Mooobunnny

iTrader: (1)

My motor has 107K miles on it and is in the middle of a cam install. The front cam bearing is copper (so appearantly all of the surface material is gone?) Is it a MUST to replace it? I plan on redoing the entire bottom end in a 3 or 4 months.....should it last that long? I post a pic if needed....?

What should I do?

ss rally red

iTrader: (8)

I wish I could give you a 100% answer on what to do, but I can tell you this, I have done several cam installs(over 15 anyways ) and on most cars the mileage was mostly between 10K to 60-70K, on the one car that had the same 107K as yours the car spun rod bearings within 300 miles, not cam bearings but there was no copper showing on the cam bearings that I remember. If the motor has had the stock cam in it to date you might want to wait for the rebuild to install it, the phrase "New power on old parts" can cause some interesting things to happen

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

you might want to go easy on your motor for a little while.....and get ready for a rebuild if you want to get stupid with her often lol....

Mooobunnny

iTrader: (1)

here is a picture of it. The next one back only has very very slight scratches on it.

fast98

iTrader: (16)

thats wasted, replace it. if not all of them

Mooobunnny

iTrader: (1)

that has to be done through the bottom end right?

Skinny

iTrader: (11)

No, cam bearings are tapped in from the front. Generally all of them are replaced by first pulling them all out, then tapping the rear one in, then then next closest, and so on. I wouldn't want to try doing all of them with the motor assembled (nor do I know if it's even possible) but just the front one shouldn't be a problem. My suggestion though - 100+k means it's time for a rebuild anyway. I would be more concerned with the rod and main bearings after that kinda mileage. As stated above - "new power on old parts."

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

That bearing is trash.

DONAIMIAN

iTrader: (18)

just another reason to build it bigger.

ScottyG

Early on, GM was using a cam bearing manufacturer that supplied "brownish" colored cam bearings. I only know of them being in 98 model cars.

This bearing may be trashed. The surface does look a little rough in the picture, but if it's actually a smooth surface, you may want to get a measurement with a good micrometer just to be sure.

distortion_69

iTrader: (20)

FWIW: I have direct experience with cam installs on high milage vehicles. Two of which were over 100,000 miles. Both cars have been perfectly operational for the past several months (knock on wood). That is not normal, even with 100,00 miles... If your bearings are that worn I would guess that there is something else astray to cause that. I would not put the cam in, its likely going to trash it anyways.

Josh

Racehead

As they've all said, that bearing is FUBAR'd. I wouldn't waste a good cam on an engine with that much wear on it. As a matter of fact if I saw that in one of my cam bearings I'd pull the motor and at least look at rods and mains before proceding any further. If you won't do that then at least replace the cam bearings.

S_J_H

Perfectly normal for a 98. EVERY 98 motor I have ever seen has copper cam bearings. I installed my first cam with only 6k Miles on my 98 5 years ago and guess what, it looked exactly like that.

Steve

Inspector12

iTrader: (29)

He said the next one in line had only minor scratches? Does that mean the others are copper in color also or does he mean that he can see a different colored bearings with a few scratched on it! I trust you SJH you haven't been far off on any advice you've given me. Just trying to get him to look and compare the others in the car.

pekkaz

My 98 bearings were like that @28k

Mooobunnny

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all the info guys!

S_J_H

ALL my cam bearings look like that as well as at least 5 other 98's I have seen. It's just the type of cam bearing.. I've seen that style of bearing in transmissions as well. You first look at it and think wow it's shot but they look like that brand new.

The other guys are just trying to help, but the ls1 does not use any tri metal bearings from the factory unless the later cam bearings are, but I'll bet they are simple aluminum/steel which is what a lot of OEM's use now for bearings.
The factory main and rod bearings are aluminum backed steel and it seems after 1998 the cam bearings went to similar construction.
Any deep scratches may be a concern but as long as oil pressure was good I would not worry about it.

Steve

Squintz Palladoris

iTrader: (1)

SJH,

I am the guy who is actually workin on the car. This is the first 98 motor I have worked on. The bearings look worse in that picture than they do in person(I used the flash). As soon as I saw the color of the bearing I stopped n gave Chris a call to let him know the problem. If this is normal then I have no problem putting It back together with the new camshaft. Everything else thath I can see looks good for 100k+. I am replacing the oil pump n timing chain and lifters for him as well.

Thanks for your Input!
Brad

Racehead

Well if it's normal then that's differant. I'm used to seeing a babbit coated bearing and then they get worn down to the copper it's time to shitcan them. It did seem weird that it had even coloring all the way around instead of just having some copper show thru at the wear spots ?? Oh well learn something new I guess. I'd like to see a pic of a new one though .