400 Lifter/Cam Failure

[JedIEG]

I bought a 400(73) for my 72 SSP last fall and finally got some time to tear it down. I took the lifters out so I could turn the engine over to check the main bearings but one lifter didn't want to slide out... so I found out why the guy I bought it off of was complaining a lack of power. The #2 intake lobe is gone and the lifter bottom completely rounded to the point it has broken into the lifter cavity. As far as I can tell this is the stock cam/lifters and the short block has never been apart.
I was not intending to rebuild the engine, just check the bottom end for excessive ware and was going to reuse the cam and lifters. Does anyone know the failure mechanism on this? Bad lifter? Stuck lifter? anything I should be looking for?

I don't have the money right now to fully rebuild the engine. I will just be getting a new cam kit now...

 

[dieseldazzle]

You could maybe getaway with using a brake cylinder hone and putting a new cam and lifter set in it and break it in, hope for the best if you are on a budget......

 

[Cranky]

How many miles are on it? If the lifter is that far gone, where did all the metal from it go to? Bearings are probably shot and the crank probably has some damage too. Pull it apart and inspect everything. Chances are very good that it needs a total rebuild.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Last cam I had go flat I got lucky (2012 440 , stealth heads, summit cam) when the summit cam went flat despite all my best attempts I went with a very very small hughes roller cam and lifter set.

Tore the motor down and was lucky enough to not have the bearings trashed.

Put it all together and it still runs to this day.

I will say I got lucky and on the first test drive i had a rocker arm that kept backing off.I thought it was the lousy 440 source rockers but ended up being the cam wiped out that lobe.

 

[JedIEG]

No idea on the millage or history. (I can guess it replaced a mid 60's 383 at one point because it is painted teal and came with 516 heads). I hope I can check the clearances of the bottom mains and rod bearings with plastiguage tomorrow and see if they are withing Chrysler spec. No ideal on how to check the cam bearings though. If it is all shot, then it is back to the tired 318 and I will build a 451 when I have the funds.
Looking at cams, if i am buying one i want it to last through when I rebuild it. What sort of money am i looking at for a roller? I know the cams kits are a bit more pricey but are there other costs im not thinking about than the cam, lifters and a TC?

 

[dieseldazzle]

Cam lifters pushrods timing set to go three bolt was about 750 from Hughes and the springs were about 130 from Alex parts but he was able to find me springs that dropped onto the stealths and kept the required open and closed pressures at the Right installed heights and had the same id and od for the retainers

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Not a mention of ZDDP ? ......MO

 

[dieseldazzle]

Not a mention of ZDDP ? ......MO

Too late it would seem his cam is already wiped out....

 

[bm02tj]

Plastigage is only semi accurate if you are luck to get some fresh stuff
look more at wear pattern for you info

 

[JedIEG]

I got to check rods 7&8. Both bearings were gulled some and the crank had some spotty discoloration. The crank didnt seem to have a harsh wear pattern to it and the top bearing on the #8 rod was in good shape. I dont know. I don't know if a refresh on this motor is a viable option anymore since i was budgeting either a cam swap or replace the bearing not both (I had basically ruled out the cam a while ago)
The 318 is looking like my best option. I have access to 2, one has been running in the past year and I have all of the hardware for it, a 340 cam and HP manifolds that are in good shape...
I have 3/4 convinced myself the 400 might just have to go on the shelf for a while...