Cam lobe mystery......

[-83MONTESS-]

I took the intake off of my 496 tonight and as I was inspecting the lifter valley I found a few cam lobes with these weird little silver specs on them. No texture to them at all and they don't wipe off. Not on every lobe but a few. The one in the photo is the worst. Any ideas on what's going on here? Cam has no more than 500 miles on it, was installed by me and broken in per the instructions. I also use oil with zinc and phosphate additives. I really don't wanna break down the valves to pull the lifters out because im a lazy piece of sh*t. Am I losing lobes or what???

 

[Rktpwrd]

I would definitely be pulling the corresponding lifter to that worst cam lobe and having a look at it, lazy or not.
I suspect you're going to find some severe lifter face wear and damage. Possibly from excessive valve spring tension? Are you sure there wasn't a manufacturer mixup and you got a hydraulic roller cam with hardened lobes as opposed to a regular flat tappet cam? Just spitballing here.

 

[lilbowtie]

I would want to find the cause before bigger problems appear. I would start by cutting the oil filter open and checking for any debris.

 

[pontiacgp]

the cam isn't right, the lifters are not even close to be centered on the lobe

 

[HAFROD]

the cam isn't right, the lifters are not even close to be centered on the lobe

If he has a cam button it could be causing the cam set back. Without a cam button the cam walks back and forth.

 

[HAFROD]

Your far from a lazy piece of sh*t because your balls deep in a frame off. Lol. Might as well go with a roller cam set up. Its only money. But then again, I've never had a roller set up myself. HeHe

 

[565bbchevy]

I would want to inspect all the lifters very closely and from there probably pull the cam.
I thought you already had a roller cam in there so I would definitely consider that upgrade now.
I personally will never run anything but a roller cam in anything I build, it solves break in and wear issues and makes more power with the same lift numbers plus they have become far more affordable over the last decade.

 

[lilbowtie]

The lifters are suppose to be offset to aid with rotating.

 

[565bbchevy]

If he has a cam button it could be causing the cam set back. Without a cam button the cam walks back and forth.

Hydraulic flat tappet cams don't need cam buttons since the lobes are designed with a taper that rotates the lifters and forces the cam towards the back of the block, only a roller cam needs a cam button.

 

[pontiacgp]

The lifters are suppose to be offset to aid with rotating.

I agree but it looks to me they are more off center than they should be...