Moparts
Are COMP cams junk?
Just picked a Comp cam (Xtreme Energy) to use in my son's 1970 383HP engine. A young mechanic and I were having a discussion on cam manufacturers. He told me Comp's are like going to Wal-Mart for a cam. He claimed a couple fellows he knows tried Comp cams and had to replaced them in a short time. Please let me know if this is true. I can't afford a mistake like this! (blue-collar Mopar man)
Posted By: ademon
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 06:30 AM
that young mechanic is wrong, the fellows he know don't know how to break in a cam.
Posted By: Kern Dog
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 06:38 AM
Uhhh....
While there have been many cam failures since the reduction of Zinc Phosphate in motor oils, Comp cams have surely had their share of problems. I wiped out two XE285HL cams within 3 years. The story I heard from Dwayne Porter was that it was the LIFTERS, not the cam that caused the problems.
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 07:24 AM
Was the lifter problem associated with Mopar's lifter being .904?
Posted By: GTSDart340
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 08:13 AM
I agree on the lifters- I gave a comp cam and lifter set in my dart. I've replaced two lifters due to them being collapsed, and I have at least one more still out.
Posted By: bonefish
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 02:09 PM
i use comp solid roller cams,never a prob.
Posted By: Commando1
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 02:16 PM
I will never use Walmart...ah, umm....Comp Cams again.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 02:26 PM
Comp good as any better than most--now...extreme energy cams suck because they have odd closing ramps and just plain Clatter--I hate them!! The nostalgia series are some of the best cams I have ever used--go with that vs the silly computer designed crud they call extreme energy
Most cam sellers buy all the catalog cams from Camshaft Machine and just grind the customs themselves
Every grind by almost every maker is in Camshaft Machines catalog--you can't buy from them--well..if you want to buy several hundred at a time you might could but..
It is to the point on flat tappets where if you buy quality lifters they are around $200 and so most are running China specials in name brand boxes and that is where the issues lie ( and oil)
Most all cams come from the same place
Very few flat tappets are custom grinds
Posted By: 2boltmain
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 04:29 PM
I sure wish it wasnt so expensive to convert an LA to all roller valve train!
Posted By: 1968RR
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 04:57 PM
I've run several Comp cams with no issues. As others have already mentioned, they need to be broken in properly (like all cams), and the XE series tend to be noisy (which i don't really mind).
Posted By: lewtot184
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 05:16 PM
Quote:
Just picked a Comp cam (Xtreme Energy) to use in my son's 1970 383HP engine. A young mechanic and I were having a discussion on cam manufacturers. He told me Comp's are like going to Wal-Mart for a cam. He claimed a couple fellows he knows tried Comp cams and had to replaced them in a short time. Please let me know if this is true. I can't afford a mistake like this! (blue-collar Mopar man)
i don't like them.
Posted By: feets
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 05:38 PM
I bought my custom ground Comp cam in the spring of 2001. It found it's way into a couple rebuilds of the TT440 and was still in the second block when I sold the car this month.
13 years on multiple installs isn't too bad.
Posted By: Cab_Burge
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 05:51 PM
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 08:10 PM
Oh boy, the Comp cam 21-221-4 just arrived this a.m.! Now I've got heat applied to my rear end. Will have to figure this out fast. This Xtreme Energy cam is 212/218@.050(256/268)duration .447/.455 lift 110 lobe opposed to old Purpleshaft roadrunner cam with 208/221@.050(268/284)duration .450/.458 lift 115 lobe. Since the lift is similar, just wondering if the "clatter" with the Comp is still possible to occur? And has Comp addressed the China lifter issue? O.K. men, if I send this Comp cam back to Wall-mart, what brand of cam and lifters are the most "fail-safe" for a pretty much stock build with longevity in mind?
Posted By: Diplomat360
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 10:03 PM
Quote:
... O.K. men, if I send this Comp cam back to Wall-mart, what brand of cam and lifters are the most "fail-safe" for a pretty much stock build with longevity in mind?
I have a Hughes Engine HE3844AL cam...when I bought it I am pretty sure it was Engle that was grinding the cams. Given how over many years I barely started the motor (sometimes only once or twice a season as the car was being moved around) the cam is still fine. It was only last season and this year that I managed to put some decent KMs on this, about 2k in total, just replaced my intake manifold and pulled the lifter valley off...the lobes looked good, lifters are fine...no issues to report...this is over a 5 yr timeframe...so at least this one's a 'thumbs up' story. This particular car is fairly aggresive for street though (238/244 @0.050")...so not what you're looking for...my feedback is merely regarding the wear and tear experience.
