Machine shop screw up, need advice.

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Sep 21, 2025 | 08:47 PM

unibody62

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 873

Likes: 37

From: Ohio

Machine shop screw up, need advice.

I had my 292 y-block bored out and new cam bearings installed several years back, planning to put in the truck I have been rebuilding. I reassembled the engine myself and then life happened, so I put it on the back burner. When I got it running recently and went to adjust the tappets, I discovered I’m not getting oil to the top end. After some research I’m sure they installed the bearings wrong. What does everyone recommend, try and install new bearings in the truck or pull the engine and do it? Bear in mind, although I have rebuilt a few engines, I’ve never done cam bearings before. I know I’d need a tool, hopefully I could rent one. Although I won’t be able to tackle this until next spring due to other irons in the fire (and no heat in my garage), it’s on my mind and I’m trying to formulate a plan. I may have to consider letting a shop do it also. I tried to find an answer on YouTube but there doesn’t seem to be a pertinent video.

Sep 23, 2025 | 04:32 PM

ManFordman2

Mountain Pass

Joined: Sep 2021

Posts: 210

Likes: 52

From: Rincon GA

I do believe that the lifters will be the main problem.You will want the engine upside down to keep the lifters from falling down as you slide the cam out. According to my "ford y-block engines" book, the cam and lifters are the last components to be removed from a y block.

Sep 23, 2025 | 07:36 PM

unibody62

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Laughing Gas

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 873

Likes: 37

From: Ohio

I have a Ford shop manual, it seems like it says the engine doesn’t have to be removed, if I’m reading the section correctly. I think they should pop up enough to pull them as you rotate the cam. I’m more worried about if I’m capable and if there is room to manipulate the tool to install bearings. When I look at it again, I’m going to remove the rocker arms and see if there is a reason for the lack of oil. I could swear I checked for oil coming up before I installed them. I was running the pump with a drill.

Sep 25, 2025 | 01:32 PM

Crop Duster

Logistics Pro

Joined: May 2015

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From: Tri Cities, TN

You cannot replace the cam bearings with the engine in the truck. There is a core plug on the rear of the engine that must be removed to gain access to the bearings. If you do not have the proper tool and some experience you will likely ruin the new bearings trying to install them yourself.
It would be a 1 in 100 chance the shop installed the bearings wrong. Did you pre-oil the engine? How long did you run the engine? It can take some time for the oil to reach the rockers if the system wasn't primed.

Sep 25, 2025 | 08:47 PM

unibody62

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 873

Likes: 37

From: Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crop Duster

Thanks for the reply. I did pre-oil with a drill and I know it had to be reaching the rocker area. I’m just wondering if the passage is plugged in the rocker arms. I’ll pull the rocker arms and try to figure it out. As mentioned, I have good pressure so the only possible damage would be the rocker arms. My 49 year old son is seriously ill with a brain tumor so I have a little too much going on think about really getting into it. He and his family are 6 hours from me, so I try to go help out when I can. If I have to put new bearings in and the engine needs pulled, I guess I’ll get to it when I can.