Actually the cam looked good except for the gear..

Through investigation this is what i found.. In September i replace the oil pump because of low oil pressure.. The pressure really didn't improve, so i thought that couldn't be the problem. Turns out it was a faulty oil pump. If you turned the oil pump it would (on occasion) catch. So, what i think what happened is the distributor finally gave way to the semi-failing oil pump and sheered the gears. When i put a new distributor in it continued the demise of the cam gears. New parts all the way around seemed to have cured everything.. Only time will tell..

Parts list: Cam, Cam Bearings, lifters(tappets), Push rods, Distributor, Rotor button, Dist. Cap, plugs, Timing Chaing & Sprokets, oil pump. And disposables(gaskets, oil etc)

Long story short.. Autozone parts aren't always 100%... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Ok then what we have now is just about what we started with..huh? But should be a hell of a lot more dependable and our mind is right! Thanks for the reply. That was one strange pump you had in there.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

LOL.. ya what i started with.. You know.. No matter how detailed you are doing the wrench turning.. There is always that little demon in the back of your head thinking.. Is today the day I found out I missed something...

I guess I'm paranoid... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your help guys.. I'll let you know how the road test goes tonight.. Still have to put the exhaust and fan/shroud on..

Road test was great.. Had to get a new muffler today.. Apparently when it backfired it blew the muffler like a firecracker in a tin can..

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

As a young man I had a 53 olds. I got a kick out of turning the key off and then back on to make it backfire.
I first blew the muffler off and then blew the top off of a piston... I have never done that since. Backfires can cause problems!
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I remember when one of my brothers was showing off in my Dads 68 Monaco Station wagon with a 383, What a tank! Be assured Daddy was not too pleased when Johnny blew up the muffler by making it backfire. Those were the days! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />