Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance Cam Gear Removal

OK,
So I lurk here a bit and have a cool old C-20 with a 292. I hear they go pretty well with a 4-barrel and headers so I try to do it right. I put a Holley 600 on an Offy intake. I'm pushing it through Tom Langdons cast headers. 2" primaries into one 3' outlet with a full-flow dynomax muffler. Man, she runs like a raped ape !!!(can I say that?) You Know you can't stop there so I pick up his marine grind cam. Down to my buddy's shop I go to change the cam. Comes out no problem, now let's heat that gear up and gently press her off. POW!!! I now have a 5-piece timing gear! WTF? Just not enough heat??? Won't too much heat really screw up aluminum? I felt this thing was adequately supported in the press.I read up on this enough to be careful and still it happened. GRRRRRRR. I was given the impression these will almost drop out when you heat them up right. Is the freezer/oven trick a drop-on situation or do I have more surprises ahead? It's Friday night and I should be cruisin' in this thing right now
-Conan

If you tried to heat the gear up on the cam all you did was heat the cam as well. Not good But anyway Heat The gear to about 180-200 in oil.You can do this in a oven Or on the stove in a OLD pot Use a temp sending unit if your going to do it on the stove. I have done this many times and was fine Let the cam sit in the freezer in the mean time. and It should press on with out Shaving the center of the Alum gear. and Will leave a NIce tight fit.

I was removing the gear from the old cam when I blew it up but thanks a lot for the install tip.I'd like to hunt down a boneyard cam gear tomorrow but man I don't want to go through all that and bust another one. Maybe a trip to GM Parts or NAPA and start fresh.By the way the 2-into-1 runs great but I now know I was looking for the rockin' sound of a split six. Oh well, I'll change that later. Thanks
-Conan

It's not that good to play with?reused a junk yard Gear. Esp. the Fiber gear. Save yourself some headack and Install a new Matched set of gears.

eBay often has NOS GM metal gears for a reasonable price.

You don't need to mess around with the original type fiber timing gear. An aluminum gear is available at almost any auto parts store. I got mine from Auto Zone for around $25 or so. Just pay attention to the spacer ring that locates inside the retainer plate. The chamfered side of the hole goes toward the cam on reassembly and the gear is pressed on until it stops against the ring. Don't forget to put it and the retainer on before you install the gear!!!!

So after a little running around I found a full gear set and thrust bearing at the local Merc. marine dealer. Go figure. So does anyone know if I can install this cam gear in my kitchen, or will I need a press? The new crank gear slid right on after I warmed it up.

The cam Gear does need to be Pressed on.The Crank gear would have went on with Very light tapping with a SMALL hammer. Was no need to heat it. But it won't hurt it.