Thread: possible cam failure?

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what are the symptoms of a cam losing a lobe. i have a 454 with hydraulic cam and my motor has ran including breakin about 35 min. and i have developed a slight tick and im afraid my cam is going to lose a lobe or already has started to, my breakin period was sketchy because i had an initial timing problem, then a bad carb
what can i do to check besides taking out the cam

The dial indicator plunger usually won't work off the rocker, but sometimes you can find a flat place on the spring retainer to get a reading without tearing everything apart.

Are you using flat bottom lifters, what type oil are you using?
Are you using an oil additive?
Do you have heavy duty double springs on your valves? If you do, you should break in with the inner removed during break in.
Screw in or pressed in rocker studs.

Pat

Is this another case of breaking in the cam with the high pressure springs??? The new oil isn't up to the task. As for the ticking, could just be a valve out of adjustment and a bit loose.

alot of guys here have started usin castrol's 15-40 diesel oil, the tection plus or extra whatever it is. there is suppose to be more additaves in diesel oil that are solid cam friendly. such as lots more zinc and other minerals.

just look at the nuts they all should be all about turn down the same. if you have to crank one way down more then the rest to stop the ticking then you have a bad lifter or a very bad valve job and the ticking comes back bad cam

im using rotella 15 40 i just tightened them an eighth of a turn and and it seems it kinda went away but only for the first few seconds, could it just be cause of the cold oil it muffled it, also i have screw in studs with comp magnum roller tip rockers, the tick is a very steady tick that isnt random