spy2520

Does the roller still spin? I'm of the opinion the lifter probaby collapsed and just bounced on the lobe until it flat spotted the roller and started chewing it up. Just a theory.

Undy

I figured as much... It's hard to tell which came first, the chicken or the egg. There's been quite a few "soft cams" and bad lifters alike. The second pic looks like defective cam hardening. Either way, you know what you've got to do. I'd probably go with the Caddi lifters.

MTPZ06

Didn't that happen to you?

Undy

Yep, OEM cam though. It was discovered @ 88K miles. The lifters actually looked pretty good. The rollers were still spinning smoothly.

spy2520

Also happened to me. Cam pretty much looked just like that.

csibbs

Yes the roller spins just fine

csibbs

My concern now is, do I go with the same cam? That was going to be the plan but I don't want this to happen again.

Undy

Hard to say... The person I'd trust the most to answer this would be Michael D. This isn't a rampant problem so most would say "My cam is fine." Sad to say, it's probably the luck-o-the-draw more than anything. Comp Cams would probably be the first that I'd scratch off my go-to list.

meanjoe

I don't know about you but if that happened to me there would be no way in Hell I'd use that same cam again. That's just asking for it.

meanjoe

I just re-read all your post's here. No mention of the maker of this cam. Could you please post the make and model number for the rest of us?

csibbs

I was going to go with a BTR V4 cam but wasnt sure if I was going to have to change pushrod length, get new springs, etc, all in all being more expensive.

It was the Texas Speed LS7R cam

tdeweese

That is a very aggressive cam for street useage, must be matched to well spec'd out and high quality springs. I would not be afraid of .655" lift, how is the car used will determine your cam choice, if you where happy with the LS7R then the BTR 4 will be fine for you. I used the Johnson Axle oil short travel (.058") lifters. Very nice lifters but I would probably go with the non-axle oil and .090" versions if I would do it again, was a major pita measuring for each pushrod length +/-.002".

Michael_D

Your valve train was not happy.

That camshaft is way too f'ing big. Especially with an OE intake/TB and 7100 rev limit. Not sure who the hell talked you into that, but it wasn't a good choice. I just don't get this never ending desire to over cam this engine. Must be one of those "my dick is bigger than your dick" things.

Find a lifter with a .750" wheel. Axle oiling is not needed on a mild street engine. I don't think it's needed for any needle bearing roller. Bushed solids, sure you bet. Great idea. Needle bearing though??? Run good springs. PAC 12xx series.

MyLS1Hauls

Yep, not surprised at all. LSL lobes...

You planning to replace your oil pump? It will definitely be scored. I'd also pull the dry sump tank, oil lines, and oil cooler, and flush them all out. Those metal fragments will be just about everywhere.

Michael_D

I used to think the hoses to the tank could be cleaned and reused. I no longer hold that opinion. I spent about two hours cleaning mine out last week, and gave up. Ended up ordering a set. The oil pump pick up tube screen is also difficult to clean. It effectively trapped crap. The older plastic one is worse than the metal one..... Yah, I bought a new one of those bastards too..... Oh well, it was a good excuse to install the Aviaid tank insert, and Improved Racing pan baffle, seeing how I had both out of the car.

tdeweese

Michael, so tell us how you really feel about big cams!! LOL I totally agree that is way to much cam for a basically stock 427 cu in.

csibbs

This is all terrible news. I don't even know what lsl lobes are.... Wtf this sucks

If it makes any difference the heads have pac 660 dual valve springs

MTPZ06

Here's a good post on Cam Lobes from MyLS1... https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1591768836

I'd be looking at a cam from Cam Motion or EPS if I was shopping around.

MyLS1Hauls

Sorry...I know how you feel. I was there two years ago with the same issue. It was an eye opener for sure. No more aggressive lobed cams will ever go into my engines. Just not worth it. If you want huge duration, that won't hurt anything other than drivability...it is the fast ramps and high lift that cause the durability issues. BTR, EPS, and Cam Motion are all in the soft lobe camp. Any grind you get from these guys should be reliable. I was very happy with my custom Comp grind I got last year from Tooley. It's an HUC/XE lobed cam that is very similar in numbers to his S3. Was shocked to hear how quiet the valve train was, compared with the previous cam.

Michael - I agree. The oil cooler is basically impossible to flush. I felt like I was able to get my 09+ tank setup clean...but it took forever. I had to take every single piece/fitting out that I could.

Unreal

I had a shop spec me a cam. Comp with the most aggressive lobes for race only use. It was a smaller cam than I have now, a 228/232 but didn't drive nearly as nice, and ate itself within 800 miles.

Had pat G spec me a cam. Ordered another comp, 230/246 LXL/LXL and 20k+ miles later it is happy as can be in my motor.

As for why people throw these huge donkey dick cams in their cars, because of youtube and showing off at events. Got to have that mean sounding cam even if it drives like ***, is less reliable, less power where it counts, etc.