I have to chuckle a bit here.

Comp are the "bad guys" here because the can't determine by looking at pics taken with a phone whether or not there is an issue with a cam.

Comp Cams is willing to take it back, check it and make it right. And that is a problem?

I now use Comp Cams exclusively. Not because everything I get from them is perfect, but because if I have a problem, I approach them with respect and I get respect in return, and, a resolution of my problem. If I must wait until after the New Year for a camshaft and that is the worst thing that happens to me for the rest of my life.......I'm in really good shape.

@Fast & Laroy,

Not sure who the comments were intended for but you did reply to my post...???

I personally never said they were "Bad Guys", maybe you're referring to comments from others. But THEY did allow a questionable camshaft to be released from their facility.

I certainly did not expect any miracles from them simply viewing the pictures. I was hoping that they would possibly come back and say that the black finish would wear off normally and its okay to run the cam, we checked the records for Nitrided process on that day, we reviewed it with the Engineer etc etc... But I had a feeling they were going to tell me to send it back. So they are trying to make it right.

However, regarding their comment about how they are "unsure how it made it past quality control". My opinion is that it should not have made it past QC unless there is truly no problem with the coating. And if that's the case, I would only assume and hope that they (Comp) reviewed all this before returning my phone call.



I paid over $300 for a flat tappet Hyd cam from them that is now questionable. Im certainly not the bad guy here....

I appreciate the help and info from all on this board. Thank you!

Im just in a bad spot at this point with the camshaft and current timing, I need to get this project wrapped up. 2017 is going to be a very busy year for me and I will have NO time to work with the engine or car. As I stated earlier my goal was to get this completed before the end of the holidays. That seems to be at Jeopardy at the moment. I need to decide if I want to risk it or revisit this in about 6-8 months when more time is on my side.

Thanks again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's to all!

I had mine nitrided also and other than the excessive casting flash on the sides of the lobes (whole other mess, which comp eventually took care of and I was delayed by 4 weeks) the coating on my cam still appears to be on the lobes it just looks a little polished now. When I saw your pics I thought I hope he sends it back just to be on the safe side. If you got lifters Id check the faces of them especially around the edge. I spent hours dressing up all of the burrs/nicks. I was leery that the burrs would grind into the lobes. Plus I had all kinds of dried muck inside of the lifters. Had to clean that out there again didnt want to possibly clog up the edm oiling hole. I think this will be my last dealings with Comp.

68 HEMI GTS,

Thank you for the valid input!

This is exactly what Im looking for, those who have used the cams and can provide their personal feedback.

IMO, at this point it's only "questionable" because you don't think it looks right.

They have a QC dept, and someone there gave it the nod of approval.
Does that mean it can't have a problem? Of course not.

But they're doing all they can to satisfy your misgivings by having you send it back for them to look at again.

My previous comments were more directed at the "pile on" from some others on this thread.

My experiences with Comp are in line with Jim's.
Mistakes happen from time to time, and I have always had them taken care of as well as could be expected.

In the end, it's your motor so you should do what you feel is necessary to make sure the parts going in it are up to your standards.

@Fast,

Thanks for the explanation and also for your previous technical opinion of the camshaft.

@Ski 61701,

Thank you for sharing your experience

If you're referring to me as the one "piling on", I guess I'm guilty. I know what I've seen personally and only discussed a small fraction of the issues I've seen.

Fast, I have the utmost respect for you and your skill sets. I'm not sure, but my post was never meant to be a "pile on". I just wanted to share with others that my nitrided cam did not look like the OP's cam. Did I have other problems with my cam, yes, did Comp take care of me regarding my cam, yes. Was I upset yes. I would have thought having a custom ground cam and having nitrided this would be gone over with a fine tooth comb before being sent out. The lifters on the other hand Im sure due to the volume you are going to have a few that slip by. The intent of my post is that no matter what you use in your motor you need to check it out thoroughly. If you dont you have no one to blame but ones self

If the nitrading causes the cam to be black like that, how come the bearing journals are not black

I had a crank nitrited and it was sorta dark
but all the journal were shiny.. I would have
to guess that the crank shop polished it..
that crank is in one of my SB right now

good point. I have had and seen many flat tappet cams that did not have nitrating and the lobes had the black coating. Like I said before I had just thought the coating was to prevent rust or corrosion.

they were either polished after or protected from the process. Nitriding causes a flat black surface...think like case hardened hardware. I grabbed this pic off the internet....I don't have any pics of the one I had done. look particularly at the snout.

My gut feeling is anything that can be scratched off easily is a surface coating. Like above said

Except that if that was the case Comp would have stated so after looking at the pics.

I would have to agree with this basically. I had my cam nitrided and really dont remember just how it looked but I do know most new flat tappet cams I look at seem to have a black surface on the lobes when new even if not nitrided. Myself I was told nitriding is a hardening of the cam and I really cant see that being a surface coating that could rub off. I bought my custom grind cam from Dwayne and he told me Comp did the nitriding on it. And I can tell you its been in my eng since I fired it up in June 2011 and is still going strong and has not wiped any lobes or had any problems at all. If I were you and I was worried about it I would send it back to Comp and let them look at it as even if they say its fine that will give you peace of mind. Comp is stepping up to the plate and doing what they can. And I agree with them that its tuff to tell by just pics whats going on. I feel its a surface coating like was said maybe for rust prevention because as I said I cant see a hardening process as nitriding rubbing off with your fingers. It will most likely be fine but why not send it back and let them make sure its right ? Everyone can and does make mistakes and if they did the right thing to do is step up to the plate and make sure its ok and correct it if it is not and Comp seems to be stepping up to the plate if they did make a mistake which is the best anyone can do. Ron