Camaro-BMF

hey guys i just put a cam an heads, Does anybody know at what mileage do the cam bearings wear out?

SoxXpupPeT

iTrader: (34)

at 155k miles mine were completely gone. id figure around 120-130 is when theyll wear out

Elliott's94Z

iTrader: (12)

Ha...well one of mine was gaffle blasted (my term for F-Up) and my motor only had 72k. If you can get access to them change them out.

ss.slp.ls1

iTrader: (36)

Pull out the old cam and inspect the cam bearings. If they are shot, replacing them requires dropping the motor.

My95Z

iTrader: (8)

It really depends how well maintained, how hard your car was driven, what type of cam and spring pressures you were running with, and if the cam swap was ever done if they got nicked.

Mine looked good at 140k when I rebuilt, but the car was 100% factory so idk.

blake110106

iTrader: (9)

my front bearing looks great right now 127K. Have yet to check the rest tho.

My95Z

iTrader: (8)

Normally the front bearing will wear first/the most b/c it has the most load on it.

saylorZ28

iTrader: (6)

not to high jack but what would a bad cam bearing look like and to change them out does it require dropping the crank is it a hard thing to do or does it require a machine shop?

My95Z

iTrader: (8)

A bad cam bearing will be severely with either groves, gouges, be out of round, or discoloration. To pull them out the crank really needs to come out so you can see what you're doing and to drop the bearings in and hook them to the tool. They sell a cam bearing drive tool that you really need to have to install them, if you don't have one it needs to go to the machine shop. Also a spun cam bearing could have possibly trashed the block and at very least will need to have the cam journals line honed.

saylorZ28

iTrader: (6)

by discoloration do you mean a bronze color or burn like metal to metal contact

trippinholyman

burn like metal to metal, ,grooves etc

ie here http://home.comcast.net/~rebel1608/cam-bear.JPG

saylorZ28

iTrader: (6)

what if they are completly bronze

My95Z

iTrader: (8)

Like copper colored? If they ate all the way down to the copper level, yeah they're shot, but I don't think LT1's came from the factory with any copper/lead bearings I thought they were all aluminum...

Elliott's94Z

iTrader: (12)

Mine were still nice and shiny w/ 75k just that the front one had a chip out of it.

saylorZ28

iTrader: (6)

no these are copper bronz lookiin thats why i haen't put my nw motor in yet ... i am wondering if i can pull the crank and freshn up the botttom end and change the cam bearings without pullin the pistons

My95Z

iTrader: (8)

You should be able to, as long as you can drop the cam bearings in and hook them to the tool you should be ok.

ss.slp.ls1

iTrader: (36)

What exactly do you mean by freshen up the bottom end? If you are thinking about doing what I think you are, you might as well drop the motor and do a full rebuild...you can't simply pull the crank and install new main and rod bearings, you need to get the block machined.

moderate Z28

When I pulled my stock cam out, it was very bronze colored on all the lobes. It looked kinda burnt. Does that tell me anything?

ss.slp.ls1

iTrader: (36)

Pics? Some wear is normal.

moderate Z28

Its in the attic now I believe. I'll try to get some pics.