Comp Cams
 

I ran a mellings MTC 1 Camshaft in a complete rebuilt 1958-283. Lasted 14 years until one of the lobes wore down. Replaced this MTC camshaft with a Comp cam 12-230-2. Why are the lobes almost an 1/8 of an inch thinner compared to the beefy MTC camshaft? These are both flat tappet cams.

Re: Comp Cams
 

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I've noticed many food items at the grocery contain less product for the same price these days. What was once a 22 oz beer is now like 18.2 oz but same price (I'm looking at you Deep Ellum Brewery).

This is called shrinkflation.

What you are seeing is likely something similar! LobeShrinkFlation perhaps? :smoke:

-Kevin

Re: Comp Cams
 

I can't answer that BUT,.....I can tell you I used a Comp Cam one time.......and it lost about 6 lobes all at once on a fresh sbc build. This was at about 5000 miles, well after break in. Comp didn't care at all and did NOT stand behind their product. Lucky for me the sales rep at the well known retailer was very helpful and asked me to send him the cam. After receiving the COMP CAM he called me back and told me it was the WORST cam core they had ever seen and will be displayed on their "wall of shame".....several air bubbles plainly visible in the worn off lobes and questionable metalurgy. They let me have a new cam and lifters of my choice (NOT COMP) and sent me a new gasket set. That was it for me......NEVER AGAIN will I ever buy anything with Comp Cams name on it.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Three things to keep in mind in today's world-

1. Do not use any recently produced flat tappet cams. The main issues are the metallurgy and the machining of the lifters, not the lack of zinc in the oil. Run NOS parts or roller cams.

2. Comp cams are mediocre at best. I would be looking at other manufacturers. Older stock is better regardless.

3. While the lack of zinc can cause issues, it isn't the only thing contributing to these issues. Still run a high quality oil with zinc in these older engines

Re: Comp Cams
 

I'm quite well versed in poor quality products, just looking for a good alternative. As I live Canada, we get jacked by our government and pay twice the price of all American automotive parts coming into Canada.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Anybody in this thread should watch this, like Jesus, you don't have to believe it. Some people do, some don't. It is interesting though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzYHae7yXiA

Re: Comp Cams
 

I have always had good luck with Crane Cams.
I don't know how there Quality is nowadays.

Comp cams has never been great IMHO.

I have seen some people have bad luck with their products.

Re: Comp Cams
 

How long ago did you install the the comp cam that cratered at break in? At this point I've got about 3 grand into the rebuild and need a good cam to put into this, what would you recommend?

Re: Comp Cams
 

I’ve used hundreds of CompCams with never an issue. Of course, any company can have a bad part, and for flat-tappet cams having the valves adjusted correctly, the right assembly lube, the right oil, and the right break-in technique is crucial.

Lobe width outside of the contact point of the lifter doesn’t do anything but increase rotating mass; it doesn’t make it more “beefy”.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Where would I find older stock cams? Are there any name brands you can think of for this application? Here in Canada a set of roller cam and lifters runs about $2000 not including springs and timing gears.

Re: Comp Cams
 

What cam do you have in your rig?

Re: Comp Cams
 

At this point with 3 grand into the build, I need to know what is going to work. Should I put the comp cam back in the block that is broke in already with only 1500 miles on it? Or do I put a new one in? Or a full roller cam set-up?

Re: Comp Cams
 

I'm not sure what you're asking - I'd have no hesitation to put the CompCams back in, with all the prep I noted before. While there's certainly garbage no-name parts out there that are junk, I don't buy anything from the video for anything name brand. Certainly nothing wrong with checking everything, but...

Without knowing more about the engine, I can't advise on a roller cam. CR? heads? Engine RPM range?

In general, the cam you noted is very mild, so a roller in the same lift range isn't really going to make any real difference in performance and retrofit rollers ain't cheap. Keep in mind you also need to positively retain the cam in a retrofit roller, so it's not just a cam swap.

Have you been running an oil with at least 1000 PPM ZDDP?

Re: Comp Cams
 

Watched this, good knowledge! Cam angle will be first thing I'll be checking on a new cam.

Re: Comp Cams
 

When you replaced the cam that went flat, what else did you do to the motor?
Did you tear it down completely and hot tank it?

