running a used camshaft?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 6
From: CT
running a used camshaft?
I'm putting together a new motor with mini 144 blower, I have a forged bottom end and plan on AFR 195cc heads. I was going to do a roller blower cam but ive been reading that the old Edel RPM flat tappet cam is actually a pretty good cam for these little blowers. THe cam has 10deg more on exh duration, more lift on exhaust, and 112lsa. My dads buddy has an RPM cam and lifters which was installed and used for less then 5,000miles, he said I can have it and it looks good. I figured I would save the 700-800 bucks and use this camshaft for now, maybe swap to roller later on.
Is it safe to ran a used camshaft and lifters? I dont have to do a break in 20-30min 2,000rpm since it was already broken in? Any special procedures or things to check with used camshaft and lifters.
Is it safe to ran a used camshaft and lifters? I dont have to do a break in 20-30min 2,000rpm since it was already broken in? Any special procedures or things to check with used camshaft and lifters.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Its safe to run a used flat tappet camshaft as long as you are sure that each lifter was kept with its original lobe it was broken in on.
Otherwise you run the risk of flattening out the lobes.
Otherwise you run the risk of flattening out the lobes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
I have run used camshafts with used lifters, but was careful to keep each lifter with its original lobe. If they become mixed up, install new lifters. I know some guys will tell you thats not a good idea, but its better than mixing up the used ones. I have done the used cam/new lifters thing and it worked out OK.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Look it over very carefully. Mount it in a fixture so yo ucan turn it and measure the lobe lifts. I know your dad will whip up a fixture for this. If the lobes are wron at all trash it. Look at the lifter bases very carefully. My solid flat tappet cam has maybe 2K miles on it. Properly broken in with single springs and used the correct oil always and one of the lifter bases is wearing abnormally. Now this cam had some pretty good spring pressure but it still should not wear like this. Be very careful of used cam and lifters
