Ford Model A - Cover for rear camshaft bushing

The rear camshaft bushing is normally open and the cause for oil leaks. It is normally only covered by a gasket between the Engine block and the flywheel housing. If the flywheel housing lays not properly on the engine block, an oil leak is the result. What I did is to close the bushing with a plug. This modification is not my idea, it is published in the book 'The Model A Engine' written by William H. McRee and Paul H. McRee (Page 58/59). In the book they used an existing freeze plug and I have added a blueprint for those who want to make one.

This is the end of the camshaft with the self made plug.

My plug was newly made on a lathe.

This are the blueprints to make your own plug. To get a better view just click here onto blueprint or into the picture.

The camshaft was too long and I had to grind it a little bit until I hat an end play of about 0,5mm between camshaft and freeze plug.

This is how the rear bearing with camshaft inserted looks like.

The freezing plug is a little bit oversized and can be inserted with a hammer. Then make sure that the camshaft does not get in contact on the inner side of the plug. Now you should never see any oil under your flywheel housing.