An elusive squeak
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
An elusive squeak
Hi guys, this problem is not with my Vette, it is with my dd El Camino.
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Hi guys, this problem is not with my Vette, it is with my dd El Camino.
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
Sounds like the inner shaft is the key, not the outer shaft....how the gear mates and how the outer shaft pulls it down or against the gears...?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
Hi guys, this problem is not with my Vette, it is with my dd El Camino.
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
Just over two years ago I bought a reman 350 Vortec to replace the tired 305 in my '87 EC.
At the same time I put in a very mild Elgin Pro Stock cam. Since then I have had a squeak that is very irritating. It only squeaks at idle, 800-850 rpm. Just over idle it goes away, Also it doesn't do it until things get warmed up a bit. I have been all over this thing without finding it until I was working on it the other day, I loosened the distributor while the engine was running and the squeak stopped. If I tighten it back down the squeak returns. I ordered shims, they did no good, changed to a different distributor, no good. In order to keep the squeak silent I have to leave the distributor clamp loose and then the timing is all over. Has anyone ever encountered this? I won't even go into all I have done, you'd get tired of reading. Any ideas?
I think the lower housing bushing has rotated & is spinning freely inside of it.
No Press fit left.
You can remove the distrib. gear roll pin & remove the entire shaft & advance mechanism to verify this.
The lower bushing also may be micro- welded to main shaft.
I have seen both occurrences in the past.
BR
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Brian, I have had two hei's in this thing, they both did the same thing. I've also added a .060 shim under the dist. no good, I then put a .100 shim in there, still no good. I may be onto something though, both dist. had the usual cast iron gear and a steel one is required for the hydraulic roller cam in the newer engines. If it isn't the gear then I'm afraid it may be the cam itself. I just hate to spend $50.+ for a steel gear and still have the squeak.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
Brian, I have had two hei's in this thing, they both did the same thing. I've also added a .060 shim under the dist. no good, I then put a .100 shim in there, still no good. I may be onto something though, both dist. had the usual cast iron gear and a steel one is required for the hydraulic roller cam in the newer engines. If it isn't the gear then I'm afraid it may be the cam itself. I just hate to spend $50.+ for a steel gear and still have the squeak.
Look at the cam gear with a bright flashlight.
Make sure its A- OK.
Yeah,
With the roller camshaft you are supposed to use the special matching distributor drive gear.
It has a matching Rockwell hardness steel or cast iron gear so there no wear issues even after 100K miles.
Contact Elgin cams Monday if you have to.
I am thinking you can use a production GM distributor gear from a L-98 TPI engine.
No problem for you to obtain where you work at I know.
Its what keeps us mechanics.....solving problems.
