Thread: What's happened to camshafts?

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I totaly agree with Jerry here.
I will say this though, back in the late 70's I seen guys that had flat tapped cam failers all the time. These guys could not follow simple directions or would just get in a big hurry and try to rush things by not doing a proper break - in. I have never { KNOCK ON WOOD} had a flat tapped cam go flat on me. And I have installed them in plenty of big blocks and small blocks though not in the last 10 years. I always pre lubed the lifters by letting them soak over night. Then I always used a good cam lube on everything, and I lube the S__t out of the cam. Then I would put Vasoline in the oil pump to to help get everything pumped up nice. Then I would adjust the rockers just a tad loose.
Then start it up for about 30 minutes at about 2,000 to 2,500 just like Jerry said.
I have seen guys put in a cam then start it, rev it up to about 6 grand then drive off down the street with out any break - in time. A hour later they are tearing them down wondering why the cam failed on them. Now I ain't very good, but I bet I can guess this one!!!! You guys know what I mean. I seen a guy that didn't put any water in the motor and ran it up to about 300 degrees before he shut it down. Then he want to call the cam manufacter and yell at them, when in fact he is lucky he did not blow the whole motor. Just stupid stuff. Kurt

ive always slathered the cam in molly grease, the lifters in a mix of moly grease and white lithium greases, added some lucas or now the comp break in lube. primed the oiling system fired it off held it at 2500 for 15-20 minutes. shut it down check valve train and then fired it back up went another 10 minutes at 2k rpm. just for good measure. have never had a failure yet! and i run nothing but solid flat tappet cams. have done 7 in the last 5 years. just got done breaking in a schneider a month ago no problems. it even came with some zddp paste i used that plus my aformentioned routine. i also use the right oils. valvoline vr1 and schaffers 20-50 good sticky oil with moly