Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

[James W.]

I am in need ofthe Federal Mogul part number for a correct replacement camshaftand solid lifters for a '65 Corvette 396 c.i. engine? Can it be assumed that the camshaft will have the grooved machined in it for proper oiling at the rear cam bearing?

Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.


Regards,

James West
Omaha, NE.

[Jim D.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

Sealed Power KC165R is the cam and lifter set. It doesn't have the groove in the rear journal. I just bought it from Rock Auto for $161.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=212732&cc=1440328&jsn=2

[Duke W.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

Any machine shop should be able to machine the chamfered groove by measuring the dimensions from the existing camshaft. Your original cam has the groove "cast in" and only the chamfer needed to be machined. Be sure to use the proper 3-hole #5 cam bearing or there will be not oil to the valve train. Some machine shops may not be aware of this 65-66 big block cam/oil system design feature. The lifters are AT-992.

[Jim D.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

The lifters are AT-992.

That's what's included with the kit I linked to above.

[James W.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

Any machine shop should be able to machine the chamfered groove by measuring the dimensions from the existing camshaft. Your original cam has the groove "cast in" and only the chamfer needed to be machined. Be sure to use the proper 3-hole #5 cam bearing or there will be not oil to the valve train. Some machine shops may not be aware of this 65-66 big block cam/oil system design feature. The lifters are AT-992.

So the cam, (Sealed Power KC165R) that Jim mentioned in his post is the OEM replacement that can be bought through NAPA or Rock Auto as he stated? I manage a department of 12 journeyman machinists at work so I shouldn't have a problem with getting the groove machined into the rear cam journal. Thanks for the reminder about the 3-hole rear cam bearing.

Best Regards,

James West

[Duke W.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

You can buy it through any outlet that sells Federal Mogul parts. I know NAPA is a source. A Web search should yield numerous retail sources. As stated the KC-165R includes both the cam and AT-992 lifters. The cam itself is CS-165R, and is manufactured to the GM blueprint other than not having the rear journal oil grove that is not necessary on '67-up engines.

[Joe L.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

You can buy it through any outlet that sells Federal Mogul parts. I know NAPA is a source. A Web search should yield numerous retail sources. As stated the KC-165R includes both the cam and AT-992 lifters. The cam itself is CS-165R, and is manufactured to the GM blueprint other than not having the rear journal oil grove that is not necessary on '67-up engines.

Duke------


There were two different part numbers for the SHP big block camshaft but they differed only with respect to the rear journal groove. The cam with the groove was GM #3863143. Once-upon-a-time, GM only SERVICED the 3863143 for all 1965-71 SHP big block applications. Later, they discontinued that cam and replaced it, for SERVICE, with the GM #3904362. The latter has no rear journal oil groove. Of course, if this cam was used for 1965-E67 applications a groove had to be machined. I suppose that Federal-Mogul has chosen to reproduce the 3904362 since, by now, it would have a much larger market than the 3863143.

[Duke W.]

Re: Replacement 396 Camshaft and Solid Lifters

Actually, if you use the napaonline.com cross reference and input the ...143 OE number it comes up as the CS-165R, which is wrong. If you type in ...362, I recall that no match is found. Since the aftermarket tends to key off the parts catalog, the fact that the ...962 didn't show up until years later and for only a short period of time is probably the reason. But then you have to ask why it doesn't have a groove. Back in the seventies GM said you couldn't use the early grooved cam in a '67-up block without modifying the bearing, but I believe they later rescinded that advice.

The drawing for the later camshaft has a note that says that the casting can be used for the earlier version as long as the required groove is machined.

Duke