Slot on cam bearing O.D.

[Pablo]

Just picked up a set of new cam bearings and found that the first and last bearing have this little slot cut into them.
What is the purpose of this? Is it supposed to be there to squirt oil on the timing set or something?

These are Clevite 77 SH-1448S bearings

 

[turbodave231]

The Clevite bearings have this slot and the Durabond don't.

That bearing is the same for #1 and #4 position in a 109 block. When you install that bearing in #1 make sure the slot faces forward to feed oil to the timing set.

When installed in #4 the slot also faces forward, but the block does not feed oil to the slot, so it doesn't affect anything.

Dave