I’m running the Crane 10308-1 valve spring kit and putting in a new cam into my 1997 trans am. It says to remove the inner spring during break in. Is something that needs to be done. I read someplace that no because it’s a roller set up. Plz advise

 

Are you sure the cam you bought is a roller cam? I’m pretty sure those instructions are for a non-roller lifter cam. The break in period the instruction mentions is to seat the lifters onto the lobes, which as stated, isn’t necessary with roller lifters.

 

Yes it’s a comp 306 cam

 

This was 6 or 7 years ago so I maybe remembering wrong when I bought my cc502 it came with a card and just said to keep the rpms high for the first 30 minutes to keep good oil flow on it.

 

^^^
Pretty sure that too is for non-roller lifters. No break in necessary for roller lifters.

Just install it and be on your way, OP. Whenever I do a cam install I change the oil after ensuring it was running right.

 

So since this is a roller set going in a motor with 40k miles then I can just put it in. Install the springs and not worry about breaking it in?

 

I'm sure the spring kit tells you to remove the inner spring for break in of a flat tappet Cam. I've seen this before. You're good to go on a roller, no need to remove the inner spring. So to answer your question in one word, yes.

 

I though it was to make sure any assembly lube and contaminants were flushed out of the bearings during initial start up to be honest.

I read online once that there should be no hard bedding process but some bedding may occur do to the nature of the process but it should be very little if at all and the idea behind the high revs was to flush any contaminants out if this was to occur. Again this is something I read on the net. I know when I get bearings that I install in truck engines they have a weird coating on them that wears off very very fast maybe the first 1000 miles. But they dont recomend any special treatment for those.

 

Are you still talking about a roller motor or a flat tappet? Honestly there's probably several reasons behind the break in process but basically I've always found that it's to seat new rings and cams to lifters (flat tappet). I'm sure the RPM's do help flush but I think it's more about the initial heat cycle. I know that some builders use break in specific oils for the first run and then get that **** right out.

 

IMHO when installing a new roller cam with or without new liters I run the motor on first start u for 20 min at 2k rpm. Not to bed the lobes and lifter but to keep oil pressure up until the motor is at full operating temp. Also to constantly look everywhere for leaks and use a IR temp gun on header/exhaust ports to confirm all cyl are running about the same temp. Then I drain oil and put fresh in and just drive the car

Setting the rings, if a rebuild, is a separate process (driving) after the initial 20 min start-up

 

I'm talking strictly about cam bearings. But like I said I read it on the net it doesn't make it true it was just something a guy that builds engines stated. Lots of bad information on the net. The way I look at it is like this if it doesn't help no harm no foul what did I do burn a little extra gas?

 

Exactly. No break in needed for roller valvetrain. However, it’s always a good idea to inspect the rollers to ensure there are no grooves you can feel and no pitting.

Which is why I change the oil after ensuring the engine is running right after install.

 

Thank you guys very much! Lots of good info here. Be glad to get my trans am back on the road.

 

Also, don't use assembly lube. Get yourself a quart of 30w oil and don't be shy with it!