Cam Synchronizer

[36Fan]

I have a late 60's 289 with an unknown flat tappet hyd camshaft. Im putting a 2000 Explorer EFI system on the 289. Im guessing the cam sync steel gear will ruin the cast camshaft gear? Do they sell cast gears for the sync?

 

[pcf_mark]

Yes it will damage the old cam. You can possibly take the old gear of your 289 distributor. Or Comp Cams make a gear that will work on any cam I think it is actually composite.

 

[36Fan]

I was just reading some info on composite gears, also nvrstuk had posted a link to a company that makes Sync's with different gears.

As long as I get the depth correct it shouldnt be a problem to press off the old gear and install it onto the stock 5.0 sync. Hopefully the shaft diam is the same?

 

[garberz]

Yes you can get a cast gear for the synchronizer, measure the shaft dia. because there’s two different shaft sizes.

Mark

 

[36Fan]

Mines .450

I'll start searching for a cast gear.

 

[garberz]

I bought one from Summit, for the exact same conversion you’re doing.

Mark

 

[36Fan]

I've searched quite a bit now, but I must be missing something. I cant find a gear for the .450 shaft, might need to get the other sync that you mentioned? Maybe a more common size?

http://www.pricemotorsport.com/html/body_camshaft_synchronizer.html

 

[nvrstuk]

It's a pain in the backside 36Fan...what is wrong with the Ford engineers anyway??? SOOO frustrating when they make different gears out of different materials for the SAME cam synchronizer and then to make matters worse the ID of the SAME type of gear is different than another...WTH?

Anyway, if you order several different cam synchronizers you will get DIFFERENT cam gears made of different materials...yes...that's the way I got the correct gear to use on mine...keep ordering...

So this past month on my chirping debacle, I ordered a new cam synchronize because I had several top techs tell me it was the cam synchronizer... yeah, you guessed it-they had different gears on them so I had to take another one off and swap it over to the new one...dang Ford engineers-- what a bunch of idiots... guess that's my .02 lol

Wish you luck!

 

[36Fan]

Amazing! I'll keep reading and searching, might have to hit the junk yards. Worse case I'll have to change the ignition system over and not run the EDIS for now.

Thanks everyone!

 

[nvrstuk]

Go pull a few from the bone yards...you'll find the right size AND material... easy to tell if it's cast so don't delay on the EDIS...you'll love it.

 

[36Fan]

Pulled 4 from the junk yard today, no luck, all the same size and material. Did score another Explorer intake though.

 

[nvrstuk]

Bummer....

Oh, another Ford FYI... the roll pin holes that hold the gear on the shaft arent all drilled at a perfect 90deg...so a heads up that you will probably have to redrill the hole one size larger to align the holes...

Hard to believe they are still in business doing this kind of stuff...lol

 

[36Fan]

Bummer....

Oh, another Ford FYI... the roll pin holes that hold the gear on the shaft arent all drilled at a perfect 90deg...so a heads up that ypu will probably have to redrill the hole one size larger to align the holes...

Hard to believe they are still in business doing this kind of stuff...lol

I'll keep an eye on the roll pin, thanks.

Hopefully Garberz has some info on what he can up with. Worse case I'll have to buy the MSD sync.

 

[garberz]

Pull the gear off the shaft and measure there, you’ll see that it’s actually .530”. There’s a step in the shaft just below the gear. The older dizzy’s had the smaller .467 shaft dia. The newer Windsor’s have the .530” dia shafts. I don’t know the changeover year, but every Explorer cam synchronizer I’ve seen has the .530” shaft. Steel gears are for the newer roller type cams, iron/cast are for the older flat tappet type cams.

Mark

 

[nvrstuk]

So if all roller cams are supposed to use steel gears or "melonized steel" - whatever the heck that is, then ANY Windstar 3.8 cam synch. gear should worksm since ALL of 3.8 years that we use for the cam synch in a SBF had roller cams...so we should be OK even if the cam synchronizer gear "looks" like it is a casting...maybe its crappy Ford machining...thinkof the weld quality on our Broncos...ANYthing is possible here!!


Thoughts??

 

[nvrstuk]

My brand new Motorcraft cam synchronizer is DOA. It has less than 150 miles on it and it won't turn...even with visegrips on it!

I need to order a replacement and hope it has what should be a steel gear since all roller cams need a steel gear (or brass) and all 1999 Windstar 3.8's had roller cams... so in theory they should all be steel. Right?? Well, this is Ford so... lol

Dang...glad I checked it before it went back in...and how did it NOT seize up in the motor? I mean the engine was running fine, I pulled it, and since I'm doing some major engine mod's I decided to check cam gear depth (again), I checked the oil pump shaft "end play" and luckily found that the cam sychronizer wouldn't rotate (espcially before installing it in my new engine on Thursday...)

No way I got this mixed up with the couple others I have... maybe I did but it looks brand new...

 

[36Fan]

My brand new Motorcraft cam synchronizer is DOA. It has less than 150 miles on it and it won't turn...even with visegrips on it!!!

So now I need to order a replacement and hope it has what should be- a steel gear since all roller cams need a steel gear and all 1999 Windstar 3.8's had roller cams...

Dang...glad I checked it before it went back in...and how did it seize up NOT in the motor? I mean the engine was running fine, I pulled it, and since Im doing some major engine mod's I decided to check cam gear depth, oul pump shaft "end play" and luckily found that it wouldn't rotate before installing it in my new rngine on Thursday...

Mine has 200k+ on it and spins fine, wonder what happened? Somehow the problem is connected with 3 lifters going out?

 

[nvrstuk]

Here's the choices at Summit for gears...
Lists 3.8 and SBF and its steel...got everything covered...

I wasnt sure till I measured mine and confirmed here on Summit but the measurement is ID .531"

 

[36Fan]

Here's the choices at Summit for gears...
Lists 3.8 and SBF and its steel...got everything covered...

I wasnt sure till I measured mine and confirmed here on Summit but the measurement is ID .531"

I just got the sum-850463 gear in the mail, looks good so far. I wanted to order a new Motorcraft sync but after receiving my new Motorcraft water pump with a big Made in China sticker on it, Im not to confident in getting the sync.

 

[nvrstuk]

Well, I can let ya know tomorrow if the Motorcraft caam synch's are made in China tomorrow!

Maybe that's why my 150 mile special died an early life...