BB Wiped Cam!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
BB Wiped Cam!
Was helping a friend diagnose a problem.Suspected a wiped cam,sure enuff.Look what he found.He was using Mobil Delvac, oil recommended for diesel engines.This was a Comp Cam kit,he said he followed break in procedures.Cam had about 4800 miles when problem surfaced.No racing just street use.....Click on pic below for video [IMG]
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
Seems that Delvac oil is around 1100ppm Zinc.Good reason to just go with a roller setup and avoid this risk.Performance gains are worth it in my opinion. He's determined to just clean out the oil pan,install a new Voodoo cam and lifters and run it..Any suggestions on the best method to do this? What brand of cam was wiped Mako? Mahalo's 
Last edited by iokepakai; Sep 1, 2013 at 03:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
BBCs are hard on cams due to valve train geometry and stiff springs needed for the heavy valves. I went with a hydraulic roller so I don't have to worry and can run any oil I like. Worth the extra $$$ IMO.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Seems that Delvac oil is around 1100ppm Zinc.Good reason to just go with a roller setup and avoid this risk.Performance gains are worth it in my opinion. He's determined to just clean out the oil pan,install a new Voodoo cam and lifters and run it..Any suggestions on the best method to do this? What brand of cam was wiped Mako? Mahalo's
Personally, if I had the time and a few 100 $$$'s, I would go ahead and tear it down, clean and reassemble. Good chance there are particles in the bearings that would trash the engine later. Metal shavings are merciless.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,929
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
heres a question , what are you guys coating the cam and lifter faces with when you install a new cam? i saw some clown coating one with bearing grease. i stopped him and told him he was getting ready to make a big expensive mistake, guess what!
MOLY LUBE.
MOLY LUBE.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Seems that Delvac oil is around 1100ppm Zinc.Good reason to just go with a roller setup and avoid this risk.Performance gains are worth it in my opinion. He's determined to just clean out the oil pan,install a new Voodoo cam and lifters and run it..Any suggestions on the best method to do this? What brand of cam was wiped Mako? Mahalo's
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
First symptoms were sluggish and a slight miss.Then she started popping.Told my friend sounds like a bad cam,he thought bad plug.Pulled valve covers turned the motor several times then he notice valve wasn't opening.If the oil he was using had 1100ppm zinc shouldn't that be enough to protect the FT cam?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
I use gm e.o.s. assembly lube. It seems to work pretty good. As stated earlier roller cams work better.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
If not tearing down, I would consider buying a couple gallons of marvel mystery oil or just some 0W-20, getting one of those drill-driven oil pump primers, and running oil through the system to try to get every last bit of shavings out...
Personally, if I had the time and a few 100 $$$'s, I would go ahead and tear it down, clean and reassemble. Good chance there are particles in the bearings that would trash the engine later. Metal shavings are merciless.
Personally, if I had the time and a few 100 $$$'s, I would go ahead and tear it down, clean and reassemble. Good chance there are particles in the bearings that would trash the engine later. Metal shavings are merciless.
I've seen lobes get worn but I've never seen one get removed like this one. That's quite a bit of metal that got circulated through the motor. I wouldn't want to put it back together without a fresh set of bearings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 105
I've noticed that the wiped lobe is on cylinder #8.
My neighbor had the wiped lobe on cyl #8 as well.
Is this common? Are the lobes at the end of the cam more susceptible to failure?
His lifter and lobe looked the same. All he did is change the oil and replaced the cam and lifters and his engine has been running fine since It's a 396.
My neighbor had the wiped lobe on cyl #8 as well.
Is this common? Are the lobes at the end of the cam more susceptible to failure?
His lifter and lobe looked the same. All he did is change the oil and replaced the cam and lifters and his engine has been running fine since It's a 396.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Not much to lose at this point. Like if a bearing is bad and gonna wipe its gonna wipe. If bearing surface still functional it can still perform its function for a normal lifetime. If brg bad then the crank will need to be turned anyways regardless of waiting for it to knock. But that is a lot of metal to expect the filter to catch it all.
Ya know it is a chevy and will keep turning with a lot of crap in it.
As for break in i will only use high press cam break in grease - every one sells their own now. Try and use some weak used stock vlv springs just for cam break-in if u can handle the effort. I see now a lot of low ratio rockers are available for break in to reduce spring press which are alot less work/effort but more expensive than weak vlv springs.
But ya know a lot of times its the owner that really doesn't know how to adj hyd lifters but think he does. Alot of owners assume they are on the base circle when they really ain't or think they can find zero lash when they don't know that either. Not to be sarcastic here but to many owners are in denial on how to adj their own lifters.
Good luck,
cardo
Ya know it is a chevy and will keep turning with a lot of crap in it.
As for break in i will only use high press cam break in grease - every one sells their own now. Try and use some weak used stock vlv springs just for cam break-in if u can handle the effort. I see now a lot of low ratio rockers are available for break in to reduce spring press which are alot less work/effort but more expensive than weak vlv springs.
But ya know a lot of times its the owner that really doesn't know how to adj hyd lifters but think he does. Alot of owners assume they are on the base circle when they really ain't or think they can find zero lash when they don't know that either. Not to be sarcastic here but to many owners are in denial on how to adj their own lifters.
Good luck,
cardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
Interesting thread...my BB engine is in the shop right now with a wiped out cam lob. It will be interesting to find out what lob or cylinder it is. The cam that was in there was some type of Comp Cam.
I'm going back with a roller setup. My engine has all original parts and would still be running if the PO has not swapped the cam out. My builder is recommending a Comp Cam for replacement, we'll see!
Kevin
I'm going back with a roller setup. My engine has all original parts and would still be running if the PO has not swapped the cam out. My builder is recommending a Comp Cam for replacement, we'll see!
Kevin