I'm pretty sure if the engine was completely rebuilt the cam bearings would have been changed at that time. I still think you should just check the bearings and install your cam.

I am not really sure if you can even get the cam out of an Early FORD while its still in the doghouse.
Pretty shure it would be real tricky in an early chevy with a six.Due to the location of the front of the doghouse and the front of the engine.(Cam shaft is as long as the block).
got a picture of the engine in the doghouse handy?
It has to go in straight......
As far as adjustments go.Some FORDS had adjustable valves and some did not.Some times on the non adjustable ones.You have to run them dowm fire the engine up and lossen them back up and retighten them because when you first tighten them down the pressure will collapse the lifter and they need to be freed up to rebuild pressure........
To make matters worse Ford put the non adjustable valves on a "rocker bar" then in later years they did away with the bar.
Even Ford guys can't keep up with the changes FORD made......

Like Ken said of the engine has been rebuilt then the cam bearing should not be an issue.......

............Wookee

It's probably hurting Wookee to type the word Ford. ;)

Not as much as it would if he had to work on one

Thanks to all for the responces, I feel like it's one of those issues where you say to yourself, "do i TRUST that the engine has been re-built, and even if i do i know that some people "RE-Build" an engine and don't always do it as extensively as should be, i.e they may not have changed them??? I guess i am going to pull the head, Measure them and throw the cam in??? I really don't want to do that but EVERYONE seems to think they are not that critical and as long as they are "se" and measure good, than i'm ok??? I don't know, just doesn't seem like the ideal thing to do. WISH someone local had a garage, and Knew FOR SURE what they are doing, and said "come on over and we'll do it in the garage this weekend! But i know thats optamistic thinking:(

And YES with the Radiator out, and the front of the doghouse off i'm POSITIVE it can be changed with the engine in the van.

ok now I am talking Chevy here.......I dropped the low end torque can into my Chevy small block.This cam woke the engine up.This "Crate" engine had well over 70,000 HARD daily driven miles on it before I up graded the cam.
I drive my van like I stole it.5 grand first gear shifts are common place.Going into my 4th season, stock cam bearings are doing fine.
I am positive you will not be running your Ford six no where near that hard.

Stick your cam in and drive it........

........Wookee

I can attest to that!

Me too! I've riden with him!

I have a few extra gray hairs!

Unless your doing a MAJOR overhaul usually cam bearings dont need replaced since the cam only turns half as many times as the crankshaft. Wear here is minimum. Just a cam change throw it in there with lots of cam lube on all surfaces of the cam. If you doing a major it should be line bored, tanked for cleaning, bored cylinders, new freeze plugs, and cam bearings. Special cam lube is used for the fireup as this is the critical time for the cam bearings and lifters to break in. Cams are surface heat treated and if you wear thru the treatment youll have a waste case.