I've used the keys a ton, too and never had one fail or seen one fail. Ever. I agree too that they are not meant to carry load. I'd be surprised if the load on them was even measureable.
Cam Phasing
- Thread starter Bodyperson
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Newbomb Turk
Well-Known Member
Yup. 100% true.
If anyone is familiar with a Milodon or similar gear drive there is no keyway to time the cam.
I bought an ignition for a dirt bike I had. The rotor didn’t have a key slot in it.
The factories use stuff like that so they can slam that **** together.
Well hell, I guess i'll just throw that 30 dollar key in the garbage when it shows up. lol
I certainly wouldn't do that, but so far, you've not said anything to make be believe one iota that you actually know where the cam is in the engine. But alas, it's not my engine, so have at it!
It'll only help you.
Yes, YOU are beyond help
Nah, get Your money's worth out of it!!
Locking cam & crank in place while tightening was probably facilitated by purpose made tools & practice, but they claimed it gave them flexibility, and saved a bunch of time.
All the Ford DOHC Z-tech etc. engines use no dowels or keys on the cams, they use an alignment bar that slides into slots cut into the tail end of each cam, and a screw/pin to lock the crank.
We ALL already knew that. lolYes, YOU are beyond help
Newbomb Turk
Well-Known Member
My wife would swear in court to that lol!
Of course, she'd be throwing me under the bus right along with you so there is that.
Kitty would drive that beeotch right over the both of us. Then back up and do it again.
That sounds like somethin I'd say. lol
Well, as an engineer, I don't like to assume anything "back in the day." I know the physics didn't change but I wasn't there so I hesitate to say for sure what someone was thinking for the design.
We're all familiar with the "3-bolt" cams vs 1-bolt. The 3-bolts were used on the more radical cams. Again, I assume the engineers decided they needed increased clampload for the harmonics associated with the bigger lobes so they went to 3 bolts to get that added clampload/friction.
I'll share this: for the crank damper joint (which also uses a key for location), there are highly complex models/calculations run to come up with a calculated value that has to meet a spec to insure the damper joint will not move. Again, the bolt supplies the clampload and the joint is then held tight by friction.
Some of you may have disassembled a modern engine and found a "gritty" washer between such a joint. We call those "diamond washers" as they are impregnated with diamond dust/chips to enhance friction and thus the integrity of the joint. You engineer things to NOT need them (unnecessary cost) but sometimes field data or a challenging design forces you to add them. FWIW
You said impregnated.
Newbomb Turk
Well-Known Member
jos51700
Green Bearing thread connoisseur
To further that, I've seen big block cams that were assembled without the dowel and never lost time
I bought a blew up mopar for the intake one time, shortblock was garbage, 340 heads were good except for afew bent valves, had good rockers on it. Couldn't get the cam gear off without pulling it. A piece of blown up parts got into the oil pump drive and locked up the cam, sheared the cam key and cracked the cam. I dressed everything up with a file and emerycloth and ran it for afew more years, racer brown st21 I believe
That key was a victim of a catastrophic failure. Heck even the cam gave . Lol
When you say you “ran it “ another few years… what was “it” ?
That’s interesting! Love details like that .
I put this in a 360 circle track motor, previous owner had it in one also. Had a victor 340 intake on it and a hole in the block, think I gave $150 for it, which the intake was worth that. Ended up being a good deal. It did take afew chunks out of the oil pump drive gear but it cleaned up enough to use.
I still don’t know what “this” is ?
You said the block and cam were trashed.
Was “it” the intake ?
Not trying to be snarky ….
Were the crank and rods still good ?
No way I would have run the intermediate shaft ( oil pump drive ). You lucked out there.
I ran this camshaft and its solid lifters in another motor. Block, crank , acouple of the rods and pistons were junk. I should have been clearer. Came out of a friends circle track motor that he blew and was tired of it taking up space, he told me what was in it but never minded to tear it apart.. so I took a chance.
B3422w5
Well-Known Member
Me too. Had a key in my W5 motor with a 273/280@50 roller. Ran it lots for years. Zero issues.74-7500 at the big end every pass
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