How much bearing damage is too much

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Where is Op located exactly? I'm in Oceanside and pass through LA to the valley about every month. I might be able to drop by with my installer and pop them in.
 
famous bob said:
ifth

if the can turns freely run it , cam bearings can look like hell and be good...
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When you see a crack like this in one of his bearings the discussion is over. The bearings need changed out

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famous bob said:
ifth

if the can turns freely run it , cam bearings can look like hell and be good...
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You are correct but if the damage reaches past the edge from the oil hole you will lose some oil pressure. I'd replace them, Better safe then sorry.
 
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jsadamson said:
I am thinking so. It’s my first cam swap and I read “don’t scratch the cam bearings” like 1000 times. Used a bolt and everything but that is like banging on sh&t damage
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To install the cam with the engine out, first install the crank. Then I like to stand the block on its butt on 2×4s laid on their side. With the block level it is easy to drop the cam gently straight down without knicking a bearing. Then you can install the rod and piston assemblies while watching and guiding the rods over the crank.
I got used to this working on Detroit Diesel engines as the engine stand bolted to the side of the block. The 2×4s keep the crank off the bench so you can rotate it. Then I lay it on the main caps to bolt the engine stand bracket on to complete the assembly. Works for me but your results may vary.
For those saying run it, I disagree. Mechanical stuff and Murphy's law likes my *** too much to chance it. At this point and all that is being done, $150 is cheap insurance.
 
famous bob said:
didnt see a crack, only thing that would worry me on that one would be if it could come completely loose and get loose in the engine ...
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Crack? Hard to say but more likely a scratch to the edge that has been bleeding oil and eroding the bearing. It is apart so just install new for peace of mind.
 
Bring your cam to them, make sure they know it is the cam you are going to use. Make sure it spins freely after they install the new bearings. One shop I went to, wouldn’t do it without the cam. I bought the tool a couple of years ago.
 
Maybe the camshaft tunnel is not straight the machine shop can tell
 
teringer said:
Maybe the camshaft tunnel is not straight the machine shop can tell
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You take the cam to the shop installing the bbearings so they can verify free rotation. Then you need the cam out to clean the oil passages and the whole block before reassembly. I like to stand the block on the bell housing end to lower the cam in. It should rotate easily with the index finger and thumb.
 
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