Ok. New to the site. I have a 57 y block build under way. The cam shaft I am using is an early cross drilled style WITH a shalow groove cut into it. It was the best cam I had out of the lot so I had it ground at a local shop. Now, the question is. Do I use cross drilled cam bearings or grooved cam bearings on this build? I am enclined to use cross drilled ones and to cut the groove deeper. My rocker shafts are modified to a pressurized systwem so oil pressure bleed out is not a concern I don't think. I'm curious about the difference between the two styles of cam bearing and what that difference is. Thanks in advance. I'll be back soon. JJ.

i ordered a mild performance cam about 20 years ago and that was the way it came.i dont think it matters which bearings you use you will get plenty of oil.how deep is the groove? mine was same as stock and i didnt go any deeper.

The groove is a bit shallower than the stock grooved ones I have. Visually that is. I'll probably cut it slightly deeper. As I said, running pressurized rocker tubes should keep the oil pressure high I think. They are rebuilt and a pretty tight fit. Thanks 341.

Welcome to the Forum, Jovanovic.

The cam groove and cross-drilling of the center cam bearing has been a frequent topic of discussion on this Forum.  At one time some of us thought that the cross-drilling was only used in the early years that the engine was produced ('til '56).  More recently (at least for me), I've learned that Ford went back to the cross-drilled oil feed method in the end production of the y-block design in the '60s.

One issue that has surfaced in recent years is that the camshafts being supplied by several aftermarket suppliers do not have a groove that is adequate in depth on the center cam journal.  It should be .035 inch in depth.

I don't recall someone writing about both the center cam journal being both cross-drilled AND grooved, but I'm not surprised that someone would pursue that method as well.

The Forum Archive is full of threads over time regarding the issue of getting adequate and dependable oil to the y-block rocker arm shafts.

A recent thread on the cam journal oiling issue makes informative reading.  I'd encourage you to read through it.  It is three pages of inputs from some of our members.  We have some extremely knowledgeable and experienced members who are also good technical writers.

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic105313-1.aspx

After reading this, see if you still have a question.  Don't be bashful if you do.  The members here are glad to reply.

Welcome, again, and Happy New Year!   


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Here's a follow-up on one of the items mentioned in the thread on cam bearings I referred you to.

Vern Schumann is marketing cam bearing sets for the Ford y-blocks that have a center bearing that provides 360 degree O.D. oil flow.  This was a design that Vern originated in 1959 and was U.S. government military issued.  Vern's design cures mis-alignment of machine shop installations, cures spun bearings from dry start-ups, and cures index oil hole mis-alignment problems from bearing installation.  It also cures cam journal oil groove depth issues, assures quick normal machine shop installation, and requires no special machining.

Vern's offering is a Dura-Bond cam bearing set No. F-9A with the center cam bearing Schumann modified with the 360 degree O.D. machined groove.  Current cost is $52.50/set plus shipping.

Price corrected, JJ.  My mistake!   

Contact information is
Schumann's Sales & Service, Inc.
P.O. Box 128
Blue Grass, Iowa  52726

phone  563-381-2416


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Thanks for the info. I'll spend some time reading. Very much appreciated!!!

It looks like this question was sufficiently answered but let me add this.  With the camshaft being both cross-drilled and having a groove, then either bearing set can be used.  The grooved only camshafts can be used with either bearing set while the cross-drilled camshafts must use the cross-drilled cam bearings.  The holes in the bearings and their specific placements are the main differences between the two available bearing sets.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thank you very much.