[87442lover]

So... I just pulled the old cam out of my 403 olds, and it just slid out! Is there nothing that holds the cam in place?!?! Like when I install the new cam, other than the grease is there anything I need to know about? Anything that might hold it in place?

Thanks

[Robinson Robin]

In flat tappet engine like your its the angle ground into the cam lobs that the lifters ride on that holds it in on roller cam engine that have a thrust plate that does it. The only thing to be careful of is when you slide in the new ones not to Nick any of the cam bearings so do its slowly and carefully if you have the bottom end out you can use you other hand to guide it which makes it alot easier other than that that is all there is to it don't forget to use lots of cam lube on the lobes and use new tapplets

[Vern Bradford]

87442, I am not really sure what Robinson said...really and truly the only thing holding your cam in is the Timing Chain. Cams do walk back and forth in the engine. Most cam manufacturers make a cam button that can be installed to prevent "Cam walk".
The cam lobes are made on a slight angle to allow the lifters to rotate, decreasing ware.
Vern

[Robinson Robin]

It is true that cams are ground on an angle to rotate the lifters but it also holds the cam through end thrust. The timing chain does help to that is also a valid point but its not the only thing

[BstMech]

Yeah, you forgot about drag from driving the oil pump/distributor. It has a tendency to pull the cam into the engine , keeping it there.

[Robinson Robin]

yup very good point

[87442lover]

It's just very scary to see a cam come out like that. It does seem that the only thing holding it on there was the timing chain.. freaky

[Sandflea427SS]

If you are still worried you could put a dab of J.B. Weld on each lobe!

[87442lover]

Now why exactly would I want to glue the lobes to the lifters?

[NathanK79]

In a flat-tappet, the only thing that really holds the cam in place while the engine is running is the grind in the lobes and in the followers. There is a .5 degree radial grind on the base of the follower as well as a slight radius across the track of the cam lobe. Working together, this pushes the cam towards the distributor gear. Any play forward and backward in the cam bore causes spark deflection and phasing problems in high rpms. Cam buttons are useless in flat-tappets. They are for use in roller setups where there is no radial grind to hold it in line. As for the timing chain...if that was all that is holding your cam in, you'd have one heck of an exploding motor on your hands. Long story short, don't worry about it sliding out. It's supposed to. Just be careful not to ding the lobes. That will explode a motor as well.