Cam bearing oil hole

[5.7 hemi]

Groove the cam, problem solved.

 

[Hemirunner]

Groove the cam, problem solved.

Totally not needed... this whole thread is a non-issue.

 

[5.7 hemi]

If the OP is worried, that would alleviate any worry.

 

[Hemirunner]

I agree.

Well...... sort of.
Those holes not lining up is not really going to be where the “restriction” is.
The restriction is the clearance between the cam and the bearing....... which will be way less area than the size of that hole.

Exactly. The bearing overlapping the feed hole is only a restriction if the cam is entirely out of the block. With the cam in place, the restriction is the bearing clearance.

 

[TopBanana72]

If the OP is worried, that would alleviate any worry.

Well, I'm going to go with it as is. I'll post here if I have any issues after the build is done...

 

[JoePole]

Years ago I bought a "rebuilt" 360. I decided to do some checks. Found blocked oil passages so I did a full disassembly. This was the first engine that I had ever taken apart. I found the number 3? bearing that looked identical to the OP. I freaked out thinking it was sure to cause issues. Since I had the crank out, I ran a long drill bit through the oil feed hole and the cam bearing. I then carefully chamfered from the top. Engine still alive with good oil pressure 11 years later.

 

[Tommy's68RR]

Have them take it out and install a new bearing even if you have to buy a whole set. The shoddy install job blocks the oil supply by over half. Not ok in my book.

That's like having an artery to your heart with a blockage. It may continue to beat, but why not deal with it now, instead of the engine heart attack later. I'd take it back, SHODDY indeed.

 

[66Satellite47]

Well, I'm going to go with it as is. I'll post here if I have any issues after the build is done...

The #3 is not as critical as #2 & #4. As Hemirunner has said the bearing clearance is the important factor for a #3.

 

[beanhead]

I've disassembled several factory-built engines that looked just like the OP's.
It used to surprise me but after seeing how nice the bearings and cam journals were on those engines I came to the conclusion that it must not be all that critical. If it was, the factory would have taken more care to align those holes or Mopars would have a reputation as being "bearing eaters"....heck if anything you'll be pressing a little more oil down to that #3 thrust bearing.
The more important thing with cam bearings, to me anyway, is how the cam fits..

 

[TopBanana72]

I've disassembled several factory-built engines that looked just like the OP's.
It used to surprise me but after seeing how nice the bearings and cam journals were on those engines I came to the conclusion that it must not be all that critical. If it was, the factory would have taken more care to align those holes or Mopars would have a reputation as being "bearing eaters"....heck if anything you'll be pressing a little more oil down to that #3 thrust bearing.
The more important thing with cam bearings, to me anyway, is how the cam fits..

Just to comment on this and how good the 318 engine is, it was about 128,000 mile original engine teardown. Prior, engine ran well, but oil pressure was low and blow-by high. Refresh time. I was amazed at the good condition of the crank journals. The crank only needed a wash and polish. The block needed a .030 overbore. The only missing bits of metal were from both the cam bearings (mostly number 2) and some bigger bits from the sides of the number 3 crank thrust bearing. All these pieces were trapped in the oil pickup screen.

 

[451Mopar]

As mentioned, a non-issue. I was just commenting that the job could have been done with more attention to detail

 

[TopBanana72]

As mentioned, a non-issue. I was just commenting that the job could have been done with more attention to detail

Well, I haven't installed the cam itself yet, so we shall see...