For those who have a retro fit cam I have a question. Did you use the thrust washer between the cam and the block?

When I put my engine together I used it. I DID NOT however check my cam clearance because last time I had the engine together I did not have problems.

Basically I didn't have any clearance and it milled off that thrust washer. The debris went through the engine and destroyed the bottom end.

I went ahead and had the machine shop put the bottom end together for me. One of the old guys that has been working there for about 25 years asked why I used that thrust washer. I told him because comp cams told me to.

Basically he told me I didn't need it. He explained how the distributer gear pulls the cam to the rear of the block. He said the cam button needs to be there but said the thrust washer doesn't. He said the factory roller cam engines don't.

He makes sense but I want to talk to someone who has had success with one.

Thank you.

 

You don't need to use a thrust washer between the cam gear and the block, but you could.

You'd have to be putting an appreciable amount of force on it for it to wear like that.

 

My hydraulic roller cam i had didn't need it, but I had problems when I switched over to a solid roller. The cam would move back and push out the cap/freeze plug at the back of the block, and that doesn't help timing let alone the other stuff.

 

Something was pretty wrong with your setup then. The cam gear limits the rearward movement of the cam, there's no way it should have been touching the plug.

 

Yes there was. Live and learn I guess.

 

I didn't use the thrust washer with my solid roller. I used a cam button and that was it.

 

I appreciate the replies. Makes me feel better about the whole thing.

 

I use timing chains with the roller brg on the block side and I use a roller buton on the front.