Cam Question
Cam Question OK I would like to know what would cause the lobes on a cam to be ruined... The cam has less than 12,000 miles on it. And would also like to know should i replace the lifters and not re use them on the new cam....
Your answers would be great
Your answers would be great
Valve springs where too weak for the cam and rpm you where running. It works kind of backwards from what you think. Heavy springs are easier on a cam than weak ones. Heavy springs FORCE the lifter to stay in touch with the cam and to ROLL over the lobes. Weak springs allow the lifter to separate from the cam, the spring then catches up and HAMMERS the hardened roller lifter wheel into the cam lobe..... hardened steel pounding into hardened steel one of the two gives eventually. I would throw the lifters in the trash.
If you liked your old cam but are just not happy it died One of the things you may want to do with your new cam is lower the lift. An example would be if you had a .600" lift 228/228 then going to a .570" lift 228/228 would act basically identical (iF the LSA and ICL where kept the same) you would give up a few top end ponies but not much. Lower lift on the same duration has more of a roll open / close effect where the higher lift on the same duration has more of a pop open / close effect. The pop open / close effect will cause the lifter to RAMP off the lobe at a lower rpm.
If you look at comp cams master lobe catalog you will see that the extreme rpm series lobes for the LS motors actually have less lift. This ties into what I typed above. I dont want to turn this into a big tech thread but this all has alot to do with good breathing / winding LS motors pushing the limits of hydraulic roller cam valve springs.
HTH: Jason
If you liked your old cam but are just not happy it died One of the things you may want to do with your new cam is lower the lift. An example would be if you had a .600" lift 228/228 then going to a .570" lift 228/228 would act basically identical (iF the LSA and ICL where kept the same) you would give up a few top end ponies but not much. Lower lift on the same duration has more of a roll open / close effect where the higher lift on the same duration has more of a pop open / close effect. The pop open / close effect will cause the lifter to RAMP off the lobe at a lower rpm.
If you look at comp cams master lobe catalog you will see that the extreme rpm series lobes for the LS motors actually have less lift. This ties into what I typed above. I dont want to turn this into a big tech thread but this all has alot to do with good breathing / winding LS motors pushing the limits of hydraulic roller cam valve springs.
HTH: Jason
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Could also be oiling issue, lifters rotating in lifter cups. What you described above is valve float. Mind you too much spring pressure is not OK. Ask a professional (not just a clerk at a performance shop) about the "right" springs for the cam required pressures. (IE: not too soft nor too stiff)
Well the shop doing all the work or fixing there screw up told me last thursday that my cam was ruined. I don't know much more than that. I told them to tell the owner to call me on monday when he gets back because they had never called to tell me it was bad or that they were replacing it so i can find out what all happened and why this happened.
The cam is a Comp cams here are the specs... and this was bought as a whole cam kit
Intake Exhaust
.598 .610
Duration @
.006 Tappet Lift 283 291
Lobe Lift
Intake Exhaust
Duration 234 242
.3520 .3590
LSA is 114
Idk if this helps any but i will have more answers tomorrow
The cam is a Comp cams here are the specs... and this was bought as a whole cam kit
Intake Exhaust
.598 .610
Duration @
.006 Tappet Lift 283 291
Lobe Lift
Intake Exhaust
Duration 234 242
.3520 .3590
LSA is 114
Idk if this helps any but i will have more answers tomorrow
I don't remember what springs were used, the shop bought it as a whole kit. I wanna say they are a dual behives but not 100% sure on that. I will find out more details when I talk to the shop today
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