Previously I ran a Crower #31243 (282-HDP COMPU-PRO, 228/238 @ 0.050"), great cam, lasted forever (heck, still have it in a box, barely any wear)...wish Crower could custom grind me a hydrualic roller without me having to take out a 2nd mortgage...LOL!
Posted By: jake4cars
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 10:04 PM
To each his own but I prefer the smaller cam companies like Bullit, I think the service is more personalized and haven't had a major problem since.
Joey
Posted By: Mebsuta
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 10:07 PM
Quote:
what brand of cam and lifters are the most "fail-safe" for a pretty much stock build with longevity in mind?
The fail-safe one is original 383 HP cam.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-4452783ae
Here is the Sealed Power version.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/slp-cs-661
I installed mine in a parking lot 25 years ago and it has done exactly what it's supposed to do ever since.
Posted By: gtx6970
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 10:37 PM
Quote:
Are COMP cams junk?
I sure hope not. I just fired this one up monday and did the cam breakin,,,,,,so far so good
Posted By: Hot 340
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/23/14 11:42 PM
I talked with a few of comps "phone techs" that were suggesting profiles for me. What a bunch of clueless kids they were when it came to asking questions on agressive and non agressive profiles. Good luck with your comp cam. Walmart is right.
Posted By: Kern Dog
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 01:12 AM
I agree that the Comp telephone dudes are not the sharpest guys to ask about cams. you'd expect or at least hope to get good advice from their "tech" guys but the 2 different guys I spoke with didn't seem to know much more than I do about cams.
Some of the big names in engine building say that they themselves tell the cam company rep what lobe profiles that they want. The pro builders know what works because they see the engines run. The guys at a call center can only rely on what they are told.
Posted By: Mebsuta
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 01:39 AM
Will a stock 383 really go down the street any faster with an Xtreme cam instead of the vintage pattern? I need to know before I pull mine out.
Posted By: dezduster
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 01:41 AM
A friend of mine purchased a complete K kit for a big block chevy. Nothing was left out for info on its intended use or its specifications. Two months and maybe 1500 miles a clatter began inspections revealed their push rods balls were being pushed inside of the PR tubes. The parts boxed and returned pictures taken before being sent back. Some how these push rod tips heated the tubes enough to not gall the balls but fatigue the tube material.BS! They chose to do nothing about the obvious problem of the tubes being over heated upon build only 3. New Lunati push rods installed and all was well for a week. Then the HYD ROLLER lifters on the other bank became noisy. So a call to comp and what is there reply obviously you installed and broke in incorrectly. SOOO new Lunati cam, lifters, springs and push rods went in and its going on 9 months no issues. COMP ADVERTISERS ARE GREAT but they don't live up to the hype it seems.
Posted By: GoDartGo
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 02:01 AM
I would tend to agree with the bad Comp lifter theory.
I know I'll get boo'd, but I like Summit house cam and
lifters. I've had two in my 360 with NO problem what
so ever.
If I ever put another cam in, I will go with a solid lifter
that has the laser drill hole in the bottom. Not sure
of the brand.
Posted By: Commando1
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 03:30 PM
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Posted By: 6PakBee
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 04:01 PM
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
or Racer Brown........ The SSH-25 and the SSH-44, still two of the best Mopar cams IMHO
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 05:44 PM
I've heard from a couple local motorheads that Isky cams are good. I'm wondering why I have not heard much replies on this forum about the Mopar Purpleshaft cams??? I'm hoping for more feedback today!
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 05:50 PM
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Commando1, that's a great statement. Where did the good ol' days go! By the way, where did Ed go?
Posted By: Cab_Burge
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 06:00 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Commando1, that's a great statement. Where did the good ol' days go! By the way, where did Ed go?
he retired some time ago, his two sons, Ron and Richard run the business now 
Thay haven't done much research and develoment in a lot of years on thier cams 
in todays world of racing if your not going forward your going backwards 
How do you break in a cam anyways? Doesn't it break in with the motor automatically. I am gonna need to know this when I start my motor for the first time very soon. I am running a comp cam also.
