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I recently picked up a "lightly" used MS3 cam for a price I couldn't pass up. This weekend I took it out of the box and took a better look at the cam. On the lobes and journal of the cam there are these dark spots. They don't look like rust and you can't feel them when you run you finger nail across the lobe. I took a soft Scotchbrite pad and some WD-40 to it to see if the spots would come off, but they won't. Should I be concerned about this, or am I good? Thanks in advance.
If it was me, I would not risk using that cam. It is possible it is just surface discoloration and won't cause any problem. But knowing how some LS cams and lifters become pitted over time, I could see this cam going bad later down the line.
If you are intent on using this cam, I would recommend inspecting the cam and the lifters after a few thousand miles.
Thank you for the input. In the next week or two I am going to take the block to get it hot tanked, and I was going to have the shop take a look at the cam to see what they think as well. It is almost like the spots are stains, and not rust.
Looks like oxidation. Try hitting it with some wd-40 and and plastic brillo pad
Thanks for the advice. I tried it with some WD and a light Brillo/Scotchbrite pad and it took a little of it off. I think I will be fine since there is no noticeable surface change due to the spots.
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Cam Condition Question 
