Ok, i am doing a cam swap, i got the old one out, and i put the new one in, now i went to put the cover back over the cam, but the cam is sticking out a little bit, is it supposed to stick out or is it supposed to be flush? The way it is now does not seem like it will work.I tried to push the cam in a little more so it will be flush but it wouldnt go
Heres the pic:

 

Put the gear on, and then push it back in. It'll go. The force of the lifters and valve springs and all, will make it a bit stiff. The thrust surface of the cam gear will align it to the correct spot.

 

Ok, ill try that, only thing is, is that the head and lifters are all removed

 

Ok i have another question, i am going from a roller cam to a non roller cam, now i know that this is a downgrade and roller is better, but with my budget, i had to make the swap. But anyhow, i went to put my timing set on and noticed that the cam gear will not fit, so im gonna go to the auto parts store and get a kit for an older car, that will work right? Also, am i gonna need a new cam retainer lock plate?

 

Yes, you need the correct timing set for a non-roller cam.

Leave the retainer plate out.

 

Pay carefull attention to the area by the oil galley plugs at the top. I've done this and found that the $20 cloyes double row chain will interfere slighty with the block right above the center plug. Nothing a little careful grinding won't fix, but something to check before you put it back together.

 

So i dont have to use the retainer plate? How does the cam stay in place? i just got done ordering one at auto zone, good thing it was only 3 bucks

I will look for this, Thanks for the tip!

 

Magic!!

The cam lobes are cut at a very slight angle. The bottom of the lifter pushes the cam into the engine.

 

Ok, great, so back to the original post and topic, where the cam stick out a little bit, it should do that on a non roller cam right? Because i just put the chain and gear on and just snuged the bolts fingertight and it all lines up pretty wel

 

It should go in all the way. With the chain off, and the new crank gear pressed on and the cam geared bolts tightened, lay a flat edge across the two gears. It should be flat.

 

The two gears are flush with eachother, they line up perfect, but thats with the cam like it is in the picture

 

Then you should be fine.

 

Ok, thanks for all the help!!

 

I'm thinking the roller might have stuck out a little also, and poked through the plate. I'm doing the same swap (I think!). Let us know how it goes once it's buttoned up.

 

That is a good point, i never thought of that.
Ok, i have another question, on the roller lifters there were little retainer that sat on top of the lifters, there was one per every 2 lifters, do i need to use those?

 

No. They are retainers only for the roller lifters.

 

ok, well i guess that should do it for now. Thanks Alot

 

Did you get new pushrods? Stock ones for roller cam are too short.

 

I havent yet but i have a part number and everything so that i can order them