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Questionable cam bearing, opinions needed

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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 05:58 PM
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Default Questionable cam bearing, opinions needed

Took the stock cam out of my 160k lq4 and they all look pretty rocked. Doing some research kind of leaves me even more confused as to what to do.

Heres number 1. Its the worst. The copper showing on the bottom doesnt bother me as much as the roughness on the top half of the shell.

Seems like the engine sat for a while and maybe corroded the cam to the bearing? Its weird looking

bottom half
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top half
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 06:47 PM
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Default Questionable cam bearing, opinions needed

What are you confused about? The bearing look like crap, replace them.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 06:55 PM
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I just see alot of threads with cam bearings in similar condition, and it seems like a 50/50 run it or replace it.

but none of them mentioned anything about the having a rough bearing shell like mine.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 06:59 PM
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They need to be replaced.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:17 PM
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Default Questionable cam bearing, opinions needed

Originally Posted by dburt86
I just see alot of threads with cam bearings in similar condition, and it seems like a 50/50 run it or replace it.

but none of them mentioned anything about the having a rough bearing shell like mine.


Never listen to anyone who is stupid enough to run bearings that look any thing like that. Especially when you have the cam out and easy access to the bearings. I've seen threads where people are like yeah no big deal.. There is just a "scratch" or "just a little wear" these people obviously don't know that the cam was/is not designed to touch the actual bearings. It is suppose to be riding on a cushion of oil. If you see wear on any bearings inside of an engine there is something wrong.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:28 PM
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The ruffness on the top is bearing material from the bottom where the copper is showing just replace the bearings
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:31 PM
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GM line hones after the bearings are installed and can cause the copper color to show. I might have thrown myself in front of the firing squad in this one, but I'm just saying. As far as the rough spots, I got nothing for ya on that one. Can you scratch off the rough spots with your fingernail? Maybe it's just from sitting. Still not saying use them or don't. Just a little food for thought.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:32 PM
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Big ? Is do u wanna screw a $400 cam up and possibl take out the bottom end cause of it ? I put a $400 cam in one that the stock cam and bearings looked good and still had bearings weld themselves to cam and took out crank and rod bearings. It's not worth the risk in my opinion.
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:36 PM
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yea my initial thought was obvisouly to replace them, but who knows. I see alot of guys say that they have gotten crate engines with cam bearings showing copper.

Its probably easiest to take the rotating assembly out to replace them, so now im getting into a whole different set of questions.

Assuming the rod and crank bearings look good, ill re use those.

But should i run a quick ball hone down the bores and re-ring it, or just inspect, clean and reinstall the old stuff?
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Old Jul 5, 2015 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by gsxrred1000
Big ? Is do u wanna screw a $400 cam up and possibl take out the bottom end cause of it ? I put a $400 cam in one that the stock cam and bearings looked good and still had bearings weld themselves to cam and took out crank and rod bearings. It's not worth the risk in my opinion.
That about sums it up. I just put a 97k mile lq4 block in the machine shop for less copper showing on only #1. I am not risking a good cam or the short block or my time over cam bearings.
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Old Jul 6, 2015 | 06:27 AM
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Bearings are so cheap, I replace them-those no question, they get replaced
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Old Jul 6, 2015 | 10:03 AM
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the bottom half looks fine, if top and bottom looked like that its fine, but the tops are shot, replace.
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Old Jul 7, 2015 | 04:21 PM
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Ive got some dura bonds on the way. Still not sure if i want to take the rotating assembly out to inspect and possibly re-ring and re-bearing or just leave it alone and run it.
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