[mikeb]

Originally Posted by pontiac jack

Abrasives (hone, etc.) can't be used on bearing material. Pontiac shop manuals talk about the need to sometimes selectively ream cam bearings after installation- both for factory assembly of new engines (yes, that's what the book says) and during engine rebuilding (my quotes from the manual are somewhere in the archives here). Most shops use an old camshaft for selective reaming- cutting a precisely-square-edged groove in a journal- the sharp edge of the groove serves to cut away a tiny amount of bearing material "high spots". In my old post, I referenced my 'autopsy' of a cam bearing- to determine that there is plenty of bearing material thickness to cut a couple of thousands from- I think it was around .015".

The last two pontiacs i've had machined I learned to take the cam with me to the shop as the bearings seem to need to be massaged for the cam to spin freely. Learned that lesson after putting together a shortblock and then found that the cam would not go in. I don't know how my shop fits the bearings, but i've never had an issue with them after whatever they do to them.

[TnVTX]

So far, so good!
I've now got over 1,000 miles on it, and it's still hanging in. And I've been really opening this beast up, leaving my "mark" all over town
It's a shame nobody make an aluminum 2-piece oil pan, like one that is available to the Buick 455's.
With that pan, you can unbolt the sump section for inspection, and it would be even more beneficial for us since our oil pump is there too...

[HWYSTR455]

No Dave, haven't used Gil in years, Kenson's did the machine work on the block, and I got the rotating assembly from Bulter. Kenson's has done my stuff for years, Rick is really good and is used to dealing with me. Unfortunately, Kenson bros have retired, and the shop closed about a month or so ago...

The first time I swapped bearing halfs on 2 rods, my error, though I think it was a combo issue along with the cam bearing thing.

I sent the crank back to Butler, who checked it for straightness, index, and turned & balanced it (zero). I got all new rod & main bearings from them at that time (pump, gaskets, etc), and one replacement rod to replace the one that had blued slightly from the spin. They had the balance info from my rotating assembly and were able to match the rod (balance & clearances).

As I mentioned before, the main bearings were fine in my case, and only showed issues from debris from the other bearings. So I don't suspect an align bore problem and went with cleaning it up and correcting the rotating assembly.

I mic'd everything, and can post the specs, they were all on target. I called Butler and relayed all my clearances to them, who felt they were right where they're supposed to be.

The only thing that might have caused an issue was the fact that the carb I had was one of the Holleys that the coating flaked off, and that could have caused a lean condition, but I seriously doubt it. It was so few miles, and it never pinged. (search for Holley Melt-down post for details there).

Like I said, I haven't taken it apart yet, but listening to it, it's sounds like a rod knock, and it's on the 1-2 journal, I can hear it when I lay on the floor in the front of the car. Not happy is a total understatement, and not sure I'll try again on this engine....

What are you driving now? I haven't talked to Eric in years, maybe pass a hello from me to him...

-Mike

[HWYSTR455]

TnVTX - Darn I'm glad to hear, know how relieved you must be! My turn next! Heh-heh! Nice pan there for the buicks, but how would that work in a handling application without traps? I had one of the original VSE alluminum pans that I gave up for a Milodon road race, will probably upgrade to the 2nd design before I drop it in the car this time....

mikeb - My cam went in fine the first time, though I honestly can't remember how freely it turned. Obviously it wasn't 'free' enough! You can be sure I'll double check that from here on out! And I know the trick now too about checking the tunnel sizes before inserting the bearings!

[DPlum]

Rick is an excxellent machinist and is doing some work out of tyson machine 703.471.1802 Simon is the owner he has done all my stuff for 10 years w/o problems. 554hp 98 vette Procharged over 60k and all the other crap I've owned over the years. Need anything email me hplum@erols.com

[HWYSTR455]

Appreciate it Dave, and glad to know where Rick is now. I have an Olds engine I need done, and will use Tyson Machine for it! I'll email you, been years, think the last time I saw you was like '97 or so when you & Eric came over to look at that 72 GTO I was selling, if you remember!