I just got my 235 parts back from the machine shop, and am beginning reassembly (after almost a year). The block has been bored, crankshaft turned, camshaft rebuilt, head rebuilt, rocker assy rebuilt, connecting rods converted from babbitt style. Purchased new timing gears. Installing the front plate with only one gasket/shim in place, using a straight edge across the crankshaft shoulder and the new cam thrust plate, the gap between the straight edge and the crank shoulder is about 1/16" (so the cam gear will sit forward slightly). The manual calls for the straight edge to be flush. Since a gasket is needed between the block and the front plate, I'm wondering what my options are. Is having the camshaft gear standing 1/16" proud of the crankshaft timing gear really an issue?
There is no gasket between the cam thrust plate and block If that’s the part I’m thinking of in your posts that would cause the cam gear to be forward and proud of the crank gear. The cam thrust plate is completely inside the engine there is no concept of trying to keep the oil on one side or another of that part. So no gasket on cam thrust plate You push the cam gear on as far down as you can without pinching the thrust plate and the crank gear is pressed on as far down as it can be on the crank and then everything should line up nice.
I stick a metal shim about 0.01 under the cam gear when I press it on, pull that shim out and that a good place for the the cam gear -s
Ok I’ve never had that part separated before Does it make that much difference? Maybe just try to minimize Whatever you put in that gap and hope for the best If that’s not sufficient I would measure all surface precisely to a reference point so I could play virtual tolerance stack up games and see if there is a way to make it work out on paper before I commit to a decision But somehow on my engines the cam gears work out pretty much in line so far However If you are out a 1/16 or so it won’t matter as long as they aren’t rubbing any covers or surfaces Because when you static time the engine any change in the timing due to the meshing offset cause by gear position can be completely corrected when clocking the distributor in the block So it’s a non issue from a timing engine point of view -s
The timing gears are new, mated at the factory. The cam gear was pressed on, and is seated with a .002" gap. I measured the thickness of the old cam thrust bearing and the new one; no discernible difference. I mounted the old thrust bearing in place, and used a straight edge across to the crank shoulder. Thats where the 1/16" set back (on the crank) occurs. I now have a little more time to fuss with it, as I discovered the connecting rods I had converted (from babbitt) to bearing insert style, were bored off-center by .02"-.04", with three cutting into the rod bolt. Lovely. Shipping them back out, but not hopeful they can be saved.
That is a shame about your rods. What a butcher! I had one guy try to convert a rod for me using a hone on his machine. When he gave it back to me he said there was no charge. The rod was ruined and he wore out his hone!
