You can tell if you have the plastic cam gear by simply pulling the fuel pump

[Bob Dunahugh]

We've all been told for decades. That the only way to see if your 403/455 still has the original plastic cam gear. Was to pull the timing chair cover. That gets involved. I said a few months ago. That putting an inspection camera in the fuel pump hole in the block. You should be able to see the cam gear. Well tonight. I found out that. YES you can see the cam gear. As there was NO WAY in H--- that this 73 GMC that I've been rebuilding. Was going to leave my drive with a plastic cam gear, and an old water pump. So I pulled the water pump. And saw that the timing chain cover had a blue gasket sealer used to help seal the chain cover. ( GM never used a blue silicone sealer back then.) It was time for the inspection camera. And I found that the cam gear had been changed to an iron one. I'm thrilled.

I have two cameras. One for getting into very small places. And a larger one from Harbor Freight. The cheep HF one can work for this inspection job. A lot cheaper/simpler then pulling the cover. Bob Dunahugh

 

[Jim Hupy]

Inspection cameras have changed diagnostics a whole bunch, especially in
situations like Bob describes.
I have been using them on big outboard motors for 25 years or so. Big
Mercs have inspection ports in the crankcase that work very well for
borescopes. Big timesavers.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or

> We've all been told for decades. That the only way to see if your 403/455
> still has the original plastic cam gear. Was to pull the timing chair
> cover. That gets involved. I said a few months ago. That putting an
> inspection camera in the fuel pump hole in the block. You should be able to
> see the cam gear. Well tonight. I found out that. YES you can see the cam
> gear. As there was NO WAY in H--- that this 73 GMC that I've been
> rebuilding. Was going to leave my drive with a plastic cam gear, and an old
> water pump. So I pulled the water pump. And saw that the timing chain cover
> had a blue gasket sealer used to help seal the chain cover. ( GM never used
> a blue silicone sealer back then.) It was time for the inspection camera.
> And I found that the cam gear had been changed to an iron one. I'm thrilled.
>
> I have two cameras. One for getting into very small places. And a
> larger one from Harbor Freight. The cheep HF one can work for this
> inspection job. A lot cheaper/simpler then pulling the cover. Bob Dunahugh
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