Stepdown 8 Thrust Plunger?

befishers1

I have fully disassembled by '50 Commodore 8 504 engine and have found a couple of items that I have questions about and was hoping someone could fill me in.

1) The Shop Service manual mentions in the timing gear removal section a thrust plunger. When I look in the Master Parts Catalog it lists three parts P/N 23625 Thrust Plate, P/N 43435 Thrust Button, and P/N 163442 Spring-Thrust button. The cross section cut-out shows a spring loaded plunger and it appears it should thread into the end of the cam and bear against a re-enforcement on the inside of the timing cover. I do not have this part but I also do not see any rub marks on the inside of the timing cover or on the block suggesting the gear is moving. Does anyone have a picture of what these parts look like and how essential they are or would be willing to part with one?

2) I see a fiber camshaft gear listed in the Master Parts Catalog (P/N 305895) and I also see another part (P/N 166310) and both are listed as crankshaft gears. There doesn't seem to be a cam gear listed for a 504. My engine has a steel crank gear and an aluminum cam gear. Was this the stock set up for a 504 or may this have something to do with the missing plunger above. The gear set seems to be in very good condition with very little wear.

3) I do not have a timing pointer that bolts to the rear engine mounting plate to indicate ignition timing. Does anyone have a picture of what this part looks like so that I can try and fab one or would anyone have one they would part with?

Thanks for your help,
Jeff

[Deleted User]

There is no pointer for the timing mark on a Hudson motor. When you look in the hole at the timing marks the flat edge of the hole acts as the "line" or arrow This is on the 254 eight as well as the Stepdown six's
Roger

Geoff

Jeff, the thrust button sits inside the camshaft pocket, with a spring behind pushing it forward and bearing on the hardened plate rivetted to the timing case. The crank gears are correct for your car. The part number is for a matched pair of crank and cam gears, shich your car has. The timing mark is in the hole above the starter motor, with the marks stamped into the flywheel. Good luck,
Geoff

befishers1

So the spring fits in the cam and the button fits inside the spring pushing the can backward, is this correct? Do you know any of the details for the spring (dia, force, length,etc.) Or for the button (dia, length,etc) in order to make one? Was the button a small (1/4" dia) button or a large (1" Dia) button? I am assuming this is a very light weight spring since the plate on the timing cover doesn't show any real wear. Does the button spin on the cover or does the cam spin on the button?

I am guessing the last time the cover was removed there were a couple parts left over.

Kdancy

Jeff, how do the crank journals look?
Who are you getting to do the babbit work?
Seeing Matt today--

befishers1

The crank looks great. After I got everything inspected the crank was turned 0.008 under at some point and the average radial gap is 0.0008. There are a few scratches in the mains but not significant. I may need to bore the block though still inspecting the bores but they are still the original bore with some wear showing.

Superdave gave a listing for a shop in St. Pete.