cam problems 66 mustang

The question is once the timing gear is bolted down, how much clearance or movement should you get? When I bolt it down the cam gear it contacts the thrust plate. After removing the chain I can turn the cam but when I bolt the gear back on it takes an effort to turn. I removed the gear after running the engine only about 3 minutes {new rebuild} and can see groves on gear from the thrust plate. Motor numbers come back to a 73 302, heads are 65 289, also it has the longer dowel pin in the cam. I was told to shim the gear off the cam, another said to file down the spacer plate. I just want to do it right! no rigging.

What type or brand timing gear set did you install. My 289 thrust plate bolted right on, and the the gears set went on with no clearance issues. I believe the timing sets can be an issue, mine is a Cloyes.

Greg

I do not know what make it is. it was done awhile ago and just was not run. I know you should be able to "wiggle" the cam/timing gear in and out. Just do not know why I can not or how to fix it. Ask me anything on newer cars and I can answer, but old ones baffle me!

Hello

The only thing that I can figure out is the timing set may be wrong. The thrust plate is being rubbed by the back of the timing gear. I would order a new timing set and compare the two, you may notice that there is a difference

Greg

You are using the cam gear without the spacer. There are two types use in the FSB. One has a thin cross section and it needs a separate spacer - the other cam gear hase the spacer built in to the gear. The spacer is probably on the old cam

I got it. I went to the part store with micrometer in hand and started measuring. The set I had was off a 289 not a 302. I installed the right set and it even runs better. There was 20 thousands difference between the 2 AND I can use the fuel pump actuator now. Thanks to helpful ones here, I now have it solved.