Posted By: RUNCHARGER
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 06:12 PM
Have it setup so it fires right away and vary the revs a bit but keep them above 2000RPM for the first 30 minutes of run time. Lots of breakin lube on the lobes and lifter faces, oil on the sides of the lifters and make sure the lifters are free to spin in their bores before starting. If you have dual valve springs, take the inners out for cam breakin.
Sheldon
Posted By: jlatessa
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 06:19 PM
Plus you need an oil with the proper chemistry for flat tappet
protection, normal car oil for modern cars cannot protect a flat tappet cam.
You'll need to add ZDDP or other additive for this.
Also you can choose to use one of the many oils advertised for that specific purpose, I use Valvoline VR-1, but there are others.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Joe
Posted By: roe
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 07:05 PM
I don't know if they're junk, I've always heard pretty good things about them on here. I did just read an interesting article in the July issue of MM. They used a short duration, fast lobe/high lift hydraulic roller and were able to get the best of both worlds when it comes to cam qualities. It gave them the smooth (sleeper) idle with high vacuum and still provided the same power as a long duration, choppy idle, low vacuum flat tappet. It was a really informative read for me seeing as I don't know jack diddly about cams so I feel like I learned something.
roe
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 07:13 PM
I could really use some reports how the Purpleshaft cams (268/284 duration .450"/.458"lift) have worked out in stock intake/exhaust/rockers on 383HP rebuilds with 4 speed 3.23 gears. But reports on any cam also welcome!
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 10:40 PM
About 7-8 yrs back when I bought my XR-280 Comp...my speed shop guy warned me against Hydraulic cams because the factory was using less nickel in the foundry process. Premature wear and failure. He said the only cams (at the time) still worth purchasing were Roller cams. I had bought it for my 505 but I am not anywhere close to building it. I bought the X-treme Energy Roller and matching lifters. I imagine with the EPA being the way it is, my model bumpstick is better than the same model on the shelf today
Posted By: Kern Dog
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/24/14 10:48 PM
Hearing people complain about noise from their cam cracks me up. These are classic cars that we build to be faster and quicker than they were new. Some compromises are to be expected. Old cars have more vibrations, noise from roof rain gutters, less sound deadening in the floors, etc.
I don't mind a bit of all that. It makes me feel more involved in the experience. A car with no sound or vibration is akin to watching an "in-car" video on a muted TV.
No thanks, I like my cars to be real.
Posted By: RodStRace
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 02:03 AM
a note on break-in. As said, you want everything set up so it fires and runs ASAP, and can keep running for 30 minutes at ~2000 RPM. This means more timing usually, and have a BIG FAN and a hose nearby to keep it cool.
Fresh engines tend to run warm (more friction) and sitting there working the throttle, setting the timing, checking for leaks, having the headers or manifolds cook off, you really don't want the cooling system overheating too.
Posted By: Dixie
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 02:03 AM
I just got a Comp cam for my car. Hope it holds up!
The Mr. Sixpak cam didn't.
Posted By: ahy
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 04:19 AM
I run a Muscle Motors "custom" cam ground by Comp. Break-in as mentioned above and high zinc oil. No problems with ~14k miles.
Posted By: Exit1965
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 05:47 AM
I don't have #s, but would bet everything that Comp sells the most cams by a huge margin. Given a somewhat similar rate of failure across cam companies (for reasons including bad lifters or improper break in-- neither being CAM related), there are going to be more individuals who have had failures with comp cams. Just numbers. Maybe some people get unlucky.
I have had 100% success with 3 cams of theirs and I'm getting ready to use another. I've also run two XE284 hydraulic flat cams, and frankly I didn't notice any funny noises using an otherwise stock valvetrain.
The cam you have chosen sounds fine, don't sweat it and run it.
Posted By: Scott Carl
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 05:49 AM
I need to quit reading these "cam horror story" posts until I break mine in
I have the XE256H-10 for my 318 build. I bought it too long ago and due to life getting in the way still haven't fired it up. Is there any recourse for a failed cam after the warranty period has passed even if it hasn't been run? I understand that most of the cam failures are the more radical grinds than mine. True?(Its supposed to be what would be like stock for a 340 or 360(?))
Scott
Posted By: BSB67
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 01:41 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Commando1, that's a great statement. Where did the good ol' days go! By the way, where did Ed go?
he retired some time ago, his two sons, Ron and Richard run the business now Thay haven't done much research and develoment in a lot of years on thier cams in todays world of racing if your not going forward your going backwards
I think that is only true in the world of 50 year old Mopar stuff.
