Camshaft install tips and tricks

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(Pre-lube engine oil system)
(Pre-lube engine oil system)
 
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Used lifters and a used solid lifter camshaft can be used, it is unfortunate that the cam grinders themselves have published this false wives tale for a very long time. In the order of preference, new camshaft/new lifters, used camshaft/new lifters and then used camshaft/used lifters. It is also preferable that the lifters stay matched to the lobe but if you have mixed them up or sourced them from a different, all is not lost.
 
Used lifters and a used solid lifter camshaft can be used, it is unfortunate that the cam grinders themselves have published this false wives tale for a very long time. In the order of preference, new camshaft/new lifters, used camshaft/new lifters and then used camshaft/used lifters. It is also preferable that the lifters stay matched to the lobe but if you have mixed them up or sourced them from a different, all is not lost.
  
Several things must be accomplished to make a used camshaft/used lifter deal work. Each of the lifters will require that you properly polish the bottom of the lifter using a piece of window glass and a new sheet of 600 wet/dry sandpaper. The sandpaper will need to stay lubricated with a light solvent, WD-40 or similar is a good choice. Keep the lifters flat as you polish them in a figure 8 pattern. Coloring the bottom of the lifter with a dark color magic marker will help you to see you progress. After polishing, clean all of the lifters thoroughly, several times is best. For the used camshaft, you want to make sure that there are no nicks or injuries to the lobe surfaces. You must also change out your valve springs to the lightest tension possible, not checking springs but something with minimal pressure. Apply Cam lube (Moly) to all surfaces of the lobes and bottoms of lifters - make sure to spend time rubbing the moly into the metal. A motor oil with a high level of ZDP should be used for the initial break-in period, removed after 30-40 minutes of run time and a second dose of the same oil along with a new filter should be used until the first oil change. Also during the initial break-in period, the oil level should be raised one to two quarts to encourage splash lubrication. In some instances a slightly hotter spark plug might be required due to oil fouling.  
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Several things must be accomplished to make a used camshaft/used lifter deal work. Each of the lifters will require that you properly polish the bottom of the lifter using a piece of window glass and a new sheet of 600 wet/dry sandpaper. The sandpaper will need to stay lubricated with a light solvent, WD-40 or similar is a good choice. Keep the lifters flat but understand that lifters have a slight convex to them. As you polish them in a figure 8 pattern you should see the center polishing first, if not and the polishing reveals the entire bottom, the lifter is beyond saving. Coloring the bottom of the lifter with a dark color magic marker will help you to see you progress. After polishing, clean all of the lifters thoroughly, several times is best. For the used camshaft, you want to make sure that there are no nicks or injuries to the lobe surfaces. You must also change out your valve springs to the lightest tension possible, not checking springs but something with minimal pressure. Apply Cam lube (Moly) to all surfaces of the lobes and bottoms of lifters - make sure to spend time rubbing the moly into the metal. A motor oil with a high level of ZDP should be used for the initial break-in period, removed after 30-40 minutes of run time and a second dose of the same oil along with a new filter should be used until the first oil change. Also during the initial break-in period, the oil level should be raised one to two quarts to encourage splash lubrication. In some instances a slightly hotter spark plug might be required due to oil fouling.  
  
 
'''19. Failure to observe the lifters and pushrods turning with the motor running.'''
 
'''19. Failure to observe the lifters and pushrods turning with the motor running.'''

Latest revision as of 10:49, 28 April 2020

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