pros and cons about 1 bolt camshaft vs 3 bolt camshafts

[moparjohnny]

i am looking for ideas and experienced problems with the 1 or 3 and recomendations you may have. i will be building a hi po street 383 eng,4 speed,3.23 sure grip,69 b body.if the 1 bolt is more problematic than the 3 bolt.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

The 3 bolt design is stronger. Ive seen instances of failures in the single bolt design. Granted, this probably had more to do with the bolt not being properly torqued. If you get into heavier valve springs I would do the three bolt. I have a solid lift 3 bolt if you are interested.

 

[Badvert65]

I haven't heard of any issues at all (ever) concerning the single bolt mounting of the cam timing gear. You will find that, generally, the cam selection is much greater for the single bolt cams. Also, if you wish to run a set of gears instead of the chain (gear drive), I am not certain anyone makes one except for the three bolt mount.
That's about it on that subject. Personally, when building a hot street engine, there are a lot more areas to be concerned with. The single vs. three bolt cam mount should be at the bottom of the list (if there at all).

 

[HT413]

I talked to lunati and comp a year or so back and if I recall they both will make any of their cams either way for no charge. For me, I just look for the best deal on the timing set and let that determine it for me. But then I'm planning a street motor.

 

[Richard Cranium]

You will use three times the amount of locktite and will spend 3 time the amount of time installing and torquing the bolts.

 

[cr8crshr]

Just for the record here...MOPAR doesn't have a "Posi" in their rear ends. They are "Sure Grips" and totally a different beast. As for 3 vs 1...One is all you need for a fairly tame build. In fact the factory used 1 bolt on just about every engine they built. 3 was more of an after market thing with GM taking the lead on that one...cr8crshr/Tuck

 

[MoparMitch]

Loctite is your friend here !!

 

[Meep-Meep]

Also be aware the single bolt cams use that special washer.

 

[khryslerkid]

Just for the record here...MOPAR doesn't have a "Posi" in their rear ends. They are "Sure Grips" and totally a different beast. As for 3 vs 1...One is all you need for a fairly tame build. In fact the factory used 1 bolt on just about every engine they built. 3 was more of an after market thing with GM taking the lead on that one...cr8crshr/Tuck

Who said "Posi" ?

Oh, I think some editing has taken place. Never mind...

 

[moparmarks]

Hemi and 440-6 had 3-bolt cams. Wonder why?
Back in the 70's in my 69 Charger R/T I had a 1-bolt Sig Erson cam. The pin and bolt broke while at an idle and this after I had about 10,000 miles on it.

 

[451Mopar]

The 3-bolt is stronger as already stated. The single bolt is OK for a flat tappet hydraulic with moderate valve spring pressures. One other issue with the single bolt is that there are some really crappy timing sets out there used as stock replacements where they have a slot for the cam pin.
The 3-bolt also make it easy to add a cam button. Roller cams require a cam button, but you could run one on a flat tappet too, although it may not be needed.

 

[Budnicks]

IIRC the original purpose for the "3 bolt cam design was for racing applications, gear driven applications & adding a Mech. Fuel Injection {3/8" Hex} pump drive, front drive mag/distributor for engines with big blower that had a rear driven distributor originally, mainly for racecar applications, but was adapted to other uses latter on...

not just BB-Chevy or the Hemis, it was widely used in all forms & makes

Unless your running a very high valve spring pressures or a mech. FI system or a front drive dist. on a rear dist. drive engine off the front off the engine or a gear-drive, or something else off the front of the engine camshaft, driven water pump, centrifugal blower drive, distributor etc.
Than the 3 bolt cam isn't really a necessity, but it doesn't hurt anything either,
it was a std. deal on the 426ci Hemis too, I don't see any downside to using one...

 

[lewtot184]

Hemi and 440-6 had 3-bolt cams. Wonder why?
Back in the 70's in my 69 Charger R/T I had a 1-bolt Sig Erson cam. The pin and bolt broke while at an idle and this after I had about 10,000 miles on it.

there was a singe bolt roller chain for the '65 race hemis. I did have a pin give up on a single bolt once.

- - - Updated - - -

I think the "key" here is valve spring pressures and rpm. the single bolt is fine when used with a performance single spring. stepping up to some double or triple springs would warrant the 3 bolt.

 

[Funship32]

You will use three times the amount of locktite and will spend 3 time the amount of time installing and torquing the bolts.

*ROFL* - spoken like a true bean counter. ;)

 

[Steve1974]

I haven't heard of any issues at all (ever) concerning the single bolt mounting of the cam timing gear. You will find that, generally, the cam selection is much greater for the single bolt cams. Also, if you wish to run a set of gears instead of the chain (gear drive), I am not certain anyone makes one except for the three bolt mount.
That's about it on that subject. Personally, when building a hot street engine, there are a lot more areas to be concerned with. The single vs. three bolt cam mount should be at the bottom of the list (if there at all).

Ive actually had issues with my 3 bolt cam before had 1 of the bolts decide it wanted to back out and it wiped out a lot of stuff ! and they always get loc tite they vibrated loose one fell out ! only issue ive ever had with a single bolt mopar cam is the fact these fools manufacturing nice grinds refuse to offer a gear drive for a single bolt cam !!

 

[Mopar Hunter]

The 3-bolt also make it easy to add a cam button. Roller cams require a cam button,

X2

I don’t think you can find a roller cam with a single bolt.