Reuse cam bearings?
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Teching In
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Reuse cam bearings? Is it possible to reuse the cam bearings? I bought this lt1 and its already been gone through completely from the previous owner. I want to put a different cam in it. Ik the best way to go is replace them but ive been told by several people that they kept the bearings and just installed a new cam with no issues. Is this common? Is there any break in procedure with just the cam swap? And yes i will be going with new springs and 1.6 roller rockers
TECH Veteran
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on lower mileage motors just putting in a new cam is generally OK. Cam bearing failure on higher mileage motors with cam swap increases. This doesn't mean it will always happen but unfortunately there are several posts of cam bearing failure a few thousand miles, if not sooner, with cam swaps. I suspect cleanliness, lack of it, is a prime component in a failed cam swap in many cases
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Teching In
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Well the motor has 187k but it has definitely be redone because even the oil pan has barely any seepage. Idk if a new cam has been put in or not but it does not sound stock at all. I guess i should be safe and keeo the cam or put new bearings in?
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if the cam bearings have 187k mi on them I would not put in a new cam. Without knowing the history of the motor its a crap shoot.
Motor has to be out of the car to replace cam bearings and at that point not knowing what has, if anything, been replaced a rebuild minimally of a hone, new rings and bearings would be the way to go. Adding power mods that result in higher RPM use like a cam stress old worn parts
Motor has to be out of the car to replace cam bearings and at that point not knowing what has, if anything, been replaced a rebuild minimally of a hone, new rings and bearings would be the way to go. Adding power mods that result in higher RPM use like a cam stress old worn parts
Thread Starter
Teching In
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Yes the motor is out and on a stand. The only reason why i bought the cam kit is because the guy i bought it from went a different direction and wanted the parts out of his way...he sold me the kit for 150 which is a steal. Ill try to do more research on whats been done to it. But if it has been completely rebuilt before instead of just seals ill just drop it in and enjoy it
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Veteran
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since the motor is on a stand look carefully at the old can surface and the bearings in the motor as best you can. Those USB snorkel cams that plug into your cell phone come in handy
If bearings don't have ang wear groves or fadeing on some spots you should be good. Use cam lube on install
You don't really need the rev kit but it won't hurt. IDK if your valve covers will clear the rev kit
I would go with the LT1 Lunati spring kit for the new cam vs Comp 918's
If bearings don't have ang wear groves or fadeing on some spots you should be good. Use cam lube on install
You don't really need the rev kit but it won't hurt. IDK if your valve covers will clear the rev kit
I would go with the LT1 Lunati spring kit for the new cam vs Comp 918's
since the motor is on a stand look carefully at the old can surface and the bearings in the motor as best you can. Those USB snorkel cams that plug into your cell phone come in handy
If bearings don't have ang wear groves or fadeing on some spots you should be good. Use cam lube on install
You don't really need the rev kit but it won't hurt. IDK if your valve covers will clear the rev kit
I would go with the LT1 Lunati spring kit for the new cam vs Comp 918's
If bearings don't have ang wear groves or fadeing on some spots you should be good. Use cam lube on install
You don't really need the rev kit but it won't hurt. IDK if your valve covers will clear the rev kit
I would go with the LT1 Lunati spring kit for the new cam vs Comp 918's
Pull the cam and look at the cam journals. Then take a close look at the bearings themselves.