Posted By: bonefish
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 01:59 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Commando1, that's a great statement. Where did the good ol' days go! By the way, where did Ed go?
he retired some time ago, his two sons, Ron and Richard run the business now Thay haven't done much research and develoment in a lot of years on thier cams in todays world of racing if your not going forward your going backwards
I think that is only true in the world of 50 year old Mopar stuff.
a lot of places still have Ed.unfortunatly its Mr.ED.
Posted By: Commando1
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 02:43 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Life used to be so simple.
You called Iskendarian and talked to Ed...
Commando1, that's a great statement. Where did the good ol' days go! By the way, where did Ed go?
he retired some time ago, his two sons, Ron and Richard run the business now Thay haven't done much research and develoment in a lot of years on thier cams in todays world of racing if your not going forward your going backwards
I think that is only true in the world of 50 year old Mopar stuff.
In some ways, just some, that most people won't understand is, the 50 year ways worked best.
Posted By: crazyjjk
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 04:48 PM
Rarely is the cam ever the problem. Almost always it is the lifters not spinning in their bores. I always install the cam into the engine before final installation and install all the lifters and nothing more. With plenty of lube on the camshaft and lifters I hook up a drill to the camshaft and spin the camshaft and make sure all the lifters are spinning in there bores. If they are not that is where you are going to have a problem. Fix it before you proceed or you will wipe out a lobe.
Posted By: Triggerfish
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 06:17 PM
Installed a small comp hyd cam in my 383 mag & did the break in
with recommended comp cams breakin lube, bottle of Trick Flow break
in additive with 20/50 Castrol GTX. Made sure the lifters were spinning. No problems & still runs fine.
Posted By: SKR8PN
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/25/14 09:10 PM
Quote:
Plus you need an oil with the proper chemistry for flat tappet
protection, normal car oil for modern cars cannot protect a flat tappet cam.
You'll need to add ZDDP or other additive for this.
Also you can choose to use one of the many oils advertised for that specific purpose, I use Valvoline VR-1, but there are others.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Joe
^^THIS!!^^ Is more important than anything else you do for camshaft break in. I use Shell Rotella T and an additive on every break in I do and I have yet to have a cam/lifter failure.
Posted By: ahy
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/26/14 12:52 AM
High spring pressure and high lift are certainly factors in failures. Less risk with a stockish cam. Still, all steps mentioned above apply. Make sure lifters spin, pre-lube, use high zinc oil, fire it fast and keep at 2000+ RPM for 20-30 min.
Posted By: Scott Carl
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/26/14 04:31 PM
Pre oiling the engine is something else my engine guru stressed. (Sorry if this has been mentioned) I understand they manufacture them but I made mine; an oil pump shaft connected to drill will pump oil through all the passages. This prevents dry spinning bearing and rings and such with the starter. It can take several seconds to get oil to all the moving parts especially if you don't get around to break-in for a couple years after build.
I made mine from a couple old pump to cam shafts. Cut the gears off and welded end to end.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/26/14 06:17 PM
Quote:
I need to quit reading these "cam horror story" posts until I break mine in I have the XE256H-10 for my 318 build. I bought it too long ago and due to life getting in the way still haven't fired it up. Is there any recourse for a failed cam after the warranty period has passed even if it hasn't been run? I understand that most of the cam failures are the more radical grinds than mine. True?(Its supposed to be what would be like stock for a 340 or 360(?))
Scott
I doubt you'll get any satisfaction now , check and make sure the lifters spin , break it in with old stock springs then switch to the required springs after break in.
It's not usually the cam it's the lifters , when 1 of the few remaining flat tappet lifter makers filed chapter 11 the company that cam in and sold off assets flooded the market with bad lifters was the story I heard.
Posted By: elmor353
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/26/14 09:48 PM
I have found spring pressures recommended by Comp Cams are extreme in a lot of cases. I have experienced this first hand using Comp components. Wiped a cam within 50 miles of break in. Bought another cam and set of lifters, same part numbers, but used a set of Crane springs with less pressure and spring rate. Four years now and it runs great.
Posted By: Mebsuta
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/26/14 11:45 PM
Quote:
I have found spring pressures recommended by Comp Cams are extreme in a lot of cases.
