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| | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 2 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 2 | Hi, I have a 54 Chevy 3100 with a 56 235 engine that stripped the teeth off of a section of the fiber camshaft gear. I removed the oil pump and pulled the rocker assembly and the cam rotated fine with the distributor and fuel pump still installed. The lifters also moved ok as well. I reinstalled the oil pump and the cam still rotated ok. My question is should I remove the head and check the pistons and valves for damage or is there enough clearance that I should be ok?
I have only owned the truck for a little less then 2 years and don't have much history and I'm some what worried that I can't find a cause for the stripped teeth. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,177 Red dot, center of chest ... | | Red dot, center of chest ... Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,177 | Those fiber gears tended to do that sometimes. The heat and years tend to make them brittle and they break off. Yes, I would pull the head just to be sure, but you don't need to look for a cause other than the standard one - age and heat. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,177 Red dot, center of chest ... | | Red dot, center of chest ... Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,177 | After reading that thread, I'm curious why you would suggest this. ISTM that removing the head would be the safer option. If you do a compression test and a piston has been holed, you could damage the cylinder wall to the point that the block has to be replaced. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 326 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 326 | I was focusing on HRL's reply
Where he says that valve configuration minimizes the chance of contact. Also I too have stripped a fiber gear and got away with no valve or piston damage. My .02
SimS | | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 583 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 583 | I too have replaced stripped fiber gears for others. Both times the engine was idling when it happened. No damage, other than the gear. I did not remove the head. You already had the pan off to inspect the oil pump? Any pieces of pistons in the pan? You've got to take the oil pan off again to remove the timing cover. Shine a light up there and take a look see.
Rick
1939 Chevrolet Stake Truck
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I have lost a fiber gear and no other damage occurred. That was going down the road. One thing to do is make sure that there was good lubrication to the gear. If there wasn't a lot of oil up front, you may need to remove the front plate and clean out the oil groove. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | While it is apart, tap the holes so you don't have to remove the pan next time, the holes are already the correct size for tapping.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
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