Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
#1307322
09/20/12 10:17 AM
09/20/12 10:17 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336 South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1
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I don't know if it's because I'm getting older and the stories are just accumulating or if there really has been an extreme epidemic of new cams getting wiped before the 2k mile mark. I've heard all the stories. Crap used in the Chinese forgings. Companies becoming the Walmart of valve trains and skipping on QA/QC. Oil formulation changes in the last few years for the worse. Plus the eternal ever standard: "did ya break it in properly?". It's happening in all the engines, from garage builds to pro builds. I wish ASTM would do a comprehensive study on this but that ain't gonna happen. The podium is now open....
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: 440newport]
#1307324
09/20/12 11:28 AM
09/20/12 11:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
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Quote:
There was also word of a bad batch of mopar lifters floating around a few years back. Many people say Johnson made/make the best quality lifters but I think they were out of buisness for a while, so we probably had a lot of soft Chinese junk out there repackaged as many different brands.
The story I heard it wasn't just Mopar, it was across the board. I don't know the name of the company but one of remaining 2 or 3 makers went belly up and the company that came in to sell off the remains saw loads of lifters that didn't pass inspection and SOLD them off as good. Its takenn a number of years for those lifters to make it thru the systems ...
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1307326
09/20/12 02:41 PM
09/20/12 02:41 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336 South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1
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Quote:
I don't know the name of the company but one of remaining 2 or 3 makers went belly up and the company that came in to sell off the remains saw loads of lifters that didn't pass inspection and SOLD them off as good.
Bain Capital? J/K
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: Commando1]
#1307327
09/20/12 03:20 PM
09/20/12 03:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,043
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
Quote:
I don't know the name of the company but one of remaining 2 or 3 makers went belly up and the company that came in to sell off the remains saw loads of lifters that didn't pass inspection and SOLD them off as good.
Bain Capital? J/K
Didn't Bain buy struggling companies and not companies that folded ?
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: lewtot184]
#1307329
09/20/12 05:08 PM
09/20/12 05:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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People using crap oils during break-in. People not follow break-in procedures properly. Modern cams have much more aggressive lobes than the lazy cams of yesteryear.
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#1307333
09/20/12 09:02 PM
09/20/12 09:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,186 Wherever I am.
Junky
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Wherever I am.
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Quote:
People using crap oils during break-in.
People not follow break-in procedures properly.
Modern cams have much more aggressive lobes than the lazy cams of yesteryear.
Yeah, that. About 2 years ago I installed my first cam, a Hughes cam. Learned how to do it from moparts.com. Went just fine for me.
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: dogdays]
#1307334
09/21/12 09:12 AM
09/21/12 09:12 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY
bobs66440
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Quote:
Hasn't this issue been beaten TO DEATH? BTW, cast iron cams are used for flat tappets. R.
I don't think it's a bad idea to revisit these topics once in a while. It helps keep us updated on an ever changing subject and it makes it easier for guys (that this is a new problem to, like me) to get info on. I'm going through this right now (not a cam, but a lifter) and it's helpful (and sometimes confusing, lol) to get opinions...
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: dogdays]
#1307336
09/22/12 09:34 AM
09/22/12 09:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336 South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1
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Quote:
Hasn't this issue been beaten TO DEATH? BTW, cast iron cams are used for flat tappets. R.
Well, then, I don't want to see any more: 1. How good is a 440 Source (fill in the blank)... 2. Best rear main seal?... 3. Help! I have a bog in my carb coming off idle... 4. Edelbrock or Holley?
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: Commando1]
#1307337
09/22/12 10:04 AM
09/22/12 10:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY
bobs66440
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Posts: 1,880
Out in Left Field, NY
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Quote:
Quote:
Hasn't this issue been beaten TO DEATH? BTW, cast iron cams are used for flat tappets. R.
Well, then, I don't want to see any more: 1. How good is a 440 Source (fill in the blank)... 2. Best rear main seal?... 3. Help! I have a bog in my carb coming off idle... 4. Edelbrock or Holley?
Exactly. Part of the reason for this forum is to help people with problems. That means revisiting popular topics now and then...
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: Commando1]
#1307339
09/22/12 07:19 PM
09/22/12 07:19 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 259 Khemi, Stygia
Mebsuta
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How many of the traditional, now considered lazy lobe, camshafts have failed? That was what this old stuff was originally designed to use.
It kind of reminds me of AR-15 discussions. People thought they knew better than Gene Stoner and strayed away from the original design. They were not always successful.
68 Roadrunner. 383 4-spd. Beat up.
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: dogdays]
#1307343
09/24/12 10:16 PM
09/24/12 10:16 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA
BSB67
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Quote:
To: Commando1 If none of those topics ever showed up again I would be ecstatic.
...to name a few....
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: BSB67]
#1307344
09/25/12 10:39 AM
09/25/12 10:39 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336 South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1
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Quote:
Quote:
To: Commando1 If none of those topics ever showed up again I would be ecstatic.
...to name a few....
Actually, I could come up with a list as long as your arm, BUT, I have asked a few questions in the past that probably seemed absolutely like rookie stuff to some, but guys came through and bailed out my sorry azz anyway. So.... to them I say Thank You and I try to remember there's no such thing as a stupid question.
Except for: "Is this a scam...."
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1307345
09/25/12 02:01 PM
09/25/12 02:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,074 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,074
Niles , Ohio
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I agree most are from improper setup and down right neglect.Ive probally installed 20 in the past 12 years.Had 1 failure.The kid didnt want to seat the lifters,just installed and set the idle.Then he never changed the oil and ran it low after about 5000 miles.But it was the cams fault.I run either Kendall GT1 or Valvoline race oil.My radical solid is 14 years old and going strong.The sons 413 with Hughes cam is just as old and has more miles.Still like new.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: Why the epidemic of failed new cams?
[Re: therocks]
#1307346
09/25/12 02:14 PM
09/25/12 02:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 12,419
Kalispell Mt.
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I have never had one fail and have built lots of flat tappet engines. I ALWAYS make sure the lifters turn while I turn the engine. If I do not see one rotateing I pull it out and find the reason. Sometimes you have to polish the lifter body or scuff the face or something but they will rotate at hand turning speed.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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