replacement cam?

[78olds_ponce]

hi ive got an 80s chevy 400 sbc as far as i knw its all stock inside i just had my valves adjusted because they wernt tighten enough and sum wer to tight ..i was told that my cam could be flat on sum of the places where the pushrods connect to ..even though the car runs wayy better it still makes a claping sound .but it sounds like its only one rockerarm thats not tighting ..SO MY ? IS DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY CAM OR CAN I DO SUMTHING ELSE TO FIX THAT CLAPING SOUND
A GUY THAT I HAD WORKIN ON IT SAID HE TIGHTED ALL THE ROCKERARMS FIRST THEN HE LOOSENED THEM BUT THAT SUM OF THEM WOULDNT STOP CLAPING.HE SAID THAT THE CAM COULD BE FLAT ON SUM SPOTS...

SO LET ME KNW WHAT YOU THINK...THANKS MIKE

 

[DRIVEN]

The 400 was produced from 1970-1980. SBCs from the late 70's were notorious for developing flat cams due to inferior materials used in cam production. That, coupled with the recent changes in oil additives, is a perfect recipe for a flat cam. The clatter is not unheard of after a valve adjust. Fresh lifters usually snap out of it but older ones may not. You may plan on a cam replacement in the near future. Even if it isn't going flat, stock 400 cams are pretty lame. Try not to get greedy when picking a new one, though. Remember that a 400, in stock trim, was never really a performance engine. Shoot for low-mid range torque rather than high RPM horsepower. The stock heads will be your next bottle neck. Good luck.

 

[78olds_ponce]

is there any way of making that clapin sound go away.besides changeing the cam?what kind of motor oil should i use for the motor?thickness? brand?

 

[beermonkey9417]

the best way to get the noise is to take off yerintake and measure your lifters, pushrods, and valves to see if there in spec. if there not then youll know what the problem is. and while your in there you can goto jegs or summit and get a replacement cam, or if they dont have that exact cam get a mild cam. im thinking imma need to do that for my elky sooner than later. problemn is it cost a good chunk o' change and i may have to save up awhile to do that. good luck tho!

 

[patmckinneyracing]

A decent cam replacement doesnt cost too much unless your shooting for comp or lunati or some of the other major guys. I personally have loved my summit stick and frankincutlass has the same summit cam that I do and he seems to love it as well. It makes great power, has an excellent lope sound to the exhaust, and is a good torque cam while still providing adequate hp. Good thing with summit is you get the cam and lifter set for under 100$.