Used cam a bad idea?
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 52
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From: Brunswick OH...IO!
Used cam a bad idea?
I am thinking of getting a used cam with lifters for my 79 L48 with 100k that I've had for about a year. The add states it has only 1500 miles on it from a T-bucket, "great condition, full synthetic oil with zinc" . The cam is a Comp cams #12-21 0-2. Looks to be an agreeable cam by the specs. He wants $60.
I only have a couple hundred bucks in my winter improvement budget.
The car runs ok for a 79 and I have other task$ to get done before spring.
I only have a couple hundred bucks in my winter improvement budget.
The car runs ok for a 79 and I have other task$ to get done before spring.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
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From: Chino CA
I am thinking of getting a used cam with lifters for my 79 L48 with 100k that I've had for about a year. The add states it has only 1500 miles on it from a T-bucket, "great condition, full synthetic oil with zinc" . The cam is a Comp cams #12-21 0-2. Looks to be an agreeable cam by the specs. He wants $60.
I only have a couple hundred bucks in my winter improvement budget.
The car runs ok for a 79 and I have other task$ to get done before spring.
I only have a couple hundred bucks in my winter improvement budget.
The car runs ok for a 79 and I have other task$ to get done before spring.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 52
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From: Brunswick OH...IO!
My concern is how was it broke in. I'm starting to collect parts to add power. So far I've only picked up a very nice intake (Edlebrock 2101 $40). I guess I should wait and go all in for a rebuild next year. It is a matching block.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
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From: Syracuse NY
Ive sold a few used cams in the past, but Ive always included the lifters, arrainged in order, with the purchase. Putting a used cam onto new lifters is inviting a disaster.
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Team Owner
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From: Orange Park Florida
TWO true stories, years ago in my '72 Pontiac Lemans, I managed to find a scrapped '67 GTO, I swapped out the heads, cam to the 350 Pontiac block....it was a PONCHO engine, not a SBC.....put on a new timing chain, and never kept the lifters in order bolted it all together and it ran for another 200k miles total ~300k as a delivery vehicle for a torque converter shop some friends owned.....
Now we pass a few decades, and I had put a '89 roller/ZZ4 engine in my '72 here in Florida, well it was recommended I use a ZZ9 roller cam from TPIS, NEVER BUY THAT!@!! or anything from them.....crooks....at any rate, the cam ran fine with stock roller lifters for about a year, then the engine started a rough idle, I went ape trying to find it, as every once in a while it idled smooth as silk.....someone sent me a stock L98 cam, and it layed around almost a year before I finally installed it, looking for lower idle speed, and so was totally stone shocked that POS ZZ9 cam came outta there with 6 lobes wiped out lifters were fine.....I put the L98 cam in there and engine as been smooth as silk for some years now....go figger.....
Now we pass a few decades, and I had put a '89 roller/ZZ4 engine in my '72 here in Florida, well it was recommended I use a ZZ9 roller cam from TPIS, NEVER BUY THAT!@!! or anything from them.....crooks....at any rate, the cam ran fine with stock roller lifters for about a year, then the engine started a rough idle, I went ape trying to find it, as every once in a while it idled smooth as silk.....someone sent me a stock L98 cam, and it layed around almost a year before I finally installed it, looking for lower idle speed, and so was totally stone shocked that POS ZZ9 cam came outta there with 6 lobes wiped out lifters were fine.....I put the L98 cam in there and engine as been smooth as silk for some years now....go figger.....
Le Mans Master
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Le Mans Master
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
if the cam is wrong for the application to start with its out. a flat tappet cam of either type must use the lifters that have mated to the cam and must be in the exact position that it was broken in with. hydraulic cams have been used for decades with few problems but they have their quirks.. some of the issues of late are a result of people not knowing the little details. and 60 bucks is ridiculous for an $80.00 product.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Oxford Ohio
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 52
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From: Brunswick OH...IO!
Yeah, a roller is definitely in the realm of posibilty, I could do that. Maybe roller tip rockers too. Ahh yes where to $top. At 100k mi, I know I'll be doing a rebuild in the future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,178
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From: Plains Pa
I guess it depends if it's a person you know and trust with engines and knows what they are doing.........for me I don't like doing things twice..........happened too many times before! We all learn as we grow older!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 307
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From: Kirkland WA
Agreeing with the already matched lifter set idea. And of course it would somewhat lower the risk of failure to just get a new cam. And $60 is too much for a used stick. With that said... there is no problem putting new lifters on a used cam, people replace them all the time. I've transplanted a few back in the 70s and 80s, low budget days, and never a failure with stock spring pressure. Just mic the lobes for consistency first and use some Isky lube. What you can't do is put used lifters on a new or different cam. Flat tappets spin and mate to the lobe, if they're already mated to another cam they won't seat in right. No fear!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
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From: Tampa Bay FL
It would be good to know the spring pressure that he ran with the cam/lifters. Remember, he broke the cam/lifters in with more than just that high zinc oil.
Assuming no damage AND he correctly labeled the lifters to each lobe, I would say go for it. However, if you are going to consider a new set of lifters, you are probably better off with a new bump stick.
Be sure that if you DO buy the cam with the matching lifters that you ALSO get a fresh set of valve springs with the appropriate spring pressure.
And, if you are going to replace the valve springs, you may also want to address some 'while you are at it...' items (valve seals, pushrods, rockers... etc.).
When I installed my new Crane Energizer 272-H10 back in 1999, I also had a fresh recon pair of 882 heads with new hardware. So, the whole pkg was broken in together.
Assuming no damage AND he correctly labeled the lifters to each lobe, I would say go for it. However, if you are going to consider a new set of lifters, you are probably better off with a new bump stick.
Be sure that if you DO buy the cam with the matching lifters that you ALSO get a fresh set of valve springs with the appropriate spring pressure.
And, if you are going to replace the valve springs, you may also want to address some 'while you are at it...' items (valve seals, pushrods, rockers... etc.).
When I installed my new Crane Energizer 272-H10 back in 1999, I also had a fresh recon pair of 882 heads with new hardware. So, the whole pkg was broken in together.