Cam thrust plate.

[fekbmax]

Is it worth replacing this cam thrust plate with thrust rollers ?  (Spider cracks around bolt holes)  . Or just replace with one of the bronze  thrust plates ?

[machoneman]

Either would work. But, I'd investigate why the plate is cracked. Odd, indeed. Was the rear cam plug installed backwards? May pay to re-assemble the cam and plate to see how well the cam turns. Maybe the pic but note what seems to be heavy wear on the lower edge. How does the cam's nose look? How about the steel cam tunnel plug at the other end?

[fekbmax]

Cam plug was installed correctly,  cam turned nice and free and smooth with front thrust plate and bearing and cam gear installed. I to thought maybe the lifter failure contributed to the cracking as it's around both bolt holes. Also this is a very early roller thrust plate set up that has alot of use and looking at it it seems to me the  retainer bolt holes seem to be recessed quite alot making the bolt seat pretty thin.

[66FAIRLANE]

Being a roller plate too and aftermarket it is probably hardened to the bejesus. Around the bolt holes is probably an area that should have been 'let back' a little more.

[Barry_R]

I would not use it - broken parts will eventually bite you hard.

As noted - that was probably defective from the beginning - too hard for the purpose.  A Torrington bearing should rely on a thrust washer on each side as a race.  That way the plate could remain "soft".

[fekbmax]

That's a great point. This one is a very early one and maybe should have been left a little soft because it does use thrust washers on both sides of the bearing. The cam bearing and washers and the gear side bearing and washers appear to be in good condition.

[Barry_R]

With a roller cam the only load on the thrust is from the oil pump drive gear.  It should never have cracked like that.

[fekbmax]

Barry,  and others,
Since my roll master cam gear has already been cut for the bearing on the gear side and both thrust bearings and sets of washers are in good shape, do you think it would be ok for me to duplicate this part using a good  quality piece of mild steal plate or even stainless?  I could easy make this part if you think a non hardened piece would hold up. It the stock piece was just a bit thicker then obviously modifying it would be the ideal choice.
Otherwise I'll just shelf it and use one of the bronze plates instead.
Just curious. .

[66FAIRLANE]

If I were going to make one I wouldn't use mild steel. I would use some form of tool steel, gauge plate or alike.

[XR7]

You can buy just the cam retainer kit (with bearings). I would call Doug at Precision oil pumps and see if maybe he has just the plate by itself available, if not... just buy the kit. They are designed for the Rollmaster timing set. He has them available with that as a kit as well, just a lot more money and there is probably nothing wrong with your gears and chain.

http://stores.precisionoilpumps.com/fe-ford-torrington-needle-bearing-cam-retainer-plate-kit/

[fekbmax]

Yeah, I'd only need the plate. Everything else is just fine.

[Rory428]

I would not use that plate with the cracks. Personally, I have never used anything other than a stock Ford thrust plate, and in almost 40 years of racing FEs, I have never had any issues with them.

[fekbmax]

I have no intentions in useing it. 
Make a good pattern  though..