Roller cam thrust bearing...

[sled_dog]

is a pain in the ass to locate... I am trying to put my 383 together but I can't locate a new cam thrust bearing. I threw the old one out knowing I would not want to reuse it and now I can't locate a replacement. Dealership just shows the retainer plate(the thrust bearing is a torrington bearing between the retainer plate and the camshaft) and can't garauntee me that the plate will come with the bearing. SWEET. been to a GMC and a Chevy dealer, neither has it(one wanted $10 more to order the retainer plate). The first place knew exactly what I meant(the retainer anyway).

So has anyone torn down a roller motor? Do you remember a thrust bearing between the cam and retainer plate or am I being crazy? I swear I remember one, hell I can picture it, but I've torn apart numerous transmissions with torrington bearings in them since then so I could be crossing up memories to fit what I "want" to be seeing.

I need to figure this out, I can't put my timing cover on or my oil pan until I figure out if I need this bearing or what.

 

[thor]

Shouldn't be one there, the retainer just captures the step on the cam snout on the stock set up..

 

[HarryH3]

I just took apart a factory roller cam motor in the last few months. It only had a retainer plate up front. No bearing. There isn't much thrust there, it's just to keep the cam in place. Flat tappet cams have a slight taper in the lobes that cause the lifters to rotate and also slightly pushes the cam towards the rear of the engine, to keep it in place. Roller cams will just walk around since they don't have that feature. So you need a retainer plate or cam button to hold the cam where it belongs.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I agree with Harry, there is no torrington thrust bearing in that location, only a thrust plate held on with torx screws.

 

[sled_dog]

I agree with Harry, there is no torrington thrust bearing in that location, only a thrust plate held on with torx screws.

thanks, I know full well why its there. didn't want to have to run a stupid cam button vs that plate. Installed it a bit ago and realized it fit just right without a bearing.

 

[Swampy79]

I realize that I am 4 years late on this post but does anyone have the torx screw dimensions (thread count, size) for this thrust plate, I've got a bare block 383 coming together and I'm having to put it all together from scratch.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I can't recall the dimensions of the bolts but there are two different thrust plates that were used (different bolt spacing) GM #10088128 (3.620" spacing) or GM #10168501 (3.294" spacing).

 

[Swampy79]

Thanks man, I appreciate the effort either way, I've got the thrust plate, and I think a trip to the local GM dealer for some diagram digging is in order, I was obviously just try to rush on the weekend to-do list before the regular week keeps me from getting anything done.....damn you monday through friday...

 

[4X4HIGH]

Why not just hit up your local junk yard in the morning and pull a couple used bolts?

 

[Swampy79]

That sounds like the plan for me. I did figure out that the thread count is 1/4-20, not sure of the depth though for anyone else's future reference.