Author Topic: rusted cam lobe  (Read 679 times)

Offline 71chmark

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rusted cam lobe
« on: September 10, 2006 - 07:46:16 PM »
When I took my heads off my 440 to change the valve seals I noticed one of my cam lobes had the slightest bit of corrosion on it (motor has sat for years) :I cleaned it off as best I could but you can still feel it a little bit.  Do you think this could become an issue?  :clueless: 
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: rusted cam lobe
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2006 - 09:50:30 PM »
Hard to say it may be ok or it may fail depends how bad the rust is etc. . My crystal ball has dead batteries
what cam is it that is in there now ? Is it worth changing the cam anyway ?

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Offline Oldschool

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Re: rusted cam lobe
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2006 - 11:27:12 AM »
Like Chryco, I can't be certain which cam and how deep the rust is.  I do know that many cam manufacturers use a surface hardening process on the cam lobes.  This only hardens the wear surface of the lobe and has very little penetration. While I can't be sure the extent of rust on your cam, if it was mine, I would go ahead and swap out the cam and lifters.  It would be a pain to go ahead and use that cam only to find it worn out shortly after you get it running.  The failing lobe could generate small particles that would find their way throughout the engine causing greater damage.  Change it out to be on the safe side.  Just my humble 0.02......   :cooldancing: 
Ken  --  In Georgia

MOPAR-------"Built To Run------Here To Stay"