Olds engine guys

[-83MONTESS-]

What are all the Olds 455 guys here running for camshafts? My dad just lost his 3rd camshaft in 8 years in his 68 4-4-2(this time a Lunati) and im trying to do some homework for him so it doesnt happen again. How many people are still using hydraulic flat tappets vs hydraulic rollers? Is the extra money for the roller setup worth it? He ran full synthetic with the zinc additive and changed it every summer. Car seen MAYBE 1000 miles a summer and no track time.

This most recent failure occured randomly on a 5 minute drive to test the new shocks. We heard a very light ticking followed by a slight loss in oil pressure. When he shut it off it was idling at 20psi and had an inconsistent light tick. We pulled it apart and 3 lobes(all next to each other) were starting to go but we couldnt find any metal shavings in the oil. Im really hoping we caught it in time so we dont have to touch the bottom end. Any help/advice from some Olds guys is appreciated this is getting old.

 

[DoubleV]

If you're losing cams left and right like that then there are more issues than the brand of camshaft. Find out the reason why this keeps happening or you will just suffer another loss.

 

[Fox80]

Has it always been the same three lobes? You could have a blocked passage in the block, usually that will not allow the lifters to pump up from the get go. I don't think oil type has anything to do with it or you would have all the lobes wear out the same, the reason I used a roller and have in everything is for the overall durability of them with the oils available today, however even a roller will fail if you have an oiling problem.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

First time it was the front 2 lobes and it went quick. The engine was totally rebuilt after that and thats when this most recent cam was installed. Block was cleaned and had oil restrictors installed which I guess helps Olds engines with their factory oiling issues. Im not to up to speed on tge Olds engines which is why I figured I would ask.

 

[Fox80]

When I was doing the motor for my car I found many write ups on people using oil restrictors as well, however the friend of mine who does machine work for me advised against it for almost the very reason you are having. In SBC's they are never used for a hyd cam, only solid cam applications, he and many other "Olds guys" I talked to said the main problem is the large bearing clearences in the bottom end, basically allowing the oil volume to be lost before it reaches the top end. So we turned the crank, cut the mains and rods and resized everything to take about .001 out of the clearences, that combined with a high volume pump, and 1qt overfilled pan seems to work well for most guys. A stock pump with large clearences, combined with restrictors could simply be starving the motor from the cam up. I'm just throwing around things I was told, I am by no means an Olds expert, nor would I probably ever even bother to build one again

 

[L92 OLDS]

What oil has he been using? If he is breaking in the cams with a modern engine oil it will likely trash the camshaft.

Read this...

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012 ... r-engines/

 

[King_V]

Like Fox80, I've heard the comments here and there that oil restrictors are a particularly bad idea - they are somehow attempting to crutch a different problem.

I really don't remember the explanation - don't think I ever followed it, but there were some serious Olds guys who had some seriously dire warnings about the restrictors.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

The oil restrictors were in stalled by the builder who was a BOP guy. He passed away and he was the only local Olds guy. The oil pan is a 7 qt Milodin and it gas a high volume oil pump. Guess I should have clarified that in the original post. Cam was broken in using Brad Penn break in oil and every oil change it gets a full synthetic with the necessary flat tappet additives already in it. I will have to ask him the specific brand and weight when I get home.

 

[DoubleV]

I don't use him myself, but you may want to give Smitty a call at M&J Proformance. He's located in Ohio if you need to see him and he specializes in Olds engines. Your cam issue seems to be pretty severe and he might have plenty of first hand knowlege on your issue. Not only will he help you pick out a good cam, he'lll also be able to tell you how to make it last.

 

[84dragcutlass]

I would pull those restrictors out, they are only very useful in drag racing applications anyway and in an olds engine that was plagued with oil issues enough on its own they are a bad idea. Street use with them really isnt going to help you out in any way