Ironhead Installing cams

[markerik]

Hey guys I have the pinion and cam 2 in a straight line from each other. Cams 1 and 3 are as close as I can get them. This is what I was concerned with as 1 and 3 are not exactly in line but if I try to move another tooth then they are definitely off. Thank you Monte 03,Ironmick and doodah man for your responses . Oh yeah I did watch the YouTube video not as much help as this forum

[doodah man]

If you have them installed like you describe, then you are finished with the cam install. Congratulations! Are you shimming the cams? No shims less than .010” is the “accepted practice” as it seems anything thinner gets chewed up and becomes a slurry of crap that you’d be better off avoiding inside your engine.

[markerik]

Hey doodah man I originally sat up the cams like what the FSM describes for correct cam inplay. But after what you said and reading through the technical sticky on cam shims. I had come up with needing 2 .006 and 1 .015 on each cam but now I think I am going to remove the 2 .006’s and just go with the .015 This motor is an early 58 with crankcase bushing and without dogbones

[ryder rick]

Post a pic of the gears straight on if you are not sure.
The marks don't always point exactly, but when the gears are not timed right they are way off. Rotating the crank slightly one way or the other may help visualize.

I will not use any shims but the thickest shims. this falls between the guys that want stuff tight and the factory saying shims are not needed.
So I stick as many of the thick shims in as I can without going under the minimum clearance and call it good.

I do this because I have seen many of the thin shims get chewed up. I expect the factory revised no shim situation was caused by this.
I don't think that shimming them makes them run any quieter, later years got an oil squirt'er over the gears to try and quiet them.
Ask Shane if his are any quieter.....