Cam Installation Problems! Help!

[Toy_Truck]

I originally posted back in March about my plans to build a mini stroker and dove into ordering parts and tearing down my motor only to have the two separate machine shops take way too long to finish the machining (and one completely destroy a piston while attempting to dish it!) . So here I am in September getting around to assembling everything and when I went to install my cam last night it went in fine until the last half inch. It just seems to stick. I inspected the last bearing and there doesn't seem to be any issues with it. I installed the gear so that in could spin the cam as i pushed and that allowed me to press it in the the last half inch but then it becomes almost impossible to spin by hand. I pulled it completely back out and there isn't any scoring on the the last (or any) lobe. I decided to reinstall the factory can to see if it was an issue with the Comp cam and to my dismay it was the same story. HELP!

[Cheromaniac]

You might wanna check if the cam bearings were installed in the correct order.

[Retlaw01XJ]

As Dino said, check bearings first. Look for marks on the cam bearings, you should see where the interference is.
My Buick Nailheads often have cam fit issues with new bearings. Solution is to either polish the cam journal, or shave some material from the cam bearing.

[Toy_Truck]

The machine shop installed them. How might I know if they are in the correct order? The first (front of the block) and third have a groove in the middle while the second and fourth are smooth. What's strange about it is that the cam slides in easily until I get time the last bearing where it slides in the first 1/4 intimidated the bearing fine and then abruptly gets very tight. Could the bearing be conical?

[IH 392]

It's probably the bearing in the front, they likely used the short driver and no centering cone when they drove it in, I drive them in from the rear whenever possible just for that very reason, you're seeing the issue because the journals are smaller diameter as the progress towards the rear.
Stick the cam in backwards and see if the front journal will go in?, if not work it in gently, you may have to find the high spot and work it some?

[Toy_Truck]

If I find the offending spot on the bearing what would be the best way to take it down? Keeping in mind it's the last bearing and the rear plug is in? (I did put the cam in backwards and it fit in the first bearing without issue so I'm still leaning towards it being the last bearing but I'll certainly do more checking before I attempted anything)

[SilverXJ]

If I find the offending spot on the bearing what would be the best way to take it down? Keeping in mind it's the last bearing and the rear plug is in?

Use a knife or some other sharp blade. You don't want to use anything abrasive as it will embed itself in the bearing babbitt.