Cascade Crew

91RSVert · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 5:56 am Post subject: Help with neighbors camaro

My neighbor has a 92 Camaro with a highly modified 400 ci in it. Has a cam big enough that they put a vacuum pump for the brakes. He bought the car all modified. He knows a few things about cars, but not a lot. But willing to learn.

Anyway, it died last week on him. We tore into it yesterday and found the distributor gear rounded off. I told him for reliability, he likely needs to replace the cam and distributor. I'm kinda now questioning myself. But am I correct that it could have damaged that back gear on the cam? And that the reason this happened is that the two parts were not hardened to the same rating? Oil pump still spins freely.

chevymad · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:56 am Post subject:

There are some very poor distributor gears out there. Personally I'd just change the gear. You are nearly as likely to have the same problem with a new cam too. I think Mike went through 2 or 3 gears before we found one that would hold up. Hopefully he or someone else with experience will remember the brand.

91RSVert · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:51 pm Post subject:

He bought the car built. I also went and bought one of the camera on a stick things Laughing

today. Ran it down the hole. I confirmed the cam gear is damaged. So he needs to come up with a new cam.

This is the car he bought, and I'm helping with. Need suggestions for a smaller cam, that is daily driven around town.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/camaros-sale/671075-1992-camaro-rs-406ci.html

RSFreak · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:58 pm Post subject:

That's a nice clean build! I'd think an LT1 cam would be mild enough for that motor. Wink

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:44 am Post subject:

I was kinda thinking the lt4 hot cam? But I'm not sure what the effective rpm range is on it.

Another thought. The people he got it from claimed it hadnt ran much. He hasnt drove it enough to change the oil yet. What I'm wondering is since this was a "to roller conversion". I'm thinking how do you keep the camshaft in, and did they put that part in?

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:42 am Post subject:

Timing cover button. Use the soft gear sold specifically for aftermarket rolle cams. It becomes a wear item.

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:32 pm Post subject:

I noticed a lot of brass gears. So use that?

cam button, I see that's to be adjustable. I'm trying to figure out how to adjust it w/o putting the timing cover on a dozen times or so to get it right. His has a nice aftermarket aluminum one I think.