Camshaft Problem after Engine Rebuild

[magnum78]

Hello,

i completely rebuild my 400 CUI Engine from my 78 Magnum.
The origninal camshaft was worn out and i replaced it by a Edeldbrock Performer one.

Ill think i did something wrong in reassembling the engine. She is running normal, but i have a strange noise from the frontend from time to time (like some nuts in tincan while shaking). The distributor is shaking a bit. My first tought was that the distributor shaft is out of round, but that is not the case.

Ill tryed to move the camshaft with an gigant Screwdriver and i seen that i can move the camshaft a bit in each direction foreward and backwards.

I am very sure that i dont forgot any part while reassembling the engine.

While unmount the old camshaft i missed any retainer clip like i know that from Ford engines.
But i found a article in the internet that the Chrysler Engines running in the opposite direction of the Ford Engines, so the tendency to push the camshaft in direction of the Radiator is not given.

Maybe some of you have an idea for me.

Thanks in advanced

Manuel

 

[eric383]

Try to narrow down where the noise is coming from. I like to use a 2' to 3' piece of heater hose. hold 1 end of the hose to your ear and move the other end around the engine to locate where the noise is coming from. If you are certain nothing dropped into the engine possibly it is something rattling like exhaust to frame also make sure fan bolts are tight. Good luck.

 

[ddpsnake]

water pump?

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Did your motor have a spring button on the end of the camshaft to keep it from walking and contacting the timing cover?

 

[wyrmrider]

moving back and forth is normal, the taper on the cam lobes of a flat tappet cam keep it in place, roller needs positive location

no clips on RB Mopar

MOPAR motors and FORD motors/ cams turn the same direction (when chain drive)
IDK if Mopar and Ford have opposite taper on the lobes which would put thrust in opposite direction and require different thrust - but I doubt it
MOPAR the cam gear is the thrust to the block

dbl check your cam and dist gears by pulling dist- maybe put a flex magnet in and move around- something's loose
auf wiedersehen

 

[Daves69]

Slinger in backwards?

 

[PurpleBeeper]

These guys above me all have good suggestions. DEFINITELY see if you can determine if the noise is coming from front/back/left/right/top/bottom of the engine.

You might try this too.
1. Remove the fuel pump rod & see if it is really worn out & look at the arm of the fuel pump too. This would be my first guess.
2. Pull out the distributor & see if the bushing it sits in looks OK.
3. Take off the valve covers & look for "contact marks"
4. Water pump going bad is possible - see if you can move the shaft side-to-side.
5. Something (like exhaust) rattling against the engine/body is possible.
6. Take a good look for a nut/bolt floating around by the cam shaft.
7. Drain the oil & stick a magnet on a antennae inside the drain hole & "fish" for a loose piece of metal inside the oil pan.
8. Oil slinger on crankshaft in front of timing chain is possible too.

 

[dietz_diggler]

Is it only making the noise while accelerating? If so, could be pinging/detonation.

 

[Wietse]

Is it only making the noise while accelerating? If so, could be pinging/detonation.

That, including a shaking distributor (loose?) that goes "off" it's setting causing detonation?
Because it is not creating the noise all the time...