Cam chest noise
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From: Honah Lee
@jim@audiodogstudio.com. My bad. Didn't notice they didn't give the figures for best wire size using either the .105 or the .108 for you motor.
The #36 drill is actually 0.1053 at the shank in. Only 0.0003 bigger. Why I said use the 7/64 that was only 0.0002 bigger and figured you had that.
Sorry. Either pin size will work if you had your original cam gear to compare.
The #36 drill is actually 0.1053 at the shank in. Only 0.0003 bigger. Why I said use the 7/64 that was only 0.0002 bigger and figured you had that.
Sorry. Either pin size will work if you had your original cam gear to compare.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 29, 2026 at 02:25 PM.
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From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
It can be difficult to pin down a noise from a recording. Buying a matching gear set doesn't mean that the gear mesh will be right for the particular engine. Back in 1974 the tooling wasn't as accurate as a CNC, so the tolerances weren't as good as they are now. The reason that there are different sizes of pinion & cam gears is there were variances of the locations of the pinion and cam journals, so the gears had to be hand fitted from the factory to fit correctly.
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From: poway
It can be difficult to pin down a noise from a recording. Buying a matching gear set doesn't mean that the gear mesh will be right for the particular engine. Back in 1974 the tooling wasn't as accurate as a CNC, so the tolerances weren't as good as they are now. The reason that there are different sizes of pinion & cam gears is there were variances of the locations of the pinion and cam journals, so the gears had to be hand fitted from the factory to fit correctly.
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From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
The gears whine pretty loud if they are tight. The OP can pull a lifter block to check the gear lash if he is so inclined.
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Joined: May 2026
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From: New Mexico
The lifter blocks are still out. What is the best way to check the gear lash?
Last edited by jim@audiodogstudio.com; May 29, 2026 at 06:01 PM. Reason: spelling
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
Before you do this, check the crankshaft run out & end play first.
Last edited by Tommy C; May 29, 2026 at 07:02 PM.
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From: New Mexico
Install the cam cover and the cam without the shim(s). Check to see that you are able to slide the cam back and forth without it binding, or feel noticeable play when rotating the cam & the gear. If it binds, you need a smaller gear, if you feel play between the gears, you need one size bigger.
Before you do this, check the crankshaft run out & end play first.
Before you do this, check the crankshaft run out & end play first.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
You might be able to go in the lifter block hole with a test indicator.
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Novice
Joined: May 2026
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From: New Mexico
I might be able to get a dial indicator in there against a cam lobe. I'll try that tomorrow.