Cam lobe mystery......

[Mrockatansky]

That sounds bad *ss.

Sorry about your luck on this cam thing.

 

[tmaher11]

What valve springs are you running? If your running a dual spring, you are suppose to install the inner spring after cam break-in.

 

[Bill Creller]

Not to muddy this up, but could those flecks of metal on the lobes be aluminum that has burnished into the lobe surface ? Just an idea....I've had no problems with flat tappets, when doing the break-in, but rollers are the no-problem lifters for sure..

Bill

 

[565bbchevy]

If he has aluminum specks on his cam lobes the cam and lifters will the least of his worries.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

What valve springs are you running? If your running a dual spring, you are suppose to install the inner spring after cam break-in.

Yes cam was broken in without the inner springs. I broke it in EXACTLY THE way Comp requires.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

If he has aluminum specks on his cam lobes the cam and lifters will the least of his worries.

Besides pistons where would the aluminum come from? Is that even possible? Nothing else is aluminum besides the pistons. Like I said there's no texture to the lobes at all. It's like there was a coating on the lobe that wasn't completely worn off yet. I will pull lifters tonight and while I'm at it I'll make sure they all spin in their bores.

 

[565bbchevy]

Besides pistons where would the aluminum come from? Is that even possible? Nothing else is aluminum besides the pistons. Like I said there's no texture to the lobes at all. It's like there was a coating on the lobe that wasn't completely worn off yet. I will pull lifters tonight and while I'm at it I'll make sure they all spin in their bores.

I highly doubt it is aluminum and I said that knowing the only aluminum in your engine is your pistons.
The first thing i would do is take a clean rag with carb clean and see if anything rubs off the lobe, from there I would take a good look at all your lifters and go from there it could be an issue with the cam possibly uneven heat treating or possibly excessive spring pressure.
Just do one step at a time and don't jump to conclusions until you can verify the issue.

 

[tmaher11]

I would cut apart the oil filter. The lifter ran over something. If its aluminum, it's probably bearing material. You might have bigger issues.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I would cut apart the oil filter. The lifter ran over something. If its aluminum, it's probably bearing material. You might have bigger issues.

Pretty sure the bearings aren't aluminum. I'd have to double check because it's been a few years since I built it. I never had oil pressure issues and I cut my last filter which would have been the break in filter apart. Didn't find any shavings. I'll double check when I get home.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I highly doubt it is aluminum and I said that knowing the only aluminum in your engine is your pistons.
The first thing i would do is take a clean rag with carb clean and see if anything rubs off the lobe, from there I would take a good look at all your lifters and go from there it could be an issue with the cam possibly uneven heat treating or possibly excessive spring pressure.
Just do one step at a time and don't jump to conclusions until you can verify the issue.

I'll try wiping it off tonight. I tried lastnight just with a shop towel and a finger. Nothing came off and there is literally no texture to any of it. I guess i will find out for sure when I pull a lifter out.