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01-04-2014, 03:10 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North, Idaho
Posts: 68
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Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
I'm going to replace the distributor in my L29 with an Ebay/Skip White aluminum one. Most of the reviews I've read find the machining and quality control to be pretty good on these products. I know the other components like the cam position sensor, drive gear, cap/rotor will probably be the cheapest available (doesn't necessarily make them bad), so I'm trying to plan which parts to use and which to swap. I emailed and got a response back within 3 minutes. Here's the conversation:
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Adam to skip Hi I was wondering what material the gear is made out of on your Vortec 454 distributors? I think the stock cam requires a melonized gear. Thanks, Chris Skip White The gear is at it should be. We never have an issue with this. Jan 2 (2 days ago) Chris Adam Is it melonized? 12:09 PM (22 hours ago) Skip White No, who said it had to be? 12:35 PM (22 hours ago) Chris Adam General Motors, plus any engineer who ever designed an engine with a billet steel cam like the vortec engines. I'm not trying to start an argument, I've already ordered the distributor, just trying to decide which parts I want to swap before installing it. Thanks for letting me know the gear is not melonized. I think your price would be a good deal even if it was for the bare aluminum housing by itself. 12:53 PM (21 hours ago) Skip White Chris, the Vortec cam is not a steel billet cam. I'm about 100% sure. I could be wrong, but why would they put a billet steel cam in a oe hyd. roller cam vehicle. 1:01 PM (21 hours ago) Skip White to me Chris, I have emailed Robert Lou the general mgr at Howards cams. Lets see what he says. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- So have I read wrong? Do the vortec engines not have a steel billet cam? What do you guys think about me reusing the cam position sensor from my original distributor? Chris |
01-04-2014, 06:37 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
Can't say for your engine but pretty sure the zzz502 cam is and requires a special gear. Would not buy from Skip White anyway.
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Anthony |
01-05-2014, 09:03 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lubbock, TX
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
GM does use steel cams in their hydraulic roller engines. As for whether they're "billet", I don't know.
I bought an ebay dizzy, came with brass contacts on cap and a new module, cost less than a good cap alone and it's been fine. If it worries you, pick up a melonized piece from GM and replace it yourself, it's just held on with a drift pin. And I wouldn't buy ANYTHING from Skip, too many red flags in his ads and attitude. |
01-05-2014, 09:57 AM | #4 |
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Location: North, Idaho
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
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01-05-2014, 11:14 AM | #5 |
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Location: Lubbock, TX
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
Bought mine from KMJ Performance:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GM-CHEVY...bfe16a&vxp=mtr |
01-05-2014, 01:48 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Smithfield, VA
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
I'm using the cam from the ramjet 350 in my vortec
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...7395/overview/ with this distributor http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-850098/overview/ If that helps |
01-05-2014, 06:56 PM | #7 |
driving is in my blood
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Mesa AZ
Posts: 5,733
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
For the $20 or so a melonized gear costs, just buy one and have the piece of mind that there won't be a problem. I doubt the oem cams are billet but I can't say for sure.
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-78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me. |
01-05-2014, 08:49 PM | #8 |
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Location: Denison, Texas
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
Melonized gear is required on these vortecs (v6, 305,350,454). The steel cam gear will eat up a regular gear.
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1998 GMC Sierra SLE 1/2 ton 2WD 305 Vortec -Gibson Stainless Cat Back Swept Side -SS Wheels 2005 Honda CRF250R 2006 Honda CRF150F |
01-06-2014, 01:04 AM | #9 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North, Idaho
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
Quote:
The reason I went with the skip white one over the KMJ one is that he lists one specifically for the big block. They are probably the same, but the KMJ one specifically says it's for a 5.7, whereas SW lists 6672BK for the 5.0 and 5.7 as well as 6673BK for the 7.4. Since I'm new to these vortec engines I wasn't sure if there's a difference so I bought the one listed for 7.4. Anyway, I just read a couple of carcraft articles about oem hydraulic roller cams and I'm positive I want to run the melonized gear so that answers that. The only thing I need to wait and see now is if this one comes with a .427" shaft or a .491" shaft so I can buy the right gear. |
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01-06-2014, 08:21 AM | #10 |
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Location: Lubbock, TX
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
Mine has about 25K on it, never a hiccup.
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01-11-2014, 11:45 PM | #11 |
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Location: North, Idaho
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
-Update-
The distributor came and looks surprisingly nice. I bought it from Skip White and it is from "Top Street Performance" who is in California, and it says made in China on the box. The cam position sensor looks identical to the oem one and has the same part number cast into the plastic in the same spot (not sure what to think of it). The gear has some sort of black finish on it and would probably work fine, but that's a moot point because I pulled out my original distributor today and the gear looks perfect. There is a shiny mesh pattern that looks great, but no real wear to speak of. I put my old gear on the new shaft, dolloped on some assembly lube (probably not necessary but made me feel good) and stuck it in the engine to find that the hold in the new hold down clamp is too small for the bolt. Looks like I'll be running the old clamp. It got dark at this point anyway. |
01-12-2014, 07:35 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lubbock, TX
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Re: Do Vortec Engines have Billet Steel Cams?
That's the exact same one I have in my Tahoe. I'm building a 454 and 496 for work trucks, planning to use them in those builds as well. Brass terminals and includes a module. It's cheaper than replacement cost of those two.
The hold-down is captive, so it won't fall off. It doesn't allow much adjustment, but mine didn't need any. I took mine to my mechanic after I'd installed it to set it, he didn't have to touch it. |
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