When changing the cam, I've heard it is a best practice to press the original cam gear onto the new cam, but what about the thrust washer? My original one measures .63, it looks pretty good (20K miles on it). I'm wondering if it is a best practice to use the original one of should I go with a .60 or .65 which are brand new?

 

you need to measure for clearance.

reuse your old gasket, and snug at least 3 bolts on the cam chest. now, through the lifter block hole, measure the endplay on the cam. when I did mine (all 5 times lol), i shot for .010" endplay (back and forth movement on the cam between the case and cam cover)

 

Once I have the cam chest snugged on, how do I get the cam to move back and forth? Do I attach the sensor cup and pull on it? (Sorry for the ignorance, I just want to be sure I'm checking this correctly.)

 

Put the sensor cup bolt into the threads and pull on that or lever the cam back and forth through the lifter tunnels with a flat head screwdriver.

 

i used my fingers...but that works too.

works two-fold.

you check the endplay for clearance (like i said, i shoot for .010"), and that you've got a bit of "wink" in the gear engagement. you dont want it sloppy loose, and you DEFINITELY dont want it so tight that its binding (this is why many people press their stock cam gear onto aftermarket cams)

 

Ahh...I get it! Thanks guys!

 

half to 3 thou backlash is what you should have in the cam drive gears.