Re: Comp Cams
 

Seeing this post reminds me of my situation. A couple of years ago (?) started seeing a lot of chatter about flat tappet cam failures. Whatever the actual reason, it prompted me to remove the flat tappet cam kit I had installed on my freshly built, but not yet run, SBC. I went with a Howard's Cam retro roller kit. I figured the extra cost on the front end would offset the potential damage and $ of a complete tear down due to a cam/lifter failure.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Comp cam 12-230-12

Re: Comp Cams
 

Yes all of the above. All new internals including another forged steel crank. When the cam went, it released shrapnel into the oil and all through the bearings. Scored the crank, and spun a rod bearing. I think this is oil related, I wasn't aware of the oil composition changing and zinc additives.

Re: Comp Cams
 

I remember crane cam decals as a young boy while making model cars. They have certainly been around. I am going to look into them, see if they have old stock cams tucked away. :smoke:

Re: Comp Cams
 

Is your motor still running with the cam set-up? I priced one here in Yukon, Canada $2100 plus springs and timing assembly.

Re: Comp Cams
 

The Jeep forum I'm on has a lot of folks who had been happy users of Comp cams for years, but have had problems wiping them on break-in in recent years

Re: Comp Cams
 

After my boss had a comp cam go flat in a 66 Shelby with less than 50 miles I found this while looking at cams. The new cam from Holman and moody was sent here and broken in. Way less stress on startup without the worry of the break in on the cam. Worth the money in my opinion.
https://www.camresearchcorp.com/cam-...haft-break-in/

Re: Comp Cams
 

Never mind :)

Re: Comp Cams
 

Never mind :)

Re: Comp Cams
 

Before you install the next cam, you probably want to watch this video. They actually take a flat tappet lifter on a grinder after the blue it up and you can see the problems. He shows they were Crower lifters.

At this point, I would spend the dollars and put a roller in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbRjAMhCEJk

Re: Comp Cams
 

That is interesting, good find.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Jones Cam Designs uses only the best of the best cores, and sells American made lifters. I can't think of anyone else I would trust. A flat tappet cam I bought from Mike Jones many years ago was a work of art compared to the mass market one-size-fits-all guys. Everything from lobe lift to event timing measured spot-on, not +/- a few thousands or a few degrees like a Comp cam I had in the shop. http://jonescams.com/

And these days even roller cams may not be the answer. Did you guys see the Roadkill Garage episode where a brand new Comp roller lifter essentially fell apart after the engine had been run for only a few minutes? Comp apologized, said it was a known problem(!), and sent them a higher quality set. Nice to know they sell some roller lifters that work and some that fall apart, huh?

Re: Comp Cams
 

That break in only works if your block has the exact same lifter bore spacing and no cam walk.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Thanks for the option.

Re: Comp Cams
 

You could try these for cams.

https://egge.com/


https://www.kanter.com/

Re: Comp Cams
 

I live next door to Alaska in the Yukon, it's a real challenge to get quality machined parts here. On top of it we pay twice the price, not America's fault, our greedy government. So it's a one shot deal after replacing crank, bearings and a full rebuild.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Thanks

Re: Comp Cams
 

Cam walk is a new term for me, could you explain that?

Re: Comp Cams
 

Moving back and forth on the horizontal plane....

Re: Comp Cams
 

That's exactly what I'm looking to avoid. No second chance with an inferior cam set-up as it's the most crucial element of break in. I'll look into the "Jones" company.

Re: Comp Cams
 

Another highly recommended.


https://straubtechnologies.com/categ...emi-custom-bbc

Re: Comp Cams
 

In a flat tappet cam there needs to be cam walk, unless your referring to a roller cam.

Re: Comp Cams
 

What cam set-up is in your rig? How long?

Re: Comp Cams
 

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I'm in the roller camp. I didn't want to have issues so I went retro fit with all COMP. This was back in 2018/19. The lifters I purchased with the roller setup were absolute trash. I ran them until early 2020 before swapping them out with Howards. No problems since and I run it around quite a bit.

COMP 11-422-8
COMP 854-16 (replaced)$$
Howards 61161

Hth,

-Kevin

Re: Comp Cams
 

I wish I could tell you yes. My initial engine rebuild turned into a multi year frame off project, which has yet to be finished.