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The Camshaft Questionaire

I installed a new cam within the past five years and...

  • Everything went great

    Votes: 18 90.0%
  • Cam crapped the bed

    Votes: 2 10.0%

  • Total voters
    20

Montclaire

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There's a thread over in Engine, Trans & Driveline about new wiping out lobes/lifters on new cams during break-in. I'd like to get an idea of how big of an issue this is, and see if there is this is more prevalent with some brands of cams over others.

If you have installed a new cam within the past five years, please participate in the poll and also post the brand, how long ago you purchased it, if you had any issues, what break-in procedures you followed, and the part number/specs (if you remember).

Thanks!

flat_cam.jpg
 
Ive installed two in the past 5 years. Comp xe268h and a lunati voodoo 703. No problems with either cam. I used driven 5w30 breakin oil both times, and followed the cam manufactures recommendations.
 
Oh brother. Here since I obviously touched a nerve with you in that other thread, let me save you some trouble...
Comp bad
Everyone else awesome
:rofl:
 
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Oh brother. here since I obviously touched a nerve with you in that other thread, let me save you some trouble...
Comp bad
Everyone else awesome
:rofl:

Well, that's what I hope to bear out here. Although we have one happy Comp Cam customer above. Or is it Komp Kam Kustomer? Maybe the problem is limited to specific Comp grinds or price points.
 
Okay, okay, I'm just messing around a bit...
Bullet was a nice cam. I've had two Comp 'XE' Cams that had too much casting flash between the lobes for my liking, that's a lifter eater right there... nothing that couldn't be cleaned up though. They never gave me any trouble.
My brother bought a custom Lunati for his Ford (yeah he's a lost cause LOL) and the lifters would not rotate. Tried different lifters, same problem. Found out the cam lobes were ground almost flat... good thing we caught it before starting that one up.
I should add, that there were no failures of any kind because these issues were all caught ahead of time. Besides those I've never had any problems (that weren't my fault!)
 
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Comp 268AH10, (21-305-4) with matching set of lifters, 30 minutes 2-2500, VR-1 10W-30, replaced oil/filter, ran for 500 miles, changed oil/filter now has 1400 miles-zero issues. Runs perfect.
 
Lunati here as well, no problems with proper break in oil. Have two more in the next few months. Both are Lunati's as well.
 
I'm well outside your 5 year rule and still voted. replaced cam in a stock bottom end, ported heads done at same time. Hughes 2330 cam, followed their directions for break in, as always with every oil change a can of STP. And I've been running great for 20K+ miles. Good Luck
 
Haven’t heard about this elsewhere, but UTG found he was sold used lifters when buying new.

Easy check to confirm.


I kinda think it’s from people scamming; returning used lifters, claiming they’re new, and those are getting re-sold as new (just my opinion though):

 
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Haven’t heard about this elsewhere, but UTG found he was sold used lifters when buying new.

Easy check to confirm.


I kinda think it’s from people scamming; returning used lifters, claiming they’re new, and those are getting re-sold as new (just my opinion though):


I got a set of Comp hydraulic rollers from Summit, laying loose in a bag. They were used. Refunded n bought direct from Comp. Yes, people do it all the time.
 
Apparently an old lifter (non-roller) will wipe out a new cam...

So confirming all are in fact “new” needs to be a part of installation procedures?

And then see if people still have cam problems if they check the lifters?
 
If the video from UTG is accurate, the cam problem is pretty broad, across various manufacturers
 
If the video from UTG is accurate, the cam problem is pretty broad, across various manufacturers

I would lean more towards improper machining of the lifter face than a huge rash of returned lifters being placed back on the shelf. He said there are only two manufacturers left, anyone know who they are?
 
I would lean more towards improper machining of the lifter face than a huge rash of returned lifters being placed back on the shelf. He said there are only two manufacturers left, anyone know who they are?

oh sorry I meant various cam brands, are getting wiped out; doesn’t seem specific to any company

so kind of points in the direction that old lifters are taking out new cams
 
I don't think there can possibly be enough people returning used lifters to account for all of the wiped cams. But if there are truly only two manufacturers of lifters out there in the world, and one of them is not properly machining the lifter face, that would do it.
 
Whether is a used lifter or an improperly machined one, both cases would need similar inspections

It only takes ones bad/old lifter to take out a cam

So worst case is a person returns 16 used lifters, and 16 new cams die

right?
 
Say it’s some dude that didn’t quite pick the right cam for his build

orders a cam and set of lifters

puts the nearly new lifters in and sends them back as a return

Or anybody doing a cam swap where the lifters look newish

I dunno, just my thoughts
 
Any issues with the ones direct from Comp?
None, they were boxed properly and worked great. But they are hydraulic roller, not flat. I was only commenting on people returning used stuff as new and another purchaser getting the bad used/returned part.
 
People probably think the worst thing that would happen is they would get caught

and not get their refund

not that they are causing camageddon
 
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