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Wiped Cam?

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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 07:46 AM
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Default Wiped Cam?

How do you know that you have wiped a lobe on your cam? Lots of threads about the types of oil and additives to prevent this but no explaination of the symptom of the wipe cam.

Thanks
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 08:58 AM
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A miss that want go away, knocking from the valvetrain as it get worse, and I'm sure a few more. My cam went sound this summer and everything I did to try and save it made it worse. Mine even broke two lifters.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 03:35 PM
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You have to measure the cam lift with a dial caliper, its the only way I know to be certain about it.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 04:03 PM
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When I lost the first cam, I had metal shavings in the oil. Also had a miss that would not go away especially at high rpms. In addition I could see the difference in lift with the intake manifold removed by looking at the top of the lifters.

I knew better, but made the mistake of trying to replace the cam without removing the engine and cleaning the shavings out properly. The cam bearings looked OK. So I tried to wash the metal out of the block with spray solvents from underneath with the pan removed. Apparently it was a futile attempt because the next cam failed soon after and you should have seen the cam bearings after that. They looked like someone beat them with a hammer.

During the following proper rebuild I went to a hydraulic roller cam to eliminate the failed cam issues.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 10:23 AM
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Are you running Comp's XE hydraulic? They have a high failure rate. Do a search on this site and others, "wiped XE cam lobe". You'll be reading for days.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 10:47 AM
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I read something interesting the other day over in C1/C2 section about wiped cam lobes.If the pushrod rotates...no matter how fast,or slow,then the lobe isn't wiped.
I don't know how true,or accurate it is,but that's what a guy said.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 12:35 PM
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Symptoms include repetitive backfiring into the intake manifold under load without much issue during cruise. Not to be confused with a lean backfire. You can cruise fine but when you lightly accelerate, it will start popping and continue until you let off on the gas. This will frequently get worse in just a few miles as they usualy do not last long when you begin the rapid wear process.

-Mark.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by vettesbydesign
I read something interesting the other day over in C1/C2 section about wiped cam lobes.If the pushrod rotates...no matter how fast,or slow,then the lobe isn't wiped.
I don't know how true,or accurate it is,but that's what a guy said.
BECAUSE the lobes are ground with a .001-.002" taper to rotate the lifter. If the taper is still there, the lifters will rotate, ergo, it's fine.
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Old Jan 8, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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i had to replace the cam at 64k, like "neverfinished" i also replaced it while the motor stayed in the car. took me five nites afther work, I replace everything that i took out with new parts, water pump, oil pump, everything. i never found any metal shavings in the oil. now "neverfinished" has me worryed...........how long did your car run, mile wise, befor the cam wiped out agian?
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Old Jan 8, 2009 | 09:43 PM
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Thanks Vetter's for all the responses
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Old Jan 8, 2009 | 10:57 PM
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Originally Posted by stingr69
Symptoms include repetitive backfiring into the intake manifold under load without much issue during cruise. Not to be confused with a lean backfire. You can cruise fine but when you lightly accelerate, it will start popping and continue until you let off on the gas. This will frequently get worse in just a few miles as they usualy do not last long when you begin the rapid wear process.

-Mark.
It's funny, my '72 was behaving exactly like your description. I called a friend who has forgotten more about SBC's than I will ever know to go for a ride to get his opinion. Of course, with him in it that car ran like a champ, no issues whatsoever. Took it out the next day and after about 5 miles i noticed a valvetrain tick. Within minutes that tick became a clack as the lobe and the lifter wore away and that was the end of my cam.

We tore it down last summer and put a roller in it.

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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by sam79
Thanks Vetter's for all the responses
Or just drive it over here and let me listen to it while you cry.

You are pretty close to me.

-Mark.
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