289 fuel pump eccentric

I posted earlier about aluminum shavings in my fuel pump and block where fuel pump goes. Your advice was to pull the timing chain cover which I did and found that the eccentric has been rubbing the timing chain cover. It was tight at the cam and every thing seem to be the way it should be. Any suggestions as what is causing this. I bought this car, a 1950 Ford Custom with the 289 already installed but not running. The previous owner had told me he had a new racing cam installed in it. I can't ask the previous owner any questions about the car as he has since died. Any help will be so appreciated.

 

There are different width eccentrics and there are different thickness front covers. Welcome to the world of small block Ford's. You will need to do some hunting to find the right combination for your motor.

 

Simple fix. Check the wear pattern on the eccentric ror the fuel pump rod, After makeing sure the locator tab is located. Surface across the front of the eccentric to clear the cover. This is about hot rodding not blue printing right.

 

Is the plate that holds the camshaft in place between the camshaft and the timing gear and the plate bolted to the engine block? I've seen them installed without the plate. Also, there are 2 types of timing sprockets used. One has a spacer built in to provide the correct clearance for the plate. The other is flat and requires a spacer on the camshaft to provide clearance. The camshaft should not have more than .015 end play.

If someone used a sprocket with a spacer built in and the camshaft mounted spacer, it will allow the camshaft to move forward and back and the eccentric will hit the cover and the cam could knock the plug out of the block at the back of the camshaft.