"Cam spacer" is missing; do I need it?

[mjb1032]

My Haynes manual shows a cam spacer that fits over the cam end (inside of the thrust plate). This was missing on my 289; is one necessary?
Thanks,
Marc

[tom991]

Originally Posted by mjb1032

My Haynes manual shows a cam spacer that fits over the cam end (inside of the thrust plate). This was missing on my 289; is one necessary?
Thanks,
Marc

Was your engine running fine without it?

[ScottsGT]

I've never seen one inside a SBF. Now granted, I've only gone into 5 or 6 engines, but never seen one.

[supershifter2]

the only thing on a cam on a 289-351 > there is a retainer plate that bolts to the block with 2 .25" bolts that holds the cam in. yes you need it cause if it aint there the only thing holding the cam i is the timing chain. the chain will hold it in but that puts added pressure on the chain which causes it to wear out quicker. there is also the possiblity of cam walk without. that plate needs to be there. the bolts that hold it in place have low profile heads. ford racing sells the plates and the parts. as for the Haynes manual showing a thrust plate , no a sb ford anit got one. BUT if your using a steel cam timing chain sprocket they come with a bronze washer thats installed between the sproket and the cam retainer plate. it keeps the hard steel gear from wearing the face of the reatiner down.

[22GT]

First things first. Carefully close the Haynes manual. Take it out in the back yard. Using a square-blade, D-handle shovel, make a large flat opening at the bottom of your mulch pile. Insert the manual. Tomorrow morning, 8:31 EDT, call Glazier/Nolan and order the Ford Shop Manual. You'll be much happier.

All 260/289 engines built before Change Level 7 had a C-shaped spacer between the cam and cam gear. After CL 7, the spacer was eliminated. If your engine was made for the spacer, you cannot assemble without it. (Hint- trying to fake it by using the later gear will result in disaster). If your engine does not require the spacer, you should have no problem.

[bartl]

A check of camshaft end play will also tell you if you need it.

[mjb1032]

I found out that I didn't need it.
The Edelbrock upper timing gear has it built-in.
If I had one, I wouldn't have been able to use it anyway, it would hold the gear too far out for the pin to engage the fuel-pump concentric drive.

22- I understand what you're talking about with the Haynes...it's definitly toilet paper.
....When an automobile "how-to" publication doesn't even have "torque values" in its index...you know you wasted your money.

Can you provide me with the torque setting of the bolt at the end of the cam that holds on the fuel pump concentric?

Thanks...

[ScottsGT]

22GT, question about this, just for trivia for myself.
If you have an older block that came with the spacer, and you replace everything, cam gear, retaining plate and screws, will that work??

Oh, and as much as I dislike the Haynes manual, they do have torque values. They are at the beginning of each chapter. But half the stuff in those books don't cover cars that come with various engines.
Ex: we bought one for my sons '98 Ford Ranger. that year Ranger came with two different style rear drum brakes. They only cover the larger brakes in the book, NOT ONE photo of the smaller brake system. And we had many missing parts and wrong springs we had to figure out how to replace.

[GypsyR]

Yes you can Scott. I've done it and the leftover spacer is laying around in my cam retainer and fuel pump eccentric stash box somewhere.

[22GT]

Originally Posted by ScottsGT

22GT, question about this, just for trivia for myself.
If you have an older block that came with the spacer, and you replace everything, cam gear, retaining plate and screws, will that work??

The retaining plate was completely different. IIRC, machine work would be necessary to do that, since the bolt holes were relocated to prevent mixing the parts.

[GypsyR]

It was some 10 years ago but I don't recall doing any machine work. The retainer plates definitely are different though. I'll have to dig and see if I have another vintage block stashed. You've piqued my curiosity.