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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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I ask mostly out of curiosity. The date casting on block of my 1954 truck 235 is "L 4 3" which seems to indicated December 4, 1953. (realize this doesn't necessarily indicate when the engine was actually built.) I haven't got the cam out, but the distributor gear has no grooves, and the drive gear on the cam looks to be the more narrow one, which piqued my curiosity.
Scott Andrews
Dacula, GA
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Scott,
I have often wondered about that myself. I have never found a date when the change was made or if it was ever made.
The parts book is of no help and when you check "cam bearings" it just says 37-54 with small journals and 54-59 with large journals and gives the demensions for both.
Gene Schneider
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I found this in the restoration pac material. The new cast iron camshaft entered production on 5-1-54 (truck section).
The car section says 4-12-54
Last edited by Chev Nut; 10/12/14 08:25 PM.
Gene Schneider
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Gene,
Thanks for that info; I've often wondered when that might have occurred. I'll see what happens as I get into rebuilding this engine. Unless the cam is really wiped out, I probably should be able to get it reground. On the other hand, I've heard all sorts of stories about difficulties finding replacement lifters for this particular camshaft. I guess I'll find out soon enough!
Scott Andrews
Dacula, GA
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If it were my engine and the bottom of the lifters is not chipping out and the cam lobes look OK I would reuse what I have. If the cam and lifters are reused the lifters should go back in the same holes. Some times you will find a little wear on one edge of the cam lobe but this is normal and they all look like that. The only thing about reginding the cam is that the surface must be rehardened. Also the rocker arm adjusting screws will go deeper into the rocker arm.
The old forged steel cam was a lot better than the "late" cast cam. We never had trouble with the forged cams but once in a while the cast cams would loose a lobe. It may have been due to the stronger valve springs used in the Hyd. lifter engines from 1954-1958.
Thanks for asking the question....now I know the answer too. Never bothered to look that deep for the answer.
Last edited by Chev Nut; 10/12/14 11:08 PM.
Gene Schneider
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Thanks for the very sound advice regarding the lifters and camshaft!
Scott Andrews
Dacula, GA
#J25833
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