Update Wiped cam!!!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Mi
Update Wiped cam!!!
Ok Fellers,
Started the teardown today and I decided to take the rocker off the problem cylinder and see if anything was out of whack before I got to far. The rocker was fine but the pushrod had some roughness where the ball tip meets the rod. I pulled the one next to it and lo and behold, comparing the 2, the pushrod ball was recessing into the tube. I checked the rest and one other was starting to recess. I bought the budget Comp cam high energy pushrods ($38) and they obviously have welded tips so I just ordered their magnum one piece pushrods.
Could the springs have to much pressure? I know nothing about what is too much, but I got the matching springs for the Lunati cam and they're spec'd at 120 lbs seat and 315 lbs open. Is that alot? The height was set. Cam specs are 515/530 lift and 213/219 dur @ 050. Very mild cam.
Is this a case of you get what you pay for or ??????.
I just thank god it wasn't the cam.
Thoughts
Dave
Stock rebuild LS-5, Lunati cam/lifters/springs & timing chain. Comp pushrods and roller rockers.
Started the teardown today and I decided to take the rocker off the problem cylinder and see if anything was out of whack before I got to far. The rocker was fine but the pushrod had some roughness where the ball tip meets the rod. I pulled the one next to it and lo and behold, comparing the 2, the pushrod ball was recessing into the tube. I checked the rest and one other was starting to recess. I bought the budget Comp cam high energy pushrods ($38) and they obviously have welded tips so I just ordered their magnum one piece pushrods.
Could the springs have to much pressure? I know nothing about what is too much, but I got the matching springs for the Lunati cam and they're spec'd at 120 lbs seat and 315 lbs open. Is that alot? The height was set. Cam specs are 515/530 lift and 213/219 dur @ 050. Very mild cam.
Is this a case of you get what you pay for or ??????.
I just thank god it wasn't the cam.
Thoughts
Dave
Stock rebuild LS-5, Lunati cam/lifters/springs & timing chain. Comp pushrods and roller rockers.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,710
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
When you set the spring height, did you check for coil bind? Otherwise, since it only happened to two of the pushrods might be as simple as you said: you got what you paid for. $38 for hardened pushrods is a very low price.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Mi
Actually I had a shop refurbish heads. He called me after he had them and wanted all the specs on the cam to set the springs. I do not know if he checked for coil binding. I assumed since he wanted all the info, he would have checked.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I had those cheapo pushrods many years ago. I kept having to adjust my hydraulic flat tappet cam. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I took a rocker off and all the little ***** on the tips were wearing down. I am surprised they are still selling them. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I had EXACTLY the same probelm! , actually I'm surprised that you have the same probelm with exactly the same parts as I had few weeks ago. MotorHead is dead right, these pushrods (and the magnum roller tips rockers) are nothing but JUNK, throw them away and get some one piece hardened push rods from a reputable name. My engine is almost identical as yours except I'm using the next cam size (the 60202 with .530/.541 in. lift) and I also thought I had a wiped cam, but when I removed the rockers here is what I saw :
I was so upset when I saw that, Comp Cams shouldn't get that low in terms of quality!
Now I'm using Trickflow roller rockers and push rods and the Comp Cams 911 springs set at 1.9 in. installed height and so far so good.
I was so upset when I saw that, Comp Cams shouldn't get that low in terms of quality!
Now I'm using Trickflow roller rockers and push rods and the Comp Cams 911 springs set at 1.9 in. installed height and so far so good.
Last edited by HamadUP; Apr 27, 2010 at 10:36 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
I also had the same problem several years ago with a 454 though I don't know the brand of pushrods that failed. It had a solid roller cam and I had to adjust the valves everytime I drove it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Mi
Wow, it's good to know I'm not the only one out there. I'm going to assume that Comp cams one piece design is much better at 3 times the price. I hope so cause they will be in today or tomorrow. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Mi
Changed over the pushrods last night. Huge difference. I found 3 that definately had the tips sinking into the rod and another 2 that looked like they were starting. I can't believe Comp sells these still after reading previous posts. Many thanks for the input. It's nice having an idle again.
Dave
Dave
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Crap, I just put a set of those on my new top-end. Thanks for the info . . . I'll have to look at them. Sounds like you guys are running BBs, anyone having same issue with the SBC motors?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
diffenately I'm not engine expert, but I always hear that BBCs put much more stress on the valve train than SBCs, so hopefully you'll not face that problem in your application.
