Camshaft - lobe wear pattern - question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Camshaft - lobe wear pattern - question
Below are photos of the camshaft that I removed from my SB almost two years ago. I did not pay attention when I removed it and just wrapped it in bubble wrap and put it in the box the new cam came in.... today I opened the box and noticed the strange wear pattern. The lobes are not wiped but it appears that the cam lobes did not make full contact with the lifters.
I was told it's a Edelbrock Performer RPM cam. Unfortunately I dropped the box with the lifters and don't know which lifter was where... I'm sure the cam is garbage now. What do you think about the funny looking wear pattern ???
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I was told it's a Edelbrock Performer RPM cam. Unfortunately I dropped the box with the lifters and don't know which lifter was where... I'm sure the cam is garbage now. What do you think about the funny looking wear pattern ???
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I don't know, but curious...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Actually I don't see anything that looks suspect there. The cam lobes are actually intentionally misaligned slightly with the lifter bores to induce spin so the lifters don't sit in one position as the cam rotates. If the cam lobes showed some galling or other such wear that would be cause for concern, but I don't see it there. If you do intend to reuse it though it would be a good idea to get new lifters since you can no longer tell which ones go where.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
To me it looks like some lobes are shiny on one side and dull on the opposite side. Some other lobes are shiny only at the center, the shiny 'stripe' varies in width....
It was installed with solid lifters.
I don't want to use a used camshaft with new lifters - if anybody wants to have it let me know....
It was installed with solid lifters.
I don't want to use a used camshaft with new lifters - if anybody wants to have it let me know....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by Gordonm
That is pretty normal cam wear. No problem. If the lifters were not put back in the same hole you might as well scrape the cam.
yep. That's the shape of normal cam wear.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
To me it looks like some lobes are shiny on one side and dull on the opposite side. Some other lobes are shiny only at the center, the shiny 'stripe' varies in width....
It was installed with solid lifters.
I don't want to use a used camshaft with new lifters - if anybody wants to have it let me know....
It was installed with solid lifters.
I don't want to use a used camshaft with new lifters - if anybody wants to have it let me know....
The cam & lifter BS is an old wifes tale from back yard bubba mechanics.
Number 1 rule in engine assembly is surgically clean and lots of assembly lube.
I have put many a motor back together without regard to what used lifter went where. I pumped them out during disassembly and stored then in a clean coffee can in fresh oil. I'm not talking about some lifter collecting dust on the back shelf for 5 years and another motor project for the 30 year old pickup when it comes up.
Guy like that who used old miss match junk parts don't know why the lifter failed.