That's what I was thinking. To my knowledge, the orginial 383-440 HP valves springs are like this:
Melling VS430 (crossover Sealed Power VS675, Elgin RV891X, P4286812). That’s what the Melling catalog said to use with 383 HP cam.
Free height 2.230
OD 1.484/1.504
ID 1.070/1.09
Wire size .207
Closed pressure 100-110
Open pressure 236-256
Coils 6.25 RH
Posted By: MLR426
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 03:41 AM
No they don't make junk cams, I was just in Comp Cams today making a sales call on them and working with the engineers there with cam grinding wheels.
Comp Cams didn't become a leader in the cam industry by putting out junk cams. They are well advanced with superabrasive high speed CBN abrasives in CNC machining cells and offer top quality cams. They do all forms of racing and they take care of the highest quality race teams across the country and world wide. Bad lifters and the untreated shelf oils contributed to the fail cams.
MLR426
Posted By: Scott Carl
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 03:52 AM
Quote:
No they don't make junk cams, I was just in Comp Cams today making a sales call on them and working with the engineers there with cam grinding wheels.
Comp Cams didn't become a leader in the cam industry by putting out junk cams. They are well advanced with superabrasive high speed CBN abrasives in CNC machining cells and offer top quality cams. They do all forms of racing and they take care of the highest quality race teams across the country and world wide. Bad lifters and the untreated shelf oils contributed to the fail cams.
MLR426
What about comp lifters? Bought my cam, lifters and springs as a set from Summit but all came in "Comp" packaging.
Posted By: Porter67
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 04:00 AM
Ive never had an issue with a comp solid, only issue was a Mopar purpleshaft from the 90-s where the very rough cast cam core started to flake off on the edges, worse then killing a lobe in the end.
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 04:30 AM
Quote:
Ive never had an issue with a comp solid, only issue was a Mopar purpleshaft from the 90-s where the very rough cast cam core started to flake off on the edges, worse then killing a lobe in the end.
So basically it 'flake off and died" ???
Posted By: Porter67
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 04:33 PM
Actually the debris did not come off the lobe but more off the base circle and its just a whacked cam. I just took pics if you want them I can email as I don't want to go off topic here.
Im I just getting old or what? Too much noise from a cam/lifters?
Nothing sounds sweeter then a good solid flat tappet setup, as well as some of the hydro setups.
I got to ask,are the noise complainers in there 30-s?
When you pull up to a stoplight and you know its gonna be go time on green, that noise so many complain about is one factor one would quickly process. No noise and a lope meant hydro and more then not a easy run. The rhoads? lifters had a distinct sound and that meant hydro cam owner with dream.
A real flat solid flat tappet you could listen to the exhaust and if it was a stick car id just hope he spun a little and he would be smoked.
A high lift solid roller, one of two things. If its a good setup and he hooks, im done. If it was brought on a trailer its off. If its not dialed in, c ya.
If it sounded like a gm diesel with the loose pistons, another consideration.
I get in our newer suv and start it and I have to ask myself is it running?
If your stuck with a solid lifter cam by choice or class and are that worried, it doesn't cost that much more to have the solid FT lobes ground on a roller core, gee guess who does it? Comps cams.
Ive had great results with most comp products, and not with some. I do not know who does there pushrods or at one point there lifters.
They could not a good set of pushrods to me until the 3rd try. Multiple issues with the first two sets.
The edm lifters had the edm hole vary and one had what looked like a hole but it wasn't all the way through.
Now every order I get direct from comp says re-check all parts! As I will send them back in a heartbeat. They expect to get paid so I expect good quality parts.
I actually had a guy pull in the lot with a pinto on a trailer to run my 440-6 RR. He got laughed at so much he didn't unload it and just left.
Posted By: RobX4406
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 05:46 PM
Quote:
What about comp lifters? Bought my cam, lifters and springs as a set from Summit but all came in "Comp" packaging.
I don't believe any of the cam manufacturers make their own std hyd flat tappet lifters. Most are farmed out to places like Johnson and placed in the company boxes.
Posted By: Cab_Burge
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 07:25 PM
Quote:
Quote:
What about comp lifters? Bought my cam, lifters and springs as a set from Summit but all came in "Comp" packaging.
I don't believe any of the cam manufacturers make their own std hyd flat tappet lifters. Most are farmed out to places like Johnson and placed in the company boxes.
