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cam bearings copper in color????

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Old Nov 12, 2002 | 11:29 PM
  #1  
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Default cam bearings copper in color????

I am doing an engine rebuild , and noticed all the cam bearings are copper in color. What color are new ones.
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 11:28 AM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

you have worn through the lead(silver color) first layer of the bearing and are down to the copper and they need to be replaced the next layer is the steel(babbit) bottom line is your bearings are worn out and need to be changed
ps check the rest of your brgs too you miht need more than just cam brgs

Jay
www.jayfisherpontiac.com
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 03:20 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

I just did a cam swap and noticed the front one was copper in color. How can they be worn with 40K miles? Just curious.
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 04:10 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

they are line bored from the factory
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 04:34 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jkane33:
<strong>they are line bored from the factory</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">so does this mean they're ok?
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 04:38 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

I have heard that some of the factory bearing`s are this color? I know several people who did h/c swaps with low miles ( less than 5000) who noticed the bearings were like this is this correct?
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 05:20 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

my engine has 24k on it so i sure do hope there fine.
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 08:43 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

I am still a little confused still as well. My engine has less than 500 miles and they are completely copper in color. I am having them replaced as part of my engine rebuild. All the bearing are being replaced. I was wondering if I could leave the cam bearings alone .I took the block to a speed shop earlier tonight to have it cleaned and new cam bearings installed ( I don't have the driver ). Just out of curiosity how could the cam bearings be so worn when I can still see the cross hatch honing on the cylinder walls.
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 08:45 PM
  #9  
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

BTW does anyone know the part numbers for these???
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 09:04 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

This is what my cam bearings looked like when we swapped to the TR230 cam. Approx: 45kmiles on the motor.
http://www.fryrice.com/images/TR230swap/DCP_0793.JPG

Justin
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 09:15 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

That is exactly what mine looked like. not just the first one either. They all looked like that.
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Old Nov 13, 2002 | 11:16 PM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

While I have not had an LS1 apart yet, let me explain about bearing. Most bearing are a tri-metal construction. A steel back with a copper coating. On top of that coating is a "soft" layer of metal called babbit. This material is a usually composed of lead, indium and a few other assorted metals.

If you find a bearing down to the copper that means you have worn away all the bearing material and you are down to the "cladding". However the pic of the bearing posted looks too even to be wear. Normally you see more wear at the bottom than you see on the sides, or you see it in one spot if there is a high spot in the journal.

I will have to talk to a friend of mine to see if the bearing in the LS1 are unique and havea copper color, or if there is something wrong.
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Old Nov 15, 2002 | 10:10 AM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

When I had my cam install done at 10k miles, the front 2 bearings were already showing copper at the bottom, and were replaced. It seems like these LS1 cam bearings are wearing awfully fast. is it due to poor oiling?
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Old Nov 15, 2002 | 10:19 AM
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Default Re: cam bearings copper in color????

they are steel backed copper/lead. They look like that brand new.
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Old Jan 2, 2011 | 04:59 PM
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The last 3 ls1 that I pulled apart looked like the cam bearings were bad they were worn on the opposite of the lifter on the lifter angle the 1st engine was a 2000 the second was a 99 and the third was a 2000 I dont get it either the mains were looking like new and the cam bearings looked like junk.. now I know that the pre mid year 99 had a oil galley that was only in the rear cover and 7/99 on have a oil galley linking both lifter gallies in the back of the block and not just in the rear cover but I have seen both types apart and they seem to eat the cam bearing the same
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Old Jan 2, 2011 | 05:05 PM
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that is why you should check your oil and change it before it looks like coffee.when breaking in a new motor use break in oil or additives.
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Old Jan 2, 2011 | 05:21 PM
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i've never seen a thread revived that was almost 9 years old!
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Old Jan 2, 2011 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by '91firebirdformula
i've never seen a thread revived that was almost 9 years old!
Zombie thread.
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