New cam & new bearings question? Tight fit

[javakmcharger68]

I have been working on a 383 rebuilding the engine. Problem is that I have not worked on an engine in awhile so I have a question. I bought a new cam, & got the cam bearings replaced before hand. Installing the cam went well up to the part where the final lobe was about to be pushed in place. It would not go on without me tapping(very gently) the end of the rod I had screwed into the cam. The cam was finally into place, but when I put the cam gear on so I can turn the cam, it is tight but will move. My question is to the people that have done the cam/new bearings route. Is this a tight fit, or usually slips right into place. I used a ton of grease on the cam before installing, also put grease on the cam bearing before I started to install the cam. Any help would be great. Thanks

[dodge freak]

When I had my engine redone they wanted my cam to fit it to the new bearings. It was tight so he took it out and file some of the bearings, it took a few times. Then after he was done he said some people just leave them alone and never have a problem, but he likes to be safe. Others said he was wasting time too. Thats all I can tell you.

[Runner]

they acually make a bearing knife for "fitting" cam bearings.  most mopars need some tweeking

[beenaround]

it should turn freely,i would have a shop fit the cam.every motor i ever did i had the machine shop fit the bearings and cam.this is  one of those things that is not a do it yourself job.

[John_Kunkel]

I have an old cam that I turned into a bearing reamer by cutting diagonal slots across each bearing journal with a hacksaw, turn it slowly with a little lube and it will remove most of the high spots while showing where the high spots are for further trimming with a bearing scraper. (or pocket knife)

[Runner]

got a picture john?

[javakmcharger68]

Well that just sucks! I just picked up my engine from the shop & already put the back cam plug(frost plug) into its place. The cam turns, but it is stiff. I wish the machine shop mentioned this detail before taking the engine home. I have the heads on & everything. Thanks for the info

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I have an old cam that I turned into a bearing reamer by cutting diagonal slots across each bearing journal with a hacksaw, turn it slowly with a little lube and it will remove most of the high spots while showing where the high spots are for further trimming with a bearing scraper. (or pocket knife)

Thats a good tip!

[John_Kunkel]

got a picture john?

[RD]

I had this happen to me, but it wasnt the bearings, it was the cam that was bent.  I had my machine shop check it out and it was out of tolerance just enough so that it would not fit.  I returned the cam to summit and got a new one.  Voila', it fit nicely into the last cam bearing.  Somewhere, the first cam I bought was dropped I guess.

Moral of the story, have your cam checked out at your machine shop for straightness.

[tan top]

I have an old cam that I turned into a bearing reamer by cutting diagonal slots across each bearing journal with a hacksaw, turn it slowly with a little lube and it will remove most of the high spots while showing where the high spots are for further trimming with a bearing scraper. (or pocket knife)

got a picture john?

  wow thats a clever idea John !!    , wonder if that would work for a oil pump  shaft  bushing  , if the new one is too tight & have not got the correct burnishing tool 

[John_Kunkel]

Reaming that bushing isn't the correct way to size it, burnishing with the correct installation tool is the only correct way.

[tan top]

Reaming that bushing isn't the correct way to size it, burnishing with the correct installation tool is the only correct way.

  yes guessed as much

thank you for the reply John ! appreciated 

[idahogrumpy]

If the engine is being assembled and the cam bearings are tight you can use a red rag on a rod mounted in a drill to polish the bearings. You must be very careful not to hit the other bearings with the rod while polishing. This will also show any high spots that might need to be addressed. Go slow. After the cam is correctly fitted, remove the cam and do a good clean job, pressure wash, compressed air dry, and a good soaking of WD40.

Grumpy

[warpspeed]

I realize that this is an old thread but very informative.  I was "trying" to install a new cam in  my engine.  It just won't go in the last inch or so.  With this thread, old as it is, I can now relax.  I will take the engine and cam to the machine shop and let them inform me whether they have to Shave the bearings or the cam is bent.  I know it wasn't dropped but it has been sitting for awhile on the engine waiting to be installed.  This isn't the first engine I have installed a cam in, but this is the first time one didn't want to go in.  Thanks for the information.  And Grumpy, that is good!

[Chargerguy74]

Resurrection. I found this thread in a search. Decided to do a cam swap today on my new 440. Pulled my new Lunati cam for a new comp cam, can't get the comp cam in the last 3/4 inch or so. She locks up solid to the point I can't turn it by hand and would have to beat it in (which I did not do). All the journals look fine. Reinstalled the Lunati, went fine, I think the comp is bent.

EDIT: It doesn't appear to be bent. Just a learning lesson on cam bearings and journal tolerances for me. Thanks Challenger340 for the help. I lightly tapped the cam in, kept the journals oiled, and rotated it with a screwdriver. Seems to be rotating much easier now. Thought I'd post this up incase someone like me one day has the same issue, and does a search on here for answers.