Cam grinders.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 25
Cam grinders.
I hang at PR&C much of the time, but heres the question.... first at C-3.
Anybody buy a cam from a grinder?
Lifters too.
I did, and have yet run it up.
My old comp cam went flat after a lifter change. Took 500 mi to fail.
So the solution is a cam grinder I figured.
Said use this oil for brake in and add zink. 20 mins run time.
This will bring the oil back to SF standard.
What say you..............
Anybody buy a cam from a grinder?
Lifters too.
I did, and have yet run it up.
My old comp cam went flat after a lifter change. Took 500 mi to fail.
So the solution is a cam grinder I figured.
Said use this oil for brake in and add zink. 20 mins run time.
This will bring the oil back to SF standard.
What say you..............
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Every cam manufacturer, every cam grinder will tell you that 90% of cam lobe failure is:
"Installation Error".
Either wrong oil.
No break-in lube added.
No moly base product on the lifters.
Too much valve spring pressure.
Low oil pressure / poor circulation
Wrong RPM during break-in.
Not varying RPM during break-in.
Not running long enough during break-in.
Failure to check lifter bores during assembly.
Failure to check if lifters are rotating during break-in.
Which one do you think you forgot?
Some people have collected on warranty claims for free replacement But that is usually based on proof of receipt from a commercial shop install.
For the rest of us saps, it's our word against the cam company word if everything was done properly or not.
Why did you require a lifter change?
And what two oil products did you use if you don't mind me asking?
"Installation Error".
Either wrong oil.
No break-in lube added.
No moly base product on the lifters.
Too much valve spring pressure.
Low oil pressure / poor circulation
Wrong RPM during break-in.
Not varying RPM during break-in.
Not running long enough during break-in.
Failure to check lifter bores during assembly.
Failure to check if lifters are rotating during break-in.
Which one do you think you forgot?
Some people have collected on warranty claims for free replacement But that is usually based on proof of receipt from a commercial shop install.
For the rest of us saps, it's our word against the cam company word if everything was done properly or not.
Why did you require a lifter change?
And what two oil products did you use if you don't mind me asking?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 246
From: Green Valley Ca
I just bought a flat tappet hydraulic cam and lifters from Powell Cams. They ground the camshaft that will insure that the lobes have the proper taper and the lifters are ground to the proper convex shape to match the camshaft. For me it’s the best way to insure the cam and lifters are the machined at the correct spec’s.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 25
Can't remember the oil, I'll give em a call before I fire it up.
You'd recognize the name .
Told me how to break in.
Nothing diffrent than we been do'n last 50 years.
Boy......that's been our #1 complaint . Why we have to do it diffrent.
Comp cams want's you to use only 1 spring on break in.
Or a 1.3 rocker.
NO.
Make **** like the USA used to.
Then I'll buy the products again.
Bet there on there way out.
Cam grinders gonna rule.............
I'd tell ya how come the lifter change, But my wifes likely read'n this...
Pic's of wife on the cover of sports illustrated..
Yeah......that's her.
You'd recognize the name .
Told me how to break in.
Nothing diffrent than we been do'n last 50 years.
Boy......that's been our #1 complaint . Why we have to do it diffrent.
Comp cams want's you to use only 1 spring on break in.
Or a 1.3 rocker.
NO.
Make **** like the USA used to.
Then I'll buy the products again.
Bet there on there way out.
Cam grinders gonna rule.............
I'd tell ya how come the lifter change, But my wifes likely read'n this...
Pic's of wife on the cover of sports illustrated..
Yeah......that's her.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 246
From: Green Valley Ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
ramair,
All cam companies want you use only one valve spring at break-in. With a dual spring set-up that's way too much pressure on the lifters.
The 1.3 rockers are a joke. Not needed. There is no need to change the valvetrains ratio. Its valve springs insane pressure on some heads that wipe out cams.
Another option if you are concerned about lobe failure is Nitrating the camshaft. Last I looked, it was around $100 extra for the process.
All cam companies want you use only one valve spring at break-in. With a dual spring set-up that's way too much pressure on the lifters.
The 1.3 rockers are a joke. Not needed. There is no need to change the valvetrains ratio. Its valve springs insane pressure on some heads that wipe out cams.
Another option if you are concerned about lobe failure is Nitrating the camshaft. Last I looked, it was around $100 extra for the process.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 25
Cool vid on the cam machine.............
my heads thinking how we could do that at home.
Electric drill drives front of cams bolt..
Each lifter in place. Pump and pan full of oil.
What would press the lifters?
Hardware store long coil springs long enough to contact the bottom of the heads.
But don't tighten the head bolts.
Use the bolts to draw down the head preloading the springs to the lifters.
Hummmm......
(see why I hang at PR&C.)
my heads thinking how we could do that at home.
Electric drill drives front of cams bolt..
Each lifter in place. Pump and pan full of oil.
What would press the lifters?
Hardware store long coil springs long enough to contact the bottom of the heads.
But don't tighten the head bolts.
Use the bolts to draw down the head preloading the springs to the lifters.
Hummmm......
(see why I hang at PR&C.)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,335
Likes: 7,904
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Nope. What's PR&C?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
probably Porsche Racing Challenge.
In the old days I thought nothing of taking all the lifters apart and using the old cam during a rebuild without a thought about lifter order.
Only a few companies make cam core blanks. So your little companies might also be using bad cores.
I used Joe Gibbs breakin oil and after about 300 some miles I changed to VR1 racing oil
In the old days I thought nothing of taking all the lifters apart and using the old cam during a rebuild without a thought about lifter order.
Only a few companies make cam core blanks. So your little companies might also be using bad cores.
I used Joe Gibbs breakin oil and after about 300 some miles I changed to VR1 racing oil