Bobs69BB

What is the recommended procedure to clean up all the metal bits from a wiped cam?

bluedawg

I've not had the misfortune, but if it were mine I'd tear it down and hot tank it. Others will know more and might have an easier solution. Sorry about your luck, for my mental catalogue what we're the camshaft specs. Are you giving thought to a roller?

427Hotrod

The only right way to do it is to pull it completely apart and clean it. The debris will end up in all the passages and between the piston skirt/walls, bearings etc.

If the oil filter bypass was blocked....*maybe* it caught a lot of it in the filter...but it's still everywhere.

Best bet is to pull it. Sorry..but think of all the cool new parts you can add!

JIM

4 speed

I tried to short cut a wiped cam in a 454 once, just pulled and cleaned the pan in the car.
2 weeks later I lost oil pressure from metal particles gouging the crank.

then when I pulled it all down, I had scaring on the cylinders , and a toasted crank.

my short cut cost a lot of time, parts and money.

Bobs69BB

Is there a 12 step program for a wiped cam? ;-)

Right now I am getting through the denial that I have to remove, strip and clean the motor ...

Anyone have specific cleaning suggestions and things to look out for?

hugie82

That's a tuff call. If its just a warn out lobe that happened over time. I would just change the oil a few times and watch the oil pressure.

If the cam was totally wiped out (many lobes, all shiny and metal bits in the oil) you're pretty much finished with that motor....

Bobs69BB

Only 200 mi on rebuilt engine, wiped one lobe.

hugie82

I did that on my 427BB ! I swapped out the cam and lifters, took off the inner spring on my valve springs, use the break in oil, I used 20/50w, and rev it good for 20 minutes over 2500 rpm. Change the oil after an hour or so with fresh breakin oil and a few 100 miles later you can re install the inner spring! don't rev it past 5000 until you re install the springs...

OR go roller cam and lifters. Then you won't have to deal with $hit oil

pauldana

Been there done that.... Total new rebuild.... Bet you used oil with a low zinc content...

Spend the extra cash and go roller.... And never worry about this problem again

Btw.... No cleaning in the world is going to fix the sand paper effect on every bearing, cam lob, and cylinder wall in that engine

7T1vette

There are 3 oil gallery pipe plugs in the back face of the block around the cam 'pocket'. You should remove them before you clean out all the passages, so they will get cleaned also. When you re-install them, use a VERY good quality sealant on them so there is NO CHANCE that they will ever leak (do NOT use a silicone type product for this).

73, Dark Blue 454

I'd say it depends. If the shortblock is a budget build to begin with (cast crank, ordinary block, etc.) I think I'd R&R the cam and lifters then do some frequent oil & filter changes and monitor the engine. In other words, hope for the best. If she cleans out herself, good.

If not, it was a do-over either way.

Also agree with the above. Go roller. More HP and a better night's sleep.

FWIW

scottyp99

I think it's similar to the 5 stages of grief:

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance

Scott