cam spacer buttons

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
cam buttons are used to help maintain , and stabilize the cams location in the block,too maintain its forward and back ward movement to a minimum.
the cam button should not be binding or compressed against the front timing chain cover , when the cams installed, there should be about .010 clearance between the cam button and the front cover as installed. this can easily be measured with plasti-gauge.
cambutclear.jpg


step one
measure end clearance, with the cam and timing cover installed ...accurately, in most cases no trimming will be required,
if any trimming is required a figure 8 rocking motion over a sheet of 400 grit sand paper,on a hard flat surface, on the button nose, will slowly reduce the nylon button length
plastig1.JPG

plastig2.png

Plastig3.jpg

plastig4.jpg

plastig5.jpg

plastig6.jpg

plastig7.jpg


some cam timing covers are much better quality
aaf-all90008_xl.jpg


plastig8.jpg

calipersaa.jpg

flat tappet cams lobes have a bevel ground on them,and the lifter bore center-line is slightly off-set insuring a consistent rearward pressure on the cam, but roller cam lobes do not have that beveled surface so a button or retainer plates required, and the button is not a bad idea even on a flat tappet cam, engine as it tends to add some stability.
the buttons come in aluminum, nylon and roller bearing designs Ive always preferred the nylon ones as the easiest to work with,less likely to leave tiny roller bearings in the oil pan and the fastest to clearance correctly, now in theory a flat tappet cam does not need one because the slight tapper on the cam lobes, that's used to insure the lifters spin in their bores, plus the slight offset of the lifter bores tends to force the cam to the rear of the block, but in the real world having a cam button installed tends to help stabilize the cam during hard shifts when the loads rapidly change. flat tappet cams don,t require cam button use but installing one does tend to eliminate one potential source of timing variations, once the timing chain develops some slack.

454build2.jpg

a properly installed nylon cam button with a bolt retainer plates a good idea
properly installed they cause zero problems, in fact Ive used a nylon cam button even on non-roller cam applications for many decades.
a thrust washer to protect the block surface is a good idea IF THE CAM GEAR is designed to use one AND if you have the .007-.005 clearance between the nylon cam button and the timing cover
remember flat tappet cam lobes have a micro angle that tends to force the cam to the rear as it runs so theres very little chance for the cam to move forward in the block like with a roller cam, but the button does tend to eliminate and chance of that so its a good safety measure, even if its not needed most of the time.remember the rear cam journal is covered on the rear block with a freeze plug and oil pressure tends to make the cam stay a few thousands forward as theres a pressurized disc of oil flow behind the cam

properly installed they cause zero problems, in fact Ive used a nylon cam button even on non-roller cam applications for many decades.
a thrust washer to protect the block surface is a good idea IF THE CAM GEAR is designed to use one AND if you have the .007-.005 clearance between the nylon cam button and the timing cover
remember flat tappet cam lobes have a micro angle that tends to force the cam to the rear as it runs so theres very little chance for the cam to move forward in the block like with a roller cam, but the button does tend to eliminate and chance of that so its a good safety measure, even if its not needed most of the time.remember the rear cam journal is covered on the rear block with a freeze plug and oil pressure tends to make the cam stay a few thousands forward as theres a pressurized disc of oil flow behind the cam
rearfreezepluginstallation.jpg


camblockplug.jpg


148_0307_roller_5_z.jpg


READ THIS
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3777&p=10011&hilit=nylon+button#p10011
p43452_image_large.jpg

cl1.jpg


race-engine-cams.jpg

cl2.jpg

READ THIS
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3777&p=10011&hilit=nylon+button#p10011

reading through the threads should help:D

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...to-last-cam-install-info.90/page-2#post-89047

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/cam-degree-equipment-tools.1759/#post-4440

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/timing-tabs-and-indicators.1015/#post-39845

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/valve-train-clearances-and-problems.528/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...e-springs-and-setting-up-the-valve-train.181/

