AERA Technical Bulletins – July 29, 2022

Cam Cap Installation for 2010-2022 Ford 1.5 and 1.6L EcoBoost Engines

The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information on the proper cam cap installation for 2010-2022 Ford 1.5 and 1.6L engines. This information should be reviewed anytime the valve cover has been removed. Or, in the event you receive a cylinder head and none of the cap locations were documented before disassembly, refer to this bulletin. It is important that any cap that is removed be reinstalled in its original location.

Factory markings of the cap’s location may be hard to discern, especially before cleaning. See the images below to assist in locating the caps correctly. The exhaust cam caps are labeled A through D and the intake cam caps are numbered 1-4. The front mega-cap can only go on one way. The other 8 appear identical, except from their labeling.

Camshaft Bearing Caution on 2014-2022 GM 4.3L, LV1 and LV3 Engines

The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information on the camshaft bearings used in 2014-2022 GM 4.3L, LV1 and LV3 engines. It should also be noted these LS style V-6 engines also use a balance shaft located above the blocks camshaft and it’s supported at both ends by different size bearings, see AERA TB3205.

It’s also been reported that replacement cam bearings are not always available from GM, depending on the application of vehicle being looked up. Below you will find GM bearing part numbers for the four locations used. These part numbers are also used in the late model V-8 LS engines. It has also been reported that limited supplies have delayed engine rebuilds.

Understanding Marine Applications

By Greg West

For some of us, it is hard to believe that the production big block Chevrolet engine has been

around for 55 years. During that time period there have been three generations of production

engines plus several complete crate engines from GM Performance. The first big block engines were released during the 1965 model year. These engines are identified as Gen IV and were used in production vehicles from 1965 thru 1990. These engines were produced in several displacements; 396, 402, 427, and 454 cubic inch. In 1991, the Gen V engines were introduced with several upgrades. The Gen V engines were used in production vehicles from 1991 thru 1995. In 1996, the Gen VI engines were introduced with additional upgrades. The Gen VI engines were used in production vehicles from 1996 thru 2001. The Gen V and Gen VI engines are 454 cubic inch. GM Performance also offers several versions of Gen VI crate engines in both 502 and 572 cubic inch displacements.

The AERA YouTube channel features Prosis Pro tutorials, AERA webinars and membership information. We invite you to check out the wide selection of videos and subscribe! New content is added regularly.

Steve and Chuck introduce you to AERA’s newest technical specialist, Fernando Curello. Fernando comes from the manufacturing side of our industry but has a vast knowledge of engine building – and he speaks Spanish. Junior Johnson makes our history segment for the month of June with his moonshine and NASCAR history.

Everyone in business owes it to themselves and their business to gain knowledge and network with other people within the same industry. AERA understands that traveling to national trade shows to gain knowledge and networking opportunities is very expensive. Therefore, AERA has decided to help by teaming up with a regional host and offer these opportunities to different regions of our country and hopefully closer to your shop. All shops welcome! Need not be an AERA member to attend.

Become an AERA member today and start enjoying the benefits of one of the oldest and most respected technical organizations in the world. You’ll have full access to a wealth of information, knowledge and training… plus much more!

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