new record for destroying a cam?

[D366Y]

So! After several months in the garage the Laser comes home today. Engine largely rebuilt, head converted to unleaded, loads of oil seals replaced etc. and included in that list is a new cam... I had a 2.0 cam put in my 1.6 engine along with a 32/36 carb about 2-3years ago, and when stripping the engine and rebuilding it they said that it is "fucked beyond repair or use" which apparently may have contributed to the many problems it has thrown up over the years

They have put a 1.6 cam back in it so time will tell if my (apparently very) heavy right foot can beat this one too

[stevemarl]

Did you have new followers with the first / this cam, as putting a new cam in with worn followers will shorten its life, they need to `bed-in` together?

[D366Y]

I did - when the cam went in it had fresh followers at the same time, and has had new followers since as well!

[Mc Tool]

Fitting a 2l cam shouldnt pose any problems . Depending on how long it lasted Id be checking the lubrication . Were all the lobes shot or just a few ?, new/clean spray bar ? Were the bearing journals ok . Cam bearings can wear quite quickly , specially the middle one . I always go for oil with zinc additive ( some penrite oils already have about double the amount of zinc other additives add ) . Flat tappet cams/followers need a bit of zinc.

[Jasonmarie]

Glad the laser is back

[Mr B]

Fitting a 2l cam shouldnt pose any problems . Depending on how long it lasted Id be checking the lubrication . Were all the lobes shot or just a few ?, new/clean spray bar ? Were the bearing journals ok . Cam bearings can wear quite quickly , specially the middle one . I always go for oil with zinc additive ( some penrite oils already have about double the amount of zinc other additives add ) . Flat tappet cams/followers need a bit of zinc.

Penrite 20/50 - HDR30 as it used to be known is seriously good oil, Essex V6 engines love the stuff, currently running it in a 3.4 Essex with some nice go faster goodies on it and no issue's at all, saying that 20/50 Valvoline VR1 is top notch as well, just not sure that it has as much zinc as the Penrite oil.

Wayne

[Mc Tool]

I read on the net ,someone did a big test on oils and amsoil synth is "the best "oil,and castrol titanium edge synth is 2nd best . A lot of penrite is synthetic in that its molecular structure is altered from normal base oil by hydrocracking ,which technically is synthic , but not as synthetic as amsoil or castrol titanium edge . The castrol is ½ as much again as the penrite hpr 30 ( 5/40 for the Blade and 10 /40 for the caldina ) so I tend to walk right past that

[D366Y]

Fitting a 2l cam shouldnt pose any problems . Depending on how long it lasted Id be checking the lubrication . Were all the lobes shot or just a few ?, new/clean spray bar ? Were the bearing journals ok . Cam bearings can wear quite quickly , specially the middle one . I always go for oil with zinc additive ( some penrite oils already have about double the amount of zinc other additives add ) . Flat tappet cams/followers need a bit of zinc.

Penrite 20/50 - HDR30 as it used to be known is seriously good oil, Essex V6 engines love the stuff, currently running it in a 3.4 Essex with some nice go faster goodies on it and no issue's at all, saying that 20/50 Valvoline VR1 is top notch as well, just not sure that it has as much zinc as the Penrite oil.

Wayne

I have no idea about the rest of that stuff Hamish - I didn't ask to be honest, I just let them do it

I do have Valvoline 20/50 in it now though so hopefully will be better moving forward....

Glad the laser is back

Cheers Jason, as am I! It's been away for almost six months!!
Now I just have to sort all the wiring problems with the radio, clock, interior lights, washer jets, rev counter....

[Mr B]

Fitting a 2l cam shouldnt pose any problems . Depending on how long it lasted Id be checking the lubrication . Were all the lobes shot or just a few ?, new/clean spray bar ? Were the bearing journals ok . Cam bearings can wear quite quickly , specially the middle one . I always go for oil with zinc additive ( some penrite oils already have about double the amount of zinc other additives add ) . Flat tappet cams/followers need a bit of zinc.

Penrite 20/50 - HDR30 as it used to be known is seriously good oil, Essex V6 engines love the stuff, currently running it in a 3.4 Essex with some nice go faster goodies on it and no issue's at all, saying that 20/50 Valvoline VR1 is top notch as well, just not sure that it has as much zinc as the Penrite oil.

Wayne

The Penrite oil is actually HPR 30 and is 20w60 not as I said above - think I had one two many beers last night!

Wayne

[Not_Anumber]

I can sympathise as I managed to destroy a cam and followers in 10 miles flat in a 2.1 pinto i had just rebuilt for a kit car. It turned out the new sump gasket i used was marginally thinner than the one that had been on there which was just enough to narrow the gap between the shortened oil pickup and the bottom of the shortened sump severely restricting oil flow. Strangely nothing else was damaged and Kent Cams agreed to send me a 2nd replacement cam and followers at a reduced price and it was quickly rebuilt,again.

