I've read so many posts here and on Camaros.com about people that have wiped out/flattened cams..... everyone has different opinions/theories about how and why it happened (bad break-in procedure, wrong springs, soft cam material etc..)... I figured if we compiled a "database" of people that have flattened cams, that maybe we could find a common issue.....

So if people are interested, please post the info on your set-up if you have had cam issues....

Engine size (chevy/Ford, SB vs BB, cu in.)
Cam specs (manufacturer, cam grind or part #)
Spring specs (double, double with only inner spring during break-in, single, pressure specs etc)
Brief description of break-in....
Oil info (wt, additives such as EOS etc)
When did it go bad?(engine miles etc...)
Confirmed cause (bad machine work, binding spring etc)
Anything else ???

If people can think of additional specifics that might help in the database, please add them.......Lets keep the posts relatively short, so we dont get huge accounts of every detail.....

Maybe this info might help some other people that are going to be firing up new motors........

I've posted this on Camaros.com too.....

I'd just rather forget I ever had it happen!!! graemlins/clonk.gif

In the dozens I had installed the ONE that went bad was:

Pontiac 400
Comp XS274S (solid) 274/282
Crower dual 98 lbs seat, 285 open
10W40 Valvoline, no additives
1.60 roller rockers
break-in procedure: (fill carb, static time, fire engine, run 2000-2500 rpm for 30 min, drain oil & change filter, readjust lash)
what went wrong: 10 min into break-in noticed increased valvetrain noise. Teardown revealed five wiped lobes (mix of int and exh).
Cause: Who knows? Comp replaced the cam and lifters. Next break-in went fine. I used 15W40 HD oil instead of the 10w40 Valvoline. Have 5000 miles on cam now and it's fine.

Valvoline just smells funny tongue.gif No flat cams here...yet graemlins/beers.gif

I think we've pretty much determined that it can be any of a number of factors.

My Crane 278H lost a lobe after several thousand miles. I heard the valve start knocking suddenly while sitting at a stop light near the end of a 115 mile trip. Couldn't have been a break-in error, could it? I may even have driven beyond the realistic life expectancy of such a cam (though I don't think so).

I'd say that the bottom line is that if you're running a performance cam, you'd better follow all the instructions carefully, run quality oil, and don't cheap out on parts. Even following all recommended procedures, it can still happen.

I also think that when you have thousands of members posting on a board, you're gonna get quite a few wiped cam posts, even though the percentage of failures is really low.

There's just no way to quantify it statistically without knowing all of the variables. And I'll bet that 95 out of 100 who've had cam failures don't even know all the variables themselves. I certainly don't in my one case.

Sometimes I think that camshaft/lifter failier is nothing more than DEMONIC POSSESSION !! The Demons are Possessed and they wreak havoc on us hot rodders...and have been doing so for decades !! graemlins/clonk.gif Hheheee

Honestly you can do EVERYTHING perfectly and it can still happen.....In my reprint books of old magazine articles it was happening back in the 50's and it's still happening....in fact it probably happened more then than now... from what I read.

Even with tiny cams the point of contact of the lifter/lobe and the forces exerted even with stock springs.... well it only takes just a micro second of too much heat in one area and the metal tears / spalls / galls or just grinds itself into powder..

I wish I had the answer but I dont.I wish I had the sure fire CURE to prevent this !

Originally posted by 69LS1:
Sometimes I think that camshaft/lifter failier is nothing more than DEMONIC POSSESSION !! The Demons are Possessed and they wreak havoc on us hot rodders...and have been doing so for decades !! graemlins/clonk.gif Hheheee

You might be on to something there! And it doesn't apply just to cams!!!

I've decided that my elky has it's own personallity and demands I give it what it wants or suffer it's wrath.

From the beginning of my 454 build and install Ol Paint went through about 4 starters before I got one it liked. Then it was a cooling/radiator issue, and now the cam fiasco! But by the same token, when I do give it what it wants, I'm rewarded accordingly!!!
:cool:

Big James..

You too.... Gee yours goes through starters and mine goes through gas.... it never had a gas tank full of fuel it didnt like...drinks the stuff like it's going out of style !! hehehhehe

Honestly I cant seems to keep gear lube in my M21...I dont know where it goes but it dont stay in the box...after a few months it goes from shifting like a hot knife through melted butter to something less than that....sure enough its low on fluid....I drain and refill ( 1971 M21 with a fill and drain plug ).... It doesnt appear to be leaking much...it's not going out the front into the bellhousing or out the rear yoke....just seems to disappear... graemlins/clonk.gif

Yup must be possessed ;)

Not real positive on this so don't take it as gospel but,,,,,,
I believe if you sacrifice one Ford to the Car Gods at least once a month by setting fire to it,,,, it will appease the Gods for a short length of time,,,,,, I believe their is some chanting & other cult type activities involved but haven't nailed all the specifics down yet :D

Hmmmm so how do you convince the ford owners to let us incenerate their beloved Fords ?? Even if it would be doing them a favor also ? Hhehehhe

Originally posted by 69LS1:
Hmmmm so how do you convince the ford owners to let us incenerate their beloved Fords ?? Even if it would be doing them a favor also ? Hhehehhe =
Damn Al,,,,you mean you are supposed to ask first?? graemlins/clonk.gif
No wonder it was so easy :D

Hhahhhhehehehhee tongue.gif