Last edited: 2 minutes ago


p43452_image_large.jpg

cl1.jpg


race-engine-cams.jpg

cl2.jpg

read
SBCRoller.jpg

drillplug.jpg

be sure only one oil passage plugs drilled, generally only the pass side oil passage plug with a single .025-.030 hole, many guys use a 1/32" drill bit because its easy to locate, I prefer the smaller #72 drill
cambutclear.jpg

related info
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4548&p=12128#p12128

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=5734&p=17492#p17492

most SBC cams require a cam button in the timing gear IF YOU want the cam location to be totally stable front to back
COMP_LS_HYDRAULIC_CL.jpg

the later cam design like in the LT1 use a retainer plate and recessed cam nose that gives you the clearance to use it

cambutton.gif

cambutton.jpg

this button is improperly installed as its missing the lock plate
youll generally use LOC-TITE on the retainer bolts threads
use loc-tight on the bolt threads to reduce any tendency for them coming loose
266loc.JPG

there are fully adjustable timing gear sets available
http://www.usaperform.com/timing-chain- ... =4d&page=1

adjustable.jpg


0106em_bbshootout_14_z.jpg

this cam buttons correctly installed but thee retainer plate tabs have not been bent up to lock the bolt heads from rotating
example
buttonretainer.jpg



figure2-r2.gif

notice the more aggressive cam lobe acceleration rate on the roller cam lobes
figure5-5.gif

notice the stepped cam nose to fit retainer plate

hrs-94550_w.jpg


youll really want to use a cam retainer lock plate, over the cam button and under the three cam bolts to hold the cam button into the timing gears, and lock the bolts from getting loose, by bending the tabs up to prevent the bolts from turning and use of red loc-tite on those cam bolt retainer bolt threads is also a good idea.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techa ... index.html


viewtopic.php?f=52&t=1759




Installation Instructions For
Cam Button Spacer
CRANE CAMS, INC.
Designed for use with roller tappet camshafts, the purpose
of the cam button spacer is to maintain the cam in
the correct location in the block. This cam button spacer
fits between the front of the cam and the inside of the
timing cover. This spacer may be held in place by the
bolt locking plate, with the large end of the cam button
spacer fitting into the hole in the cam gear. In most
cases, no machining is required. If you are using a late
model stock type aluminum cam sprocket with plastic
teeth, the center hole is die cast and may need to be
machined to fit the large end of the spacer. Install the
spacer, locking plate (where applicable) and bolts.
Torque the bolts to 20 ft./lbs.
Check camshaft end play and maintain between .005"
and .008". This must be checked with the timing cover
and gasket in place, just as it would be after final assembly,
without the tappets installed. It may be necessary to
dent out the center of the cover in the area that would
contact the spacer. This can easily be done by using a
socket (or an equivalent diameter punch) the same
diameter as the O.D. of the small end of the spacer.
Camshaft end play can best be checked if the engine is
out of the vehicle and on an engine stand. The welch
plug that seals the back end of the cam bore needs to
be removed to access the rear of the cam. Mount a dial
indicator at this location to measure camshaft end play.
Pry the cam forward and backward by using a screwdriver
inserted into a lifter bore where a lobe on the cam
would be at full lift. Be careful not to chip the lobe or the
lifter bore.
If the engine is in the vehicle, there is no suitable place
to mount a dial indicator to detect lateral cam movement
(end play). It would then be necessary to make an educated
judgment as to the end play. Just a slight noticeable
movement, by feel, is all that is necessary.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

cca-202.jpg


figure2-r2.gif

notice the more aggressive cam lobe acceleration rate on the roller cam lobes
figure5-5.gif

