A new cam for the Tempest and a nasty surprise.
My ‘68 Tempest has had clicking lifters for the couple years that I have owned it. Not a big deal, but I hooked up an oil pressure gauge and saw that the oil pressure was actually pretty good. That meant that the lifter problem was either a worn valve train part or clogged hydraulic lifters. I found a new cam (mellings) on ebay for $92 and thought it would be a quick fix. Unfortunately, when I pulled the cam, I found this:
The cam bearings were shot, several had pieces flaking off. This was a Friday night, nobody local had cam bearings for pontiac and it was going to rain the next week, so I didn’t want to take the Harley to work. So I ordered some bearings from summit (and pushrods and rockers, might as well make a clean sweep) and rushed to put the ‘55 back together before monday (that’s a future post). The other problem was that I had always had cam bearings replaced when I got an engine rebuilt, so I didn’t have a puller. Next time I’ll show how I built a cam bearing installation tool and put the engine back together.
Good to have you back, man!
Comment by Anonymous — October 18, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Wonder if you took a peek at the old cam number - Most of the 68 Tempest 2bbl 350 block ID’s were “YN” and all had the same cam. Would be interested in knowing what your old cam was.
Thanks,
Stu
Comment by Stu — December 14, 2007 @ 10:06 am
The old cam’s number is 537441 with U stamped on the front. Seems to match the chart in the “Pontiac GTO Restoration Guide”, which amazingly, you get a link to in google books if you search on the part number and pontiac
Comment by Administrator — December 14, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Yep, same one was in both my 1968 350’s. And, came with the #17 heads as well. Built the first one up to an all-out racing engine for my Dirt Late Model back in the 80’s. Did a good job for 5 years til I moved up to the 455 when the engine rules opened up.
Stu
Comment by Stu — December 15, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Next time try about half a quart of atf first. It’s usually just as effective and a whole lot less work.
You do nice work though-
Comment by DAve — August 3, 2008 @ 11:34 am