Cam Damage---need Advice Asap
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
There is no problem in re-using a cam, if it's not damaged. This one clearly IS damaged, and that isn't the buyer's fault.
Based on the pics, this localized pitting is the likely result of inadequate heat treating, and anyone who reads over at LS1Tech knows this isn't all that rare of occurance. Both Comp and Cam Motion/Futral have had their fair share of "bad batches" of cams.
As for the peace of mind of buying new....you could buy a brand new cam, and pull it out of your car 5k miles later looking just like this.
Or, you could buy a used cam that's already been run for 5k miles, and still looks like new. Given that comparison, I'd be more apt to trust the used one that's proven to work.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,876
Likes: 8
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '06 & '12
That cam is junk..
Its not just isolated to one lobe either. You can see the bad lobes in the other picture.
If you put that in your car you can kiss your valvetrain goodbye.
Refer back to our PM's. Its better to save and buy the right parts, then get anxious and buy junk..
I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way. You weren't the first, and you certainly wont be the last..
We've ALL done it once or twice..
Its not just isolated to one lobe either. You can see the bad lobes in the other picture.
If you put that in your car you can kiss your valvetrain goodbye.
Refer back to our PM's. Its better to save and buy the right parts, then get anxious and buy junk..
I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way. You weren't the first, and you certainly wont be the last..
We've ALL done it once or twice..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,470
Likes: 1,170
From: Dyer, IN
Many members have purchased used cams and had favorable experiences. most cam companies are charging 50-100 dollars more for their custom grind cams which all usually come from comp cams. the avg used cam goes for $250 whereas new from LG for example they are $450 new. 200 dollars is substantial savings to me.
What's $200 when it comes to piece of mind?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by tiki240
now he is trying to get me to claim it at the postal office as damaged in shipping. he swears up and down that it was fine when he shipped it. but i fail to see how that type of scoring could have occured even from dropping it.
I'd take that statement made by him to the post office and charge him with fraud on faulty merchandise and using the postal service shipping to do so.
Did you use a credit card to purchase it? If so file a claim with your credit card company.
Good luck
now he is trying to get me to claim it at the postal office as damaged in shipping. he swears up and down that it was fine when he shipped it. but i fail to see how that type of scoring could have occured even from dropping it.
I'd take that statement made by him to the post office and charge him with fraud on faulty merchandise and using the postal service shipping to do so.
Did you use a credit card to purchase it? If so file a claim with your credit card company.
Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,970
Likes: 20
From: San Marcos Texas
with the rest..How old was that cam? I believe there was a bad batch of cams that was posted on LS1Tech that looked just like that. Severe pitting and it would chew up your lifters....Post pics over there and you will get more info on it..
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Dayton Ohio
JUNK
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: yorktown virginia
Im considering sending him a link to this thread so he can see what just CORVETTE owners are saying.. it should send a pretty clear message. the kid is 20, but even so, I dont think he didnt see this pitting before he shipped it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,470
Likes: 1,170
From: Dyer, IN
. First time it happened to me.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
if he raises the same complaints about this 5k mi cam to LG...they will hopefully pass the problem on to Comp, and maybe, just maybe he could get his money back too. You can't do that, but he can.
Being vocal almost always nets a resolution. This really isn't LG's fault...all they do is sand the lobe #'s off the end of the cam and put it back in the Comp packaging, but if he bought it new from them, that is his only contact and source of resolution.
Whether or not LG is willing to fight for him and stand by their branded product will remain to be seen.
Last edited by Y2Kvert4me; Mar 7, 2008 at 09:06 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 619
Likes: 1
From: ATLANTA GA
This cam could be repaired with some slight less lift on that damaged lobe Without even welding, just a slight grind to clean the damage
but
Call comp cams....
This might be salvageable, or they might help you out and give you a new one since they know about these batches..
It wouldnt hurt to give it a try..
but
Call comp cams....
This might be salvageable, or they might help you out and give you a new one since they know about these batches..
It wouldnt hurt to give it a try..
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 0
From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
This cam could be repaired with some slight less lift on that damaged lobe Without even welding, just a slight grind to clean the damage
but
Call comp cams....
This might be salvageable, or they might help you out and give you a new one since they know about these batches..
It wouldnt hurt to give it a try..
but
Call comp cams....
This might be salvageable, or they might help you out and give you a new one since they know about these batches..
It wouldnt hurt to give it a try..
If the case hardening is bad, grinding this cam to get down to a clean surface only means you will have the same damage in another 5,000 miles like this one does (If that is the real case here- meaning does it really have only 5k miles or MORE???) I'm assuming the case hardening is too thin and cleaning it up will only make it thinner and more suseptible to repeat damage. Not to mention does your grinder guy have the proper specs to regrind it too... doubtful!!
Send this cam back, (get your money first though
) and start out with a new one. I'm not bashing you about saving money, (I'm cheap) but when it comes to the hassle of putting a Cam in, saving $200 is crazy if you have to open her back up in a year or so.. Whenever!! after you've done all that work, you're going to want it to be right... and stay that way hopefully!! Good luck in getting your cash back!!
Last edited by VRROOOM2; Mar 9, 2008 at 07:45 AM.