Torrington bearing?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Torrington bearing? (dtorc4)
Torrington is a brand name. They make bearings mostly associated with straight rollers. I've known several types of "needle" bearings refered to as "Torrington". As related to the cam drive, it is a flat washer with rollers inserted, radially. The rollers protrude beyond the cage (washer) and roll against hardened flat surfaces (races) both in front and behind the "washer". It is a thrust bearing. Flat tappet cam lobes are ground on a front to rear taper to induce tappet rotation. The tapered lobe "forces" (rearward thrust) the camshaft in to the the block. The Torrington bearing reduces the friction the thrust causes between the cam sprocket and the block. Under extreme conditions, the cam sprocket can "eat" into the block. Stock Chevy engines don't use them, and therefore many don't feel that they're needed. In most applications they aren't. Hot rodders, being who we are, often go for the "overkill". Besides, there is a nit of horsepower liberated by the reduction of the friction. Roller cams are NOT ground with the tapered lobes and therefore have no need for a thrust bearing. Is that about as clear as mud? I know, you asked for the time and I told you how to build a clock.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Torrington bearing? (CFI-EFI)
Is that about as clear as mud? I know, you asked for the time and I told you how to build a clock.
I did not realise that Torrington was a brand name. I always associated it with thrust bearings.
[Modified by bogus, 9:33 PM 1/28/2002]
