camshaft sticking out the back of the block????

[raTchetmasTer]

I just bought a 74 firebird formula. It has a chevy small block 350 in it (btw the engine build date matches the car but they didn't come with chevy engines from the factory then, did they? ). When I bought it the previous owner said the engine ran when he bought it but drove it around the block and the engine just locked up and stopped.

So I started investigating and found the engine would not turn over with the starter but would move just a tad. So I got a ratchet and put it on the crank bolt and found the motor would turn over about 1/4 turn and stop. I would reverse the rotation and same results.

I decided maybe something was stopping it from turning over at the converter of flywheel area. So I removed the inspection cover over the converter and there was a hole in it and a freeze plug (but very thin). So I looked up above the crank next to the front of the converter and I can see the camshaft sticking out about 1 inch past the block!!

So what do you guys think happened?? Ever hear of a camshaft plug popping out like that?
I removed one valve cover and the rockers all seem to be resting at zero lash where not one spring is compressed.

Love to hear your ideas, etc.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Twisted_Metal]

Broken cam?

I hope you didn't count on using this engine.
Until you tear it apart, you won't know if anything inside is worth keeping.

 

[Stroked72SS]

Freeze plug wasn't put in correctly..came out, and the Cam followed it out the hole

 

[toadyoty]

Welch plug doesn't control end play, the sprocket does. Bolt (bolts) came loose

 

[1972L]

Broken cam?

I hope you didn't count on using this engine.
Until you tear it apart, you won't know if anything inside is worth keeping.

X2

 

[rustbucket79]

Engine locked up?

Turns over only part way?

Guessing it threw a rod which broke the cam which walked out the back. I'm also going to guess it was either 7 or 8 rod that failed.

 

[night rider]

My buddy's '87 3/4 tone truck did sort of the same thing.

His camshaft brake in half, right in front of the gear and pushed out the welch plug

I also secnd what toadyoty said. The welch plug does not set the end play for the cam, the timing gear does that. So if the cam/timing gear bolts broke or came out cam could back into the welch plug and push it out

 

[Damon]

Cool. A self-uninstalling cam!

I'm betting it kicked a rod and parts of it flew up and smacked the cam in a couple pieces. Maybe you get lucky and find the cam gear bolts just let go, but I don't think so.

 

[mrdragster1970]

.

As mentioned, the only time a cam comes out the back is in pieces.
Pull it and see what's salvageable, good luck.

Hope it was a good deal??

.

 

[theflash]