Cam billet or cast?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 291
From: MA
Cam billet or cast?
So I am installing my Lloyd Elliot camshaft (custom grind which came from Lunati). The stock LT4 cam looks like it is all steel (billet) vs the new Lunatis which looks cast iron (rough casting between the lobes).
Will this be a problem with durability? I am going with all Lunati parts (rocker arms, springs, pushrods) per Lloyd Elliott's recommendation.
Will this be a problem with durability? I am going with all Lunati parts (rocker arms, springs, pushrods) per Lloyd Elliott's recommendation.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Roughness between the nodes just means it is cast, not cast iron. Industry has figured out how to cast steel equal to or exceeding forgings/billets. Ruger firearms are cast. So are others. They have proved to be just as strong as forged receivers (it is the receivers that are cast,forged or billet (think Remington 700)).
You can heat treat steel whether it is cast, billet or forged. It is all in the actual material and technique for the most part nowadays.
So if you are concerned, look into where the raw part came from and what material used is, not whether it is cast,billet or forged.
You can heat treat steel whether it is cast, billet or forged. It is all in the actual material and technique for the most part nowadays.
So if you are concerned, look into where the raw part came from and what material used is, not whether it is cast,billet or forged.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
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From: near the thumb in the mitten
Unlikely Lunati would sell a cam designed to fail. The parting line in a casting usually will ID cast or forged. Forged will have wide parting line. It shouldn't be a thing until you get into strokers and 600+ lift cams and the extreme valve springs required.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 291
From: MA
Thanks guys for your info, I just didn't want to have any issues since I have the top end of the motor ripped apart. I only want to do this once and have it last a while.
I will say the engine is nice and clean, 25 years/47,000 miles of faithful oil changes and Mobil 1.
So far after tearing into my motor the only thing worn is the factory single roller timing chain, it was pretty sloppy! And of course some of the gaskets leaking.
The Cloyes replacement single roller chain and gears I am installing is much beefier.
I will say the engine is nice and clean, 25 years/47,000 miles of faithful oil changes and Mobil 1.
So far after tearing into my motor the only thing worn is the factory single roller timing chain, it was pretty sloppy! And of course some of the gaskets leaking.
The Cloyes replacement single roller chain and gears I am installing is much beefier.
