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I'm rebuilding an LS1 from a 2000 Z28. I was replacing the cam with a Summit stage 2 car cam. But when I pulled the cam out I saw this.
What caused this?
2nd question. I was planning on keeping my stock LS1 heads. Now that I have to take them off I want to upgrade to 243/799 heads. Would I do better with a summit stage 3 cam at this point? I can ask them about exchanging (It has not been installed yet)
At this point I'm pulling the heads and examining/changing the lifters and going to see what else in I see.
Brinelling, spalling, unless this thing has broken springs or failed lifters I wouldn't be surprised to find that the lifter guides on the wiped out lobes weren't holding them square.
That cam gives us the feeling that this engine has lived a hard life and was put out to the pasture! Good call with diving deeper in now. You might spend more money upfront but could very well find other problems that you can fix before they cause an engine failure.
Dive in and see what all you'll have to replace. We'll have parts for you no matter how far you have to go with it. Regarding our stage 2 SUM-8707R1 cam. We would shelve thinking about a different cam until you get the engine apart and see what all else is needed. Then you could let the community know what the combo and goals are for this swap. It may end up the 8707R1 will be just right for you. If you needed to return it that isn't a problem as long as it's new and unused and within 90 days of the date of purchase.
We're always just a PM away if you wanted to contact us that way. We'll be happy to help!
I Dug into it... Some lifters show a little corrosion at 1 spot... Likely where it rested against the cam for a prolonged time. I need cam bearings. I'll replace the trays too, though they look fine. The knock sensors were a little rusty. There's definitely a little rust in the coolant.
What I think happened... The steam pipe leaked at some point (hard to diagnose since I've already replaced it). The corrosion areas are where water would have dripped down from atop the valley cover. There is minimal buildup on cylinder walls under the Pistons. Not too significant.
As a gm tech for 25yrs I notice in 2008 the camshafts and lifters started to fail. That's when our government set standards to remove the zinc in the oil. The zinc is required to keep the metal hard and prevent cam failure. I have replaced hundreds of camshaft and lifters since then. They are still failing in the newest of engines built today. The lobes start to pit and the rollers start to pit and the pieces will damage the lobes next to it as well. Need to break in the new cam with a zinc additive and add it to the engine once a year as a preventive maintenance.
Why one once a year for the zinc additive? And could you advise which additive to use, brand wise?
Thank you.
Was told the zinc in the oil would insure the zinc was impregnated in the metal and would prevent future failure.. Remember zinc used to be in the oil till the government stepped in. You could add it to every oil change and it would hurt anything.
Was told adding zinc to your oil on a regular basis would impregnate the metal with zinc and prevent cam failures. Now remember, zinc used to be a part of all of oils made until the government stepped in and removed it. It wouldn't hurt to add the additive on every oil change.
Why one once a year for the zinc additive? And could you advise which additive to use, brand wise?
Thank you.
Was told that adding zinc on a regular basis will impregnate the camshaft and rollers and prevent future camshaft failures. Now remember the oil companies had zinc in all the oil until the government stepped in and removed it. It wouldn't hurt to add it on every oil change.
Don't forget to clean the oil passages and pump. It will stick the pressure relief valve in the pump and starve the engine from oil pressure. Also the screen under the pressure sensor.
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What happened to this cam? 
