SBC Rear Cam Plug

[rfmaster]

I am in process of building my 383 engine and one basic question that pop up was the how deep to drive rear cam plug. David Vizard in his "How to rebuild Small block Chevy" states - "Drive the plug in until the edges is just below the chamfer of the face of the block. Spread silicon sealer around the plug-to-block joint". The book shows couple of B&W photos but my copy dates back to 1979 (and has many dog ears!). I am building a roller cam equipped engine that did not exist at the time when he was writing his book.



Does anyone have a better method of making sure that rear cam plug is driven just right to the correct depth.

//RF

[69 longhorn]

set the plug 1/32 - 1/16" beyond the chamfer& you should be good to go. The main thing is that it dont rub on the back of the camshaft. If in doubt, measure the plug for depth, & do the math crazyAL

[rfmaster]

Thanks for the tip - I end up driving plug just below the edge of the chamfer. Then I installed front cam thrust plate. I checked amount of in-out play by moving camshaft until it hit the rear plug. A dial gauge mounted on a magnetic base established amount of total play before cam sprocket was installed. Camshaft sprocket thrust surface keeps cam from moving into the block and thrust plate keeps cam shaft from moving out of the block. A very simple, but effective arrangement! It looks like I have about 25 to 30 mil clearance between rear plug and end of the camshaft. I'll have to double check tomorrow.

//RF

[rfmaster]

Originally Posted by rfmaster

Thanks for the tip - I end up driving plug just below the edge of the chamfer. Then I installed front cam thrust plate. I checked amount of in-out play by moving camshaft until it hit the rear plug. A dial gauge mounted on a magnetic base established amount of total play before cam sprocket was installed. Camshaft sprocket thrust surface keeps cam from moving into the block and thrust plate keeps cam shaft from moving out of the block. A very simple, but effective arrangement! It looks like I have about 25 to 30 mil clearance between rear plug and end of the camshaft. I'll have to double check tomorrow.

//RF

This morning, full of energy I put the question of rear cam plug to cam clearance to bed.

Dial gauge was set up to monitor camshaft end play movement.

Cam was pushed until rear cam flange came in contact with rear plug (not good). Dial reads 35mil


Cam was pulled forward until thrust plate stop further movement. Dial reads 81mil


Installed cam gear and measure. Dial reads 76 mil


Well I have 41 mills of clearance - that should be enough. If not I'll find out the hard way!

[MylilBowTie]

It appears that is a newer roller engine block.

[rfmaster]

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

It appears that is a newer roller engine block.

Yes it is - 97 vortec 880 roller block