Hi, I am in the final stages of dismantling my 346 flathead Caddy engine. I intend to have the block pickled/descaled/degreased to clean up what is essentially an engine that looks to have had maybe 1 or 2 oil changes in its entire life. - Now to my problem.... At the back of the inside of the block, there is a bronze idler gear that turns the distributor and oil pump from the camshaft...Can anyone advise me as to how to remove the shaft that this gear runs on? I can't seem to find any method of retaining it in the block except perhaps that it may be an interference fit ... Help would be greatly appreciated...
Does it have a thread for a bolt in the center of the shaft? Maybe it’s pulled out using that threaded hole like a Ford Flathead?
yes, there is a internal thread on the shaft that takes the bolt that holds on the gear retaining washer... On the ford does the shaft rely solely on an interference fit to retain it?
get the shop manual. I left that gear alone on the one I worked on, but it didn't get to a machine shop for cleaning, either. there's a set screw and lock nut on top of the block, then you push the pin out the back.
It has been a while since I removed and installed one of these. The gear is designed to wear and protect the teeth on the cam and the dizzy. From what I recall, all it has is a bolt and a washer which acts as a retainer, but during operation, I believe that gear just kind of floats between the two opposing gears that pretty much retain it in position. If you care to check back thru some of my earlier threads you will find quite a lot of good information relating to these 346 engines. Any more questions just drop me a PM.
Thanks Jim, exactly as you described - took out the oil fitting, removed the grub screw underneath it and tapped the shaft out - I have a shop manual but those details are not included.. thanks for your help
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