231 Odd Fire Cam Button

I see where the 225 OF has a cam button with spring. Does the 231 OF use the same thing? Looked on Rock Auto and I can't find it ( 231 OF was produced '75 through mid '77). TA Performance has the button and spring listed for the 225 OF but not for the 231 OF. I'm thinking I need one and using one from the 225 will work.

 

Mine had the button but it was busted back when I rebuilt my motor in 2005. The spring was still there but the button was cracked half way thru. I could not find a source back then so I machined the button out of a piece of phenolic. Its still in the motor and working.

 

Could anybody please post a pic of their cam button and its location etc. I have a 225 OF that I will be rebuiding and would like to see what your talking about. What was (is) the purpose and where could I get some info about it.
thanks to all

 

I don't have a picture, but I believe it was to keep the cam from floating forward to keep distributor gear train wear to a minimum, If the cam floats forward it could make excessive noise and chain wear also.

 

The cam button is simply a piece of plastic mounted to a spring that is stuck to the end of the cam bolt, by pressing against the timing cover it was suppose to keep the cam from walking forward under load. Most of the aftermarket buttons are made to fit the later even fires. Here is a drawing of the one I made.


This from TA performance is said to fit.

 

interesting, thanks fellas. I just might need to check that on mine.

 

I worked at a Buick/Pontiac dealership in the early 80s and I seem to recall that there were two different springs available. IIRC the camshaft ends were slightly different and they wouldn't interchange. (I think one had an axial tit that stuck into a hole in the cam the other had a radial tit that engaged a slot on the end of the cam) I believe there was only one button. We had one customer whose button had split and fallen off of the spring. The spring rubbing on the timing cover made for weird noises at times. It had eaten into the cover enough that it had to be replaced as well. It seems like the Buick 350s and 455s may have used these buttons too. I know for sure that they used the same rocker arm buttons as the 231.

 

Bumping this 9 year old thread cause I'm trying to source a bumper, and this site (V6 & V8 Cam Hardware, 225 V6 Spring Type Cam Bumper, TA_ROL150B | TAPerformance.com) the item for the 225V6 seems to be what I need but there's no purchase link. I will call these guys on Monday and inquire if they can still source them. Does anyone have any ideas where one might be found?

If not, if anyone has one out of an engine that they could send a pic of and report whether it matches the dimensions of the drawing above from @Mcruff , I can 3D print one.

 

You might be in luck. I was holding one in my hand when I was sorting stuff in my shop. That’s the good news, now I have to remember where I stashed it. Give me a few days to put my eyes on it.

 

I made that drawing using my old cracked button. Not sure what your gonna print them out of. Mine was phenolic and that’s what I made the new one from. Not sure what plastic you could print them from that would take the heat and oil on it all the time. Maybe some of the new carbon fiber material.

 

Good point, maybe I'll see if I can make a 3D model and mill one on our CNC router.

 

I believe you can buy a camshaft thrust button at Summit Racing. Enter your engine make, size and year. They should have a Melling, Seal Power or Comp Cam part.

 

IIRC TA Performance has no online purchase options. Pick out what you need and give them a call. They were very helpful to me.

 

Classicbuicks.com did carry them.

 

I FOUND IT! I am amazed I located the button with spring. Just let me know.

 

I did ask if they had it for a 1966 225 V6 , and this was their reply FYI:

Yes, $15.95.

$10.55 for priority mail, money order payable to TA Performance. You can send a personal check but we let it clear before we ship.

Regards,

Sherri
TA Performance Products
16167 N 81 St
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-922-6807