 which is a steel cam. Crane informed me running a stock steel gear will be fine for my application. For the thrust plate I purchased a NOS C50Z-6269-D cast iron plate to go with my Comp Cams 2138 True Double Roller timing set which has a cast iron cam gear.
This is where the problem comes in. I cant remember if I need to switch the cast iron plate for a steel plate and switch the timing set to a steel cam gear or if I can have a long service life the way it is? I seem to recall someone telling me this setup is like a OE ford roller with a steel cam, cast iron thrust plate and cam gear. But I cant remember 100%. If I need to make changes I want to do it now as I am my refund check away from getting the final piece I need to do my build.
I am double checking my part stash for my engine build to make sure I have all I need and I cant remember if my thrust plate is right or if I decided to make a change.
The cam I have is a Crane cam # 449541 which is a steel cam. Crane informed me running a stock steel gear will be fine for my application. For the thrust plate I purchased a NOS C50Z-6269-D cast iron plate to go with my Comp Cams 2138 True Double Roller timing set which has a cast iron cam gear.
This is where the problem comes in. I cant remember if I need to switch the cast iron plate for a steel plate and switch the timing set to a steel cam gear or if I can have a long service life the way it is? I seem to recall someone telling me this setup is like a OE ford roller with a steel cam, cast iron thrust plate and cam gear. But I cant remember 100%. If I need to make changes I want to do it now as I am my refund check away from getting the final piece I need to do my build.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: W (BY GOD) V
Being a steel cam (roller) and requiring a steel DIST drive gear, I would think you need a steel retainer.
I don't see the need for a special steel cam drive gear.
Call CRANE for correct answer.
I don't see the need for a special steel cam drive gear.
Call CRANE for correct answer.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
Far as I know, nobody makes a steel retainer plate. Pretty sure Ford used a hardened iron plate in the roller motors. Only reason I know this is I used an apparently earlier plate (got a half dozen on a nail in my shop) with a B303 roller and a Ford Racing steel cam gear once, and after a year and a half, pulled the engine (cracked cylinder) to find the steel cam gear had eaten halfway into the retainer in that time. After that, I made sure the retainer I used came from a roller motor, never had that happen again. Also never reused that steel cam gear, nor any others. It's impossible to visually tell one O.E. plate from another, they're all iron. Only other retainer I've seen had a roller bearing and required machining to use it. Choose carefully.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: W (BY GOD) V
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
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Lead Driver
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From: Houston
Far as I know, nobody makes a steel retainer plate. Pretty sure Ford used a hardened iron plate in the roller motors. Only reason I know this is I used an apparently earlier plate (got a half dozen on a nail in my shop) with a B303 roller and a Ford Racing steel cam gear once, and after a year and a half, pulled the engine (cracked cylinder) to find the steel cam gear had eaten halfway into the retainer in that time. After that, I made sure the retainer I used came from a roller motor, never had that happen again. Also never reused that steel cam gear, nor any others. It's impossible to visually tell one O.E. plate from another, they're all iron. Only other retainer I've seen had a roller bearing and required machining to use it. Choose carefully.
The plate I got is a OE NOS plate from a ford bag #C50Z-6269-D. the other number I had at the time I found out was intended for a 351w application think it was a C9 number.
On the ford racing timing set I saw lots of people state you need the ford racing harden steel plate. Saw many people state they had the same problem as you with the billet cam gear eating into the plate.
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Lead Driver
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From: Houston
I sent a email to Crane to see what they say. I think it might be ok but I hate to throw my engine together and then find metal in the oil pan and have to pull the front of the motor apart. I rather spend a little extra money now and have it right. Just I know someone told me once before I cant remember who that if I build it the way I have it that its done like ford did it that ford didn't have a harden steel thrust plate from the factory on roller cams they just had a steel cam, steel dist gear, with a cast iron thrust plate and a cast iron cam gear.
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Lead Driver
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From: Houston
I guess I could buy a one piece fuel pump eccentric but I think the two piece would reduce drag on the fuel pump arm. Plus my '78 Mercury has a two piece. not sure if my '82 has one or not.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: south louisiana
The OE style set I have is a Comp Cams with the double keyway set, its listed as a cast iron cam gear and a steel crank gear. I had people tell me to go with a Cloyes but I want a double roller with a two piece fuel pump eccentric and the only one I found that would accept a two piece fuel pump eccentric was the comp cams timing set.
I guess I could buy a one piece fuel pump eccentric but I think the two piece would reduce drag on the fuel pump arm. Plus my '78 Mercury has a two piece. not sure if my '82 has one or not.
I guess I could buy a one piece fuel pump eccentric but I think the two piece would reduce drag on the fuel pump arm. Plus my '78 Mercury has a two piece. not sure if my '82 has one or not.
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