Thread: Cam break in gone bad

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Well Pat you told me and I didn't listen. I freshened up that 454, new bearing, rings etc and new flat tappet, near stock cam. I went with a Lunati because they had a nice TBI capable cam. It didn't go well. It ground 3 lobes and lifters down like butter. I heard it start rattling and dismissed it for about 5 minutes just because I never really thought it would be the cam..... oh well. After doing some reading I've found that Lunati has a problem with that. I don't know maybe everyone does now but none the less I will go with a roller next time.
Anyway, I'll tear it all down again clean out the crud and replace the bearings. I'm gonna use the Comp Cams CL-11-412-8 lifter and cam kit and 7815-16 push rods. As far as I know the only other thing I need is the button right? How do I go about determining the right length cam button? When I look them up, there are different lengths and shims. This roller cam stuff is all new to me so I'd appreciate the help.
Thanks

i pm you I CAN NOT POST SOME THING GOING ON with MY KEY BOAD i have done many bbc rollers if you call me i will help you out .getting to post is like pulling teeth

Sorry to hear this!

don't you need special oil or additive with increase zinc. like Rottella diesel oil for the break in or a zinc additive for break inns. the new oils have reduced the zinc and I am careful what I use for my dodge diesel for oil type, I use walmart oil with a Cl 4 rating. ED

That's too bad. Sorry for your headache.

Originally Posted by Ed Rodder

don't you need special oil or additive with increase zinc. like Rottella diesel oil for the break in or a zinc additive for break inns. the new oils have reduced the zinc and I am careful what I use for my dodge diesel for oil type, I use walmart oil with a Cl 4 rating. ED

I agree, it's not the cam, it's the oil you used to break in a flat lifter cam. They have taken all the good stuff out of most dino oil.
Use a roller when ever you can.

Pat

no its more then oil with the bbc but a oil with zddp helps. i will not put a flat lifter cam in a bbc i seen way to many fail over the 28 years

Thanks for all your replies and condolences...
Every manufacturer has there own break in procedure and for warranty purposes I follow it to the letter. I used a zinc additive and moly on the tappets. Lunati recommends a straight w30 non-detergent oil as well. Ive broken in other cams the same way and never had a problem.
I never thought I would be going with a roller but I guess it only takes once. All the time, work and money that goes into a build just to lose it in 20 minutes made me think I would have been even just to go with the roller to begin with. I have to agree with Pat. It has to be more than just the oils. Every cam manufacturer is saying this problem is going through the roof. With the increase in cheap imported metals, companies trying to save money and environmentalist wanting more efficient engines who really knows. I mean would it really kill a company like Lunati/Holley to cut out flat tappets completely and sell only rollers and roller retros. They would save money on shelf space, maching labor, re-tooling time, blank billet cost's and a host of other things simply by cutting out their out dated and by comparison, least profitable cam, the flat tappet. Maybe I'm still a little PO'ed but I think there are more things at work here other then the oil.
30-A-Rider pm'ed me and told me about a bunch of different oils and their zinc and phosphorous ratings before I even did my start up. It made a lot of sense and maybe it would have saved my cam but I never knew I had the message until last night.... BTW, thanks for that article.
Pat, I'll give you a call in a bit. I appreciate the extra help and effort.

How would it work if the cam companies took responsiblity for the product they are selling. They don't have to sell crap.

alot of the smaller cams are not ground by the name on the box so your buying a name in hope it is better then the no name cam in the plane box with no stickers and could be the same cam. lifters are the same way .some guy reface old lifters and re grind the old cams the cores are better then some of the new cores i did a nail head i had a new pro file reground on the old cam i was worried about a poor core from god knows were it came from and did make sure the new lifters were not cheap ones well so far so good

Pat, just a side note on the keyboard/no post bit.

Most any website has their word processing program slow down, sometimes very slow and you have to type very slow and deliberate.

The sites slow down at times of high traffic.
On the HAMB, no probs at 0400-0500 or so, but 0800-0900 on the west coast, everyone's on and things get slow.
The same holds true for other sites, hot rod or not, that I visit.

What helps is to type your post in your computers word processing program then copy and paste it to the post form.

Seems to work better as well if you select "Post Reply" instead of Post Quick Reply.

Originally Posted by C9x

Pat, just a side note on the keyboard/no post bit.

Most any website has their word processing program slow down, sometimes very slow and you have to type very slow and deliberate.

The sites slow down at times of high traffic.
On the HAMB, no probs at 0400-0500 or so, but 0800-0900 on the west coast, everyone's on and things get slow.
The same holds true for other sites, hot rod or not, that I visit.

What helps is to type your post in your computers word processing program then copy and paste it to the post form.

Seems to work better as well if you select "Post Reply" instead of Post Quick Reply.

Thanks i went in and re justed the fire wall and tooks my some cookies out. things work some what better still can not log in to my e bay. guy is going to look at it .thank you for the tip

I never seen a cam do this before!

i have seen that sorry you did