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Swapping cam on 96 LT4, just pulled the old cam out and saw a chunk missing from the bearing at the front of the engine see photo between 2-3 o'clock. I don't see how this could have happened when we pulled out the cam, we were really gentle. Was it this when when the bearing was installed? I guess it doesn't matter.
What are my options? I really need this car done and will take short cuts if I have to. What if I just put the cam back in as is?
Appears as though this happened during the cam bearing install; although there is a slight score mark from the missing chunk of the bearing down clockwise to the 8 o’clock position. I would stuff a rag in and use a small piece of 300 sand paper to burnish the sharp edge of the nicked area.
Otherwise the bearing looks OK and should be just fine as the thrust bearing is the plate that attaches to the front. This bearing only supports the cam vertically and horizontally.
BTW, its not that difficult to remove the bearing with the correct tool (you can rent one) and install a new one.....your call on this approach.
I wouldn't worry about the notch. Chevy cam bearings vary slightly by location. Notch is likely to id position. I would check lateral wiggle with cam fully installed using the long bolts used to guide cam in block. You really shouldn't feel any. Cam should spin but not move up and down or side to side.
This is my last father/son project before he leaves the state for college on Sunday so we just need to get it done. Four years from now we'll do a proper rebuild. It won't get too many miles put on it between now and then so your answer makes me feel comfortable with just putting it back together as-is. Thank you for saving me from a moment of panic.
That notch is normal. This is what my 94 LT1 front cam bearing looked like with about 115k on it. I did replace this, pulled the bearing out with a blind hole puller. It was a chore, but did come out and pressed a new one in with an ordinary bearing press kit.
Ignore how beat up it looks in the pic, that was after a bit of trial/error with the bearing puller. I opted to replace it because of a small score in the bearing, I too was as careful as I could be but suspect i dragged the oil pump gear on the bearing. I did inspect other bearings with a WiFi endoscope and they appeared ok. FYI you can get the endoscope for $20 on amazon and transmit video to your phone.
I have a new small block chevy cam bearing set i’d let go for $15 plus shipping.
you would get multiple tries, just be sure to line up the oil holes. You can use a seal installation tool if the engine is still in the car.
rent it at O’reilly’s or autozone. hillenger512@***.net
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Aug 10, 2020 at 11:50 PM.
Buggered cam bearing, what do I do now?!
