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Cam break-in springs for a mild cam #3111317
01/12/23 07:14 PM
01/12/23 07:14 PM
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Washington
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hemienvy Offline OP
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Stock type rebuild, Elgin cam 214 / 224 @ .050, .444" / .466"

The regular springs will be pretty light, around 90 lbs seat, 225 lbs open.

So, do I even need break-in springs ? If so, what would you use ? Around 1.900" installed height, 452 BB heads.

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: hemienvy] #3111332
01/12/23 07:59 PM
01/12/23 07:59 PM
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usa
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lewtot184 Offline
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that cam is nearly identical to a factory magnum cam. exception being 112lsa. i'd put some magnum springs on it and let it go at that. rock auto did show some at one time. don't use stock lo-po springs; they might coil bind.

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: hemienvy] #3111380
01/12/23 09:35 PM
01/12/23 09:35 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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I would check them for coil bind clearances and then shim them for more pressure if possible on the clearances, I would shoot for 125 lbs. on the seats and 250 lbs. open minimum with .060 coil bind clearances minimum wrench up twocents


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: Cab_Burge] #3111475
01/13/23 09:31 AM
01/13/23 09:31 AM
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hemienvy Offline OP
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Thanks Gents !

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: hemienvy] #3111540
01/13/23 12:17 PM
01/13/23 12:17 PM
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Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
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If they are only 90 lbs. they can be used as break in springs.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger
Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: hemienvy] #3111712
01/13/23 08:06 PM
01/13/23 08:06 PM
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Oregon
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earlymopar Offline
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It's the open pressure that's the issue and at only 225 lbs. you are at the very bottom of having sufficient spring pressure for break-in. Cab is right. Shim them if you can.

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: earlymopar] #3111894
01/14/23 03:11 PM
01/14/23 03:11 PM
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Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
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While it's true I don't have a Spintron, I think 225 lb open would be fine for break-in since you're not going over 2,500 RPM's.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger
Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: rickseeman] #3112050
01/15/23 08:47 AM
01/15/23 08:47 AM
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earlymopar Offline
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It's not the RPM that's the issue. It's having enough spring pressure to get the camshaft and lifters properly broken in.

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: earlymopar] #3112137
01/15/23 01:42 PM
01/15/23 01:42 PM
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Washington
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hemienvy Offline OP
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EarlyMopar, I've never run across any "bare minimum" spring specs for break-in springs. I love to learn this.
Obviously the factory never used break-in springs for the very mild OE cams. If I was using a big solid tappet cam
then break-in springs are recommended, but what would those spring specs be ?
It seems logical that those specs would depend on the lobe AND the RPM.
I've just never heard the reasoning that a minimum spring pressure should be used for the goal of metallurgical break-in.
Not arguing at all, I hope to be educated here.

Re: Cam break-in springs for a mild cam [Re: hemienvy] #3112171
01/15/23 04:15 PM
01/15/23 04:15 PM
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Oregon
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earlymopar Offline
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The "minimum spring pressure" issue is with regard to the usual camshaft break-in cycle of 20-30 minutes at 2000 to 2500 rpm. That is not to say that lower spring pressures don't always result in a camshaft that is not broken in. Often in that case a longer break-in cycle is required. I've never run accross written specs that say this either but have had dialog with camshaft designers who do.







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