notice the stepped cam nose to fit retainer plate
225.jpg.png

they usually use TORX SCREWS LIKE THIS
retainerplate.jpg

vincam.png


stepnoser1.jpg

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku
555-20390.jpg


555-20395.jpg


Instructions for 20390, 20392, 20395 & 20397 FROM JEGS
Cam Button Spacer
Installation Instructions:
Designed for use with roller tappet camshafts, the purpose of the cam button spacer is to maintain the cam in the
correct location in the block. This cam button spacer fits between the front of the cam and the inside of the timing cover.
This spacer may be held in place by the bolt locking plate, with the large end of the cam button spacer fitting into the
hole in the cam gear. In most cases, no machining is required. If you are using a late model stock type aluminum cam
sprocket with plastic teeth, the center hole is die cast and may need to be machined to fit the large end of the spacer.
Install the spacer, locking plate (where applicable) and bolts. Torque the bolts to 20 ft./lbs.
Check camshaft end play and maintain between .005" and .008". This must be checked with the timing cover and
gasket in place, just as it would be after final assembly, without the tappets installed. It may be necessary to dent out
the center of the cover in the area that would contact the spacer. This can easily be done by using a socket (or an
equivalent diameter punch) the same diameter as the O.D. of the small end of the spacer.
Camshaft end play can best be checked if the engine is out of the vehicle and on an engine stand. The Welch plug that
seals the back end of the cam bore needs to be removed to access the rear of the cam. Mount a dial indicator at this
location to measure camshaft end play. Pry the cam forward and backward by using a screwdriver inserted into a lifter
bore where a lobe on the cam would be at full lift. Be careful not to chip the lobe or the lifter bore.
If the engine is in the vehicle, there is no suitable place to mount a dial indicator to detect lateral cam movement (end
play). It would then be necessary to make an educated judgment as to the end play. Just a slight noticeable movement,
by feel, is all that is necessary."
1

http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstruc ... 119661.pdf
 
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marks_lined_up.jpg


install it like this, then rotate the engine one time 360 degrees the cam gear will now be at 12 oclock just like the crank gear, then install the distrib pointing at cylinder #1
this may help
on most aftermarket and on cloyes timing chain sets there are 3 keyways with 3 different marks. There is a:
circle
square
triangle
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/cam-gear-and-timing-marks-etc.724/
btw the multi part timing chain covers that allow a faster cam change are available at a not much increased price for some 1966-1990 BBC applications,
obviously youll want to ask questions and get the correct matched components for your application.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-312/overview/
and sbc
$265
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-310
cca-312_w.jpg


sbctimcovc.jpg


on the crank gear

0 - Indicates standard cam timing
A - Advances the cam timing 4°
R or a square - Retards the cam timing 4°
how come its 180 degs out of phase? I get this question all the time, well heres something I see lots of guys don,t understand,ONCE YOUVE INSTALLED A CAM WITH THE TIMEING MARKS YOU MUST ROTATE THE CRANK 360 DEGRESS BEFORE DROPPING IN THE DISTRIBUTOR
... while its true that if the
timeing marks are possitioned so the crank is at 12 o,clock and the cam gear
is at 6 o,clock that the cam lobes will be in the possition that fires #6
cylinder that HAS NO EFFECT AT ALL (on finding TDC,) for aligning the degree wheel with TDC,or THE timeing tab pointer, for degreeing in the cam, the piston passes thru
TDC TWICE in every fireing cycle once on the fireing/power stroke and once
on the exhaust stroke, the cam rotates at exactly 1/2 the speed of the crank
so to make it easy to line up the marks they install it with the marks at
the closest point 6/12 for easy indexing, rotate the engine 360 degrees to
the #1 TDC power stroke and the crank gear will still be at 12 oclock 12/12
but the cam will be at 12 o,clock also, rotate another 360 degrees and your
back where you started. its simply easier to index the cam at the point
where the index marks align closely. look at how the cam lobes themselfs
open the valves when the cam is just installed the #1 cylinder valves are
slightly open and the #6 are closed
per "Lunati"
""YES YOU ARE RIGHT - WHEN CRANK IS AT TWELVE AND CAM IS AT SIX THEN #6 CYL IS FIRING
AFTER YOU LINE UP YOUR MARKS AND INSTALL GEAR THEN ROTATE YOUR CRANK ONE REVOLUTION AND THEN DROP THE DIST. IN - AT THAT POINT #1 IS FIRING""

use of the dots, as index points will work most of the time in theory, youll be close to correct, if you want things dead on correct you need to take the time to degree it in, the difference can be 5-20hp depending on how lucky you get with tolerances
take the time to read thru the whole thread and sub linked info
its well worth the effort

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=90&p=114#p114
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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