[D366Y]

Cheers Jason, as am I! It's been away for almost six months!!
Now I just have to sort all the wiring problems with the radio, clock, interior lights, washer jets, rev counter....

I've just realised - these are all on fuse 1! (apart from the rev counter obvs) so hopefully this will be a quick fix haha

[D366Y]

I can sympathise as I managed to destroy a cam and followers in 10 miles flat in a 2.1 pinto i had just rebuilt for a kit car. It turned out the new sump gasket i used was marginally thinner than the one that had been on there which was just enough to narrow the gap between the shortened oil pickup and the bottom of the shortened sump severely restricting oil flow. Strangely nothing else was damaged and Kent Cams agreed to send me a 2nd replacement cam and followers at a reduced price and it was quickly rebuilt,again.

That beats my record then
Fair play to Kent Cams for sending another one to you at reduced price

[D366Y]

Cheers Jason, as am I! It's been away for almost six months!!
Now I just have to sort all the wiring problems with the radio, clock, interior lights, washer jets, rev counter....

I've just realised - these are all on fuse 1! (apart from the rev counter obvs) so hopefully this will be a quick fix haha

One new fuse later - all back working (save the rev counter) but the boot lock isn't turning now so it's managed to develop another fault while sat still

[Jasonmarie]

Cheers Jason, as am I! It's been away for almost six months!!
Now I just have to sort all the wiring problems with the radio, clock, interior lights, washer jets, rev counter....

I've just realised - these are all on fuse 1! (apart from the rev counter obvs) so hopefully this will be a quick fix haha

I was just about to say that I see on dads U.K. your dad did a good job with the bathroom

[Mc Tool]

Fitting a 2l cam shouldnt pose any problems . Depending on how long it lasted Id be checking the lubrication . Were all the lobes shot or just a few ?, new/clean spray bar ? Were the bearing journals ok . Cam bearings can wear quite quickly , specially the middle one . I always go for oil with zinc additive ( some penrite oils already have about double the amount of zinc other additives add ) . Flat tappet cams/followers need a bit of zinc.

Penrite 20/50 - HDR30 as it used to be known is seriously good oil, Essex V6 engines love the stuff, currently running it in a 3.4 Essex with some nice go faster goodies on it and no issue's at all, saying that 20/50 Valvoline VR1 is top notch as well, just not sure that it has as much zinc as the Penrite oil.

Wayne

The Penrite oil is actually HPR 30 and is 20w60 not as I said above - think I had one two many beers last night!

Wayne

Ha , I got it wrong too , the stuff Im using in the Blade is hpr 5 5/40 xtra 10 full synth . That bloody toyo holds 6.8l, that and a fliter and Im out $125 .

[D366Y]

Cheers Jason, as am I! It's been away for almost six months!!
Now I just have to sort all the wiring problems with the radio, clock, interior lights, washer jets, rev counter....

I've just realised - these are all on fuse 1! (apart from the rev counter obvs) so hopefully this will be a quick fix haha

I was just about to say that I see on dads U.K. your dad did a good job with the bathroom

Haha thanks, that bathroom was a bloody nightmare - had to move out to do it and it's taken two full weeks and I only stayed there for the first time since January on Tuesday!

[Fordoholic Nick]

Hey Danny. Great news you got your Pinto back mate. Did not realise you were without it for so long but knew you were getting some stuff done and sounds like some really great modifications. Great move to get the unleaded done. No brainer with the head off etc. Can't wait to catch up and see it mate. Nice one.

Ps The bathroom tiles look great fella. What a stunning job. Just one thing mate don't get them wet !!!

[340truck]

Going back to the original topic, if the cam isn't lubed properly and/or the oil system primed before start up of an engine rebuild, the time taken to destroy a cam is measured in minutes rather than years. It's been done (not by me) so that would be the record.

[Mr B]

Going back to the original topic, if the cam isn't lubed properly and/or the oil system primed before start up of an engine rebuild, the time taken to destroy a cam is measured in minutes rather than years. It's been done (not by me) so that would be the record.

This is good stuff for breaking a cam in

[pbar]

Are you using 20/50 oil by any chance Danny, I'd be very wary if so, especially in this cold weather as it becomes more treacle like and may not work its way into the necessary nooks and crannies, until it warms up but of course there may be wear on components until then so it may not be worth chancing it.

It is interesting to note that Ford would invalidate camshaft warranty if anything other than 10/40 is used.