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After a 10 year hiatus on my '52 F1 I'm getting started again. I started this project in California and have since moved out, lock, stock and barrel to Oklahoma. I'm now retired and was not able to complete the restoration of the '52 F1. I'm getting it ready for sale. Iv'e disassembled the engine to freshen up the internals and I'm re-assembling it now. I'm noticing the camshaft has a lot of end play which I think would raise havoc with the ignition timing. There is .060" end play with the timing cover and gasket in place. Has anybody experienced this and are there any specs listed on what's excessive? Also has anybody had to change/adjust this.? How did you go about it?
Or am I over-thinking this?
Thanks
Measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon and cut with an ax.
Welcome back! Hard to believe it has been 10 yrs since you and I connected, seems like a lot of folks break down in NM!
You're right, .060" is way too much endplay, the specs are 0.007" - 0.016" (in the Specifications section of the workshop manual). The cam is positioned axially by the timing cover and the block, and I believe is against the timing cover only when coasting/decelerating. Is the surface of the timing cover that the distributor gear bears against visibly worn? How about the block surface? Is your timing cover aluminum or cast iron? Easy enough to replace the timing cover, not so much the block. The manual shows a timing cover kit available that allows adjustment of the thrust surface / endplay, I've never seen one myself. (below)
I'll check some of my other books to see if there is another solution, seems like shimming the distributor gear might be one?
Thanks for responding Ross. Our trip out to meet you in Arizona was a memorable one. Lucille is still rolling on the tires you sold me. I especially thank you for the pics. I have an aluminum housing similar to the one in the picture. There's one notable exception though in that the aluminum one in your picture has a boss to support the end of the distributor. my housing has no such thing. I don't think that's a big deal though.
I can also shim behind the gear to restore the original position of the cam gear. I wouldn't think that would be very critical. I could also fabricate a nose-piece on the cover with a threaded bolt to restrain the cam from moving forward more than the specs call for. The nose of the bolt would have a steel ball on the end to absorb the thrust issues. It would sook very similar to the one in your picture. I don't think there would be much force there. It would be lubricated from the oil thrown off by the gear. Your thoughts?
By the way, my wife and I moved from California about 7 years ago and we now live in Sapulpa OK, just outside Tulsa.
I remember we talked when you were moving, and the diesel lost power down in southern NM.
Does your distributor have the extended shaft made for the covers with the lower support? If it does, you need that type of cover.
Is your engine on a stand? I assume so. With the cover off, you should confirm that in normal operation the thrust is taken by the block, not the cover. Timing covers are cheap and easy to source, I think I'd see if a different one solves the endplay issue with no modifications. I may have a cast iron cover, I'll check. If I have one I'll see if I can take some measurements.