That be true 
Posted By: calmopar
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/27/14 08:16 PM
Am I the only one here running an Erson cam?
Posted By: TJP
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/28/14 03:58 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
What about comp lifters? Bought my cam, lifters and springs as a set from Summit but all came in "Comp" packaging.
I don't believe any of the cam manufacturers make their own std hyd flat tappet lifters. Most are farmed out to places like Johnson and placed in the company boxes.
That be true
Could be but in all manufacturing there are different quality levels and TEST standards. Back to the OP's question yeah,
They are all junk,if you buy the low end stuff. RE: Comp cams???? They are My first choice and have been for 30+ years. One failure in 500+ motors and they promptly took care of it. NUFF SAID!
BTW do not believe everything you read on internet forums.
Posted By: MLR426
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/28/14 03:42 PM
Lifters are farmed out like all cam companies they make cams not lifters. Johnson Hylift is one manufacturer.
MLR426
Posted By: FlyFish
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/29/14 03:53 PM
I lost a lobe on a comp cam back in 2008. I did all the breaking stuff right (removed inner spring, added Comp 159 breakin lube), but it appeared to have a lifter failure...the lifter base was completely gone, beat the lobe to death. Once in a while, you do everything right and things still go wrong.
After that I switched to a small Comp street roller cam and have been VERY happy with the results. My car runs mid 10's with a small street roller, 10.8:1 compression, and a dinky 750dp carb
. I would have no qualms about buying another Comp cam.
Posted By: moper
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 08/29/14 06:23 PM
There are very, very few cam destruction scenarios that don;t come right back to the person that repalced it. It's not the parts, it's the person putting it together that has the responsibility here. I've never lost a cam with one exception - that was my fault. Ignorant and motivated is a dangerous way to be when you're young...lol.
Comp makes some of the best product out there. Some people can ruin a glass of iced tea... Learn how to do it right, get the tools to check everything out properly, then follow directions in terms of products and procedures, and you will be fine no matter where you get your parts.
Posted By: MLR426
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 09/18/14 09:02 PM
Shelf oils,not priming, break in procedures and spring pressures are the issues that cause the problems.
MLR426
Posted By: finn
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 09/18/14 11:39 PM
Quote:
Shelf oils,not priming, break in procedures and spring pressures are the issues that cause the problems.
MLR426
You forgot lobe contact (hertz) stress, and lobe and lifter face surface finish.
The contact stress is a design issue, surface finishes are largely manufacturing process and capability issues.
Posted By: BSB67
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 09/19/14 12:45 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Shelf oils,not priming, break in procedures and spring pressures are the issues that cause the problems.
MLR426
You forgot lobe contact (hertz) stress, and lobe and lifter face surface finish.
The contact stress is a design issue, surface finishes are largely manufacturing process and capability issues.
And nobody talks about metallurgical properties (cam and lifters) and their quality control
Posted By: MLR426
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 09/19/14 02:40 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Shelf oils,not priming, break in procedures and spring pressures are the issues that cause the problems.
MLR426
You forgot lobe contact (hertz) stress, and lobe and lifter face surface finish.
The contact stress is a design issue, surface finishes are largely manufacturing process and capability issues.
Yes there are many more issues but people get the picture and I didn't cover them all.
MLR426
Posted By: 69/70 Plymies
Re: Are COMP cams junk? - 10/16/14 08:31 PM
Just to update everyone in appreciation for all the input they contributed to my question, "Are Comp Cams junk?" Well, to make it short, it took 3 cams to finally get one that had acceptable journal runout numbers and would slip into the block without any issues. After the 2nd cam was no good, I asked Comp to check the runout before shipping and to package the 3rd cam better (since they were claiming the cams were getting bent in shipping). They did both of these requests. I really appreciated the cooperation I received from Comp without "too much" resistance. Now, in order for my question to be truly answered, time will tell after this cam has run awhile. This rebuilt 383HP should be going back where it belongs within the next few weeks. Thank you, all!
I've been using mostly Comp Cams since the mid 1980 due to one of the Isky brothers jerking me around for multiple months on a custom ground cam 
Not so with Comp, they deliver on time every time 
I've not had any problems with either Comps XE or XE-HL sereis hydaulic cams like some others have had with noisy valve train with them 
I do use adjustable rockers and the proper length and size pushrods, not the stock OEM parts that some try to use