Cam upgrade and conversion for stroker build with thrust plate

[kuleinc]

I was wondering if anyone has a cam suggestion for a 4.7L stroker build. I am looking to upgrade my 1998 engine to the thrust plate style came retention to avoid cam walk. I assume I need a certain cam, the thrust plate, and some drilling and tapping on the front of the block?

I was looking at a comp cams 68-232-4 for my build, but I doubt this would work with the thrust plate retention? My engine is stock and currently has the spring for cam walk avoidance.

[Randy Bobandi]

I was wondering if anyone has a cam suggestion for a 4.7L stroker build. I am looking to upgrade my 1998 engine to the thrust plate style came retention to avoid cam walk. I assume I need a certain cam, the thrust plate, and some drilling and tapping on the front of the block?

The 99-06 blocks have bolt bosses and machined surface for the thrust plate. You would be drilling and tapping some pretty uneven surfaces. I can't confirm if the dimensions as far as thrust would be compatible either.

The upgrade for other engines that use a thrust button in the camshaft is to install a thrust button in the timing cover. On this engine, you would install a rivnut in timing cover and use a hex drive spring plunger and jam nut to set the thrust. You would have a bolt in the camshaft that has a smooth flat surface on the head for the button to ride on.

[kuleinc]

Where do we get this upgraded thrust button kit? Can it be used with a came meant for the older plunger and spring? Is there a how to thread for this?

[kuleinc]

I was wondering if anyone has a cam suggestion for a 4.7L stroker build. I am looking to upgrade my 1998 engine to the thrust plate style came retention to avoid cam walk. I assume I need a certain cam, the thrust plate, and some drilling and tapping on the front of the block?

The 99-06 blocks have bolt bosses and machined surface for the thrust plate. You would be drilling and tapping some pretty uneven surfaces. I can't confirm if the dimensions as far as thrust would be compatible either.

The upgrade for other engines that use a thrust button in the camshaft is to install a thrust button in the timing cover. On this engine, you would install a rivnut in timing cover and use a hex drive spring plunger and jam nut to set the thrust. You would have a bolt in the camshaft that has a smooth flat surface on the head for the button to ride on.

I got it now! Did you also put some rivets there to help hold the riv-nut? Is there a good place to buy the right nut? I have a riv-nut riveter.... Use them a lot in my aluminum step van.

[Randy Bobandi]

It's a screw mount nut. These are the parts from Mcmaster-Carr. I used a little RTV when riveting in the screw mount nut. A traditional rivet nut would work as well. The screw mount nut just has a better surface to torque the jam nut. Or if you weld aluminum, you could just weld in a bung.

[kuleinc]

Thank you so much! Where do you check the cam thrust after the timing cover is installed with this?

[GreenYJ]

At the rear of the cam with a dial indicator before you install the rear cam plug.

[Randy Bobandi]

Thank you so much! Where do you check the cam thrust after the timing cover is installed with this?

The kits that use this style of cam button come with a two piece timing cover to check the end play. For this setup, you could drill and tap the cover or add a rivnut to the cover to use as a port for the dial indicator. Then thread in a set screw or a plug when finished. I'm using a 1/2-13 spring plunger which is .077" per thread or .0096" per 8th turn. I just turned it in all the way and brought it back out a 1/4-1/8 turn. The spring plunger keeps a few PSI of load on the cam making sharp changes in thrust impossible. I think I went with 5901A37 at Mcmaster-Carr for the plunger. It has a 440 stainless nose which is super wear resistant material.

[kuleinc]

5901A37 has a ball on the tip as opposed to a pin? Are you sure that's the one you used? I would think the plunger would work better, but would deffer to your knowledge here...

[Randy Bobandi]

5901A37 has a ball on the tip as opposed to a pin? Are you sure that's the one you used? I would think the plunger would work better, but would deffer to your knowledge here...

Either one is fine. I ended up going with the ball tip because the ball is made from a harder material. Just make sure you use a high quality bolt for the cam that has a smooth surface on the head. I like the ARP 450 extreme-strength stainless.

[SoCal Berto]

I was wondering if anyone has a cam suggestion for a 4.7L stroker build. I am looking to upgrade my 1998 engine to the thrust plate style came retention to avoid cam walk. I assume I need a certain cam, the thrust plate, and some drilling and tapping on the front of the block?

The 99-06 blocks have bolt bosses and machined surface for the thrust plate. You would be drilling and tapping some pretty uneven surfaces. I can't confirm if the dimensions as far as thrust would be compatible either.

The upgrade for other engines that use a thrust button in the camshaft is to install a thrust button in the timing cover. On this engine, you would install a rivnut in timing cover and use a hex drive spring plunger and jam nut to set the thrust. You would have a bolt in the camshaft that has a smooth flat surface on the head for the button to ride on.

Yhis is an old post but hopefully this will help others avoid the nightmare I went through. I had a stroker built when I grenaded the engine. The builder installed a cam inteded for a non-efi engine because of the low end thump it provided. This cam would not work with a thrust plate so it had been left off. The cam wiped a lobe on break in. Comp provided a replacement and it wiped out on break in as well. I did some research and learned that some 4.2 litter engines used a special cam bolt that is center drilled and have a spring and metal button that pushes against the timing cover to keep the cam in place. I ordered the special cam bolt and a third cam. This time the break in worked and continues to run great. Special cam bolt, that is the answer. I them went and shared that info with the engine builder.