This often overlooked part sets the non-adjustable camshaft axial clearance or “endplay” along with the iron thrust washer. Always check the camshaft endplay prior to installing the rocker arms and replace any worn parts if it exceeds the Wear Limit. Otherwise cam sprocket parallel alignment will be unreliable and excessive chain or sprocket wear may result. Because the camshaft and the thrust washer are both made of cast iron, regular types of aluminum or steel will wear very quickly when run against these iron parts. To combat this problem, the original parts are made from a high-silicon aluminum die casting because the high silicon content makes it very compatable when running against cast iron.
The problem with the original die castings is that they are relatively weak and tend to bend or crack when they are torqued to the camboxes. This often causes an oil leak between the cam thrust plate and the cambox because the gasket installed between the two is only compressed in the localized areas of the (3) attachment bolts and oil is allowed to flow through the gaps. Efforts to re-surface the interior face of the original thrust plate are usually in vain because the amount of material removal necessary to restore flatness to the gasket surface will cause the camshaft axial clearance to exceed the wear limit.
Our cam thrust plates are precisely CNC machined from a very rare and expensive high-silicon cold-finished aluminum bar stock. This produces a stronger, denser, stiffer and much more stable part than the originals, while maintaining super compatablity with the cast iron cam and washer faces. Don’t risk an oil leak on your fresh engine overhaul or top end refresh. Always specify Rauch & Spiegel camshaft thrust plates for piece-of-mind next time you do major engine work.
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