Guys, I've been considering trying to find a good "used" cam to use in a motor I'm building to replace the original LS5 in my '70 SS454.
Let me explain my thinking...
First, I've read so many tales of motors with new hydraulic cams wiping lobes on here that it really does worry me. So, I started thinking. Why not try to find a good clean, used cam to go into this motor? It would already be broken in and if I used the correct springs called for by the cam manufacturer, it would theoretically provide plenty of good service.
Now, this car only gets driven to local car shows and cruise-in's with the longest drive being probably 2 and 1/2 hours one way. But, I also don't want to hurt my original numbers matching motor. So, I'll just need a cam in the .500 lift area without anything too radical in the duration.
Whats your opinions on this idea?
Anybody have a good broken in cam they want to part with?

I am just speaking from my .02 here-- I am not a pro voice to listen to. But with a normal hydraulic cam and lifter package, you don't run into an astronomical (or even near that IMHO) cost. I would personally be hesitant to use a used cam.
The problem seems to be with either blocks that aren't letting the lifters spin or with cams that aren't manufactured correctly, from what I've been reading on the board.
I would shop the lunati/UD, cammotion, crower, crane line of mild hydraulics that use a dual spring, break in with just outer spring, and use a can of GM EOS, break in, change the oil & filter, put the inner spring in, do another break in, and another oil & filter change.
Used cams flat tappet cams I would think could be subject to very minute wear characteristics that you may not even be able to notice, and the same goes for used lifters. I think someone back here recommended using stock GM replacement hydraulic lifters because of the lope wiping problem going on.
there seems to be alot of questions about the red stuff that ships with comp cams, so I'd steer clear of that.
This is probably why you always see used cams at swap meets for such silly prices- 10, 15, 25 bucks..
This is one of those places where I think it would be important not to skimp.
I don't know what hydraulic flat tappet lifters are running now, but aren't most hydraulic flat tappet cams going for around 125, off the top of my head?
I'd just be careful what you buy and who you buy it from, and take it easy on the thing for a bit. I ate through the heat treat on a hydraulic roller from a very large prominent cam company using their roller lifters in about 700 miles of driving.
Like I said though-- this is a hobby for me, and I'm not even very good at it.. so.. take what I said for what its worth.
But used and flat tappet just don't work for me. Used cams really don't work for me. I have re-used roller lifters before but they are a different type of animal.
I wouldn't hesitate to hear from Harold @ lunati (formerly of UD) for what he would recommend on a stock LS5 rebuild. My motor was originally an LS5 as well, and I am probably going to put everything back to stock in 5-7 years and buy a car I can put a cage (and fuel injection!!) in.

hth

Matt

well for me i have had good luck so to speak with running used cams and new lifters or used cams with matching lifters and of course new for both...........i dont think twice about any of the combos i have used.........yesterday i installed a used edelbrock rpm cam in a 350 small block with new lifters and all is well so far..........may last cam was new with new lifters but after some drive times about 2000 miles i changed the hyd. lifters to new rhoads lifters and so far with about 1200 miles on the engine it is working great.......other cams i have bought from other engines that i new was in good working order and installed into my race car...........i mean..not to be a retard or anything i just dont see the big deal......as long as all the small details are paid attention to there should be any problems.......i have not had a cam go flat on me in well over 13 years i have been building motors and i would say that i use new and use cams equally .....its just what i find when it comes time to build .....if i can find a used cam in the profile im looking for i use it.........if i dont i buy new........and i have sold and traded all the cams i have cam across to others for them to use.......

i do at the moment have a 214/224 @ .050 cam with .501/.527 lift on the shelf......that i would be willing to sell....no lifters thou since they was used on another cam.......last year...and of course there was no failure.....i sold that cam and lifters to another guy.......i do have two other cams on the shelf but they are way to big for what your looking for and i will most likely use them on another project or friends car........

that 214/224 cam that i ran for awhile ran hard to 5000 rpms but kinda fell off after that in my bbc 396 it wasnt what i was looking for.....

even in my "race car" i installed a use solid roller cam with lifters and push rods that i got for 275 bucks......but then again it is a roller

Read UDHarold's (http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=021264) response for some thought on why cams are dying.