I have a question about roller camshaft construction. Has anyone had any experience with a hyd. roller cam made from a "cast" core vs a "steel billet" core? I was always led to believe that roller cams were manufactured from a stronger "steel billet" core due to the more aggressive lobe profiles and higher spring pressures. I recently purchased a hyd. roller cam and was a bit suprised to see it was a "cast" core instead of a "steel billet" core. I did some research on the internet and found a few references to "hardened chilled castings" but they were mostly used in smaller displacement OHC 4 cyl. engines. I checked a few of the more popular manufacturers (Crane, Comp, Isky) and all of their hyd. roller cams are listed as "steel billet". From what I've read about cam manufacturing, a properly heat treated "chilled casting" is actually pretty strong, but I don't know if this one I purchased falls into that catagory. There's no name on the cam, just some raised numbers on the casting. I'm in the process of contacting some cam manufacturers with these numbers to try and get some details. Again ------ I am just asking if anyone has ever seen a hyd. roller cam with a "cast" core. If so, could you please let me know who manufactured it so I can try to get some detailed specs. on the casting. Thanks-------

 

quit a few years ago the after market cam grinders used cast core roller cams because there was a shortage of billet cam cores. i ran some and never had a problem with them as long as you used the recommended springs. these were solid lifter cams not hyd ones and since hyd ones use a lot less spring pressure than solid lifter one you should be fine

 

All of Comp Cam's "street" rollers, including the solid rollers are what they like to call: "off-tempered streel castings". Whatever that means.

I had both a Comp XR288HR and a XR280R, both the same core.

 

My 238/244 BBC hyd roller cam was ground on a cast core and hasnt given me any problems yet.

 

I have Comp Cams 288A-R10 solid street roller which was ground from a casting. I have over 30,000 miles on it with no issues. In fact I recently tore my engine down for inspection and the cam and lifters showed no sign of wear.

 

Over a year ago I bought a small solid street roller for a small block project that hasn't yet been completed. At the time I was pretty sure they said they used a cast core but recently I rang to recheck and found all new technical personell who said we only use billets.

If cast I assume I should be able to tell by the "cast look" to the sections that aren't lobes or bearings. Any ideas, I'm just trying to work out what material to use for the dizzy gear.

 

A steel billet core will have a "smooth" finish in the areas that are not lobes or bearings. It will look like a piece of round stock steel. A cast core has a rough, pebble like finish. If you look close, you will see the "mold seam" line running lengthwise on each side from when the casting was poured.

 

ZL1POWR: What lifters are you using? 30+ thousand miles is lot.

 

billet cams have copper plating between the lobes which is used in the heat treating process