Buying A Used Cam Shaft - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mattpiotr · 07-17-2012, 10:51 PM

My neighbor who builds race cars all his life built him self a really nice built up small block 327 to put in the Malibu to go down the quarter mile. he ran the car once and changed the oil......took it down the quarter mile once and tore the top end of the motor apart. he is putting a bigger cam in it. he is trying to sell me the cam that was in it. its a comp cam .454 lift with 268 duration. the lifters where all market when they came out. ive been wanting to do a top end rebuild on my motor for a while he told me he'd sell me the cam and lifters for $100 and help me install it i was wondering if it is worth it? i know that nothing is wrong with it. the only reason he went with a bigger cam was for more top and power......would i be getting a good deal here? he has all the paper work and everything it says $225 new with lifters.

WarBeard · 07-17-2012, 11:07 PM

Heck yeah if the history is correct I'd buy it.

rwhit57 · 07-17-2012, 11:10 PM

If that cam will work for you. I think it's a good deal. His labor alone to help you do it is worth the 100. Break in on cams today is critical, due to the fact that oils no longer have a Zinc additive. Be sure he did this and I would do it again once it's in your motor. Dont know if it would matter but cant hurt.

mattpiotr · 07-17-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motomech

Heck yeah if the history is correct I'd buy it.

OH i know its correct lo. i helped him install it and pull it out and put the new one in. when he removed it, it was sprayed with wd40 wrapped in newspaper and put back in the original box. the car was only ran wide open once, and idled to get off and on the trailer. i was a little hesitant about buying it because i heard horror stories but since i know the history of this one i should be alright.

mattpiotr · 07-17-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwhit57

If that cam will work for you. I think it's a good deal. His labor alone to help you do it is worth the 100. Break in on cams today is critical, due to the fact that oils no longer have a Zinc additive. Be sure he did this and I would do it again once it's in your motor. Dont know if it would matter but cant hurt.

Yes he did break it in. he uses all Amsoil Products. he is selling me 6 quarts of amsoil motor oil with that high Zinc.

mattpiotr · 07-17-2012, 11:16 PM

Also when doing a top end rebuild i was planning on getting my heads rebuilt and painted. i ordered new comp springs for to match with the Cam. my buddy that is rebuilding the heads(same guy im getting cam from) said he would put new guides and the springs in. should i maybe look into getting new rods and rockers?

INSIDIOUS '86 · 07-18-2012, 02:35 AM

Yah go for it. Lube up the cam but make sure its clean first. Run it like your breaking it in again and you should be fine.
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BigBlocksRule · 07-18-2012, 07:43 AM

I've seen this done with mixed results. Some work fine, some flatten the lobes in nothing flat. You're assuming that all the lifter bores are identical in both blocks when they rarely are.

RandyP · 07-18-2012, 08:17 AM

You getting the cam and the lifters? I'm not a mechanic by any means, but was always taught to replace the lifters when replacing the cam and if going back with the same cam and lifters to make sure you put them back where they came out.

07-17-2012, 10:51 PM	#1
mattpiotr Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan City, Indiana Posts: 158	Buying A Used Cam Shaft My neighbor who builds race cars all his life built him self a really nice built up small block 327 to put in the Malibu to go down the quarter mile. he ran the car once and changed the oil......took it down the quarter mile once and tore the top end of the motor apart. he is putting a bigger cam in it. he is trying to sell me the cam that was in it. its a comp cam .454 lift with 268 duration. the lifters where all market when they came out. ive been wanting to do a top end rebuild on my motor for a while he told me he'd sell me the cam and lifters for $100 and help me install it i was wondering if it is worth it? i know that nothing is wrong with it. the only reason he went with a bigger cam was for more top and power......would i be getting a good deal here? he has all the paper work and everything it says $225 new with lifters.

07-17-2012, 11:07 PM	#2
WarBeard Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Show low,az Posts: 808	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft Heck yeah if the history is correct I'd buy it. __________________ 1978 C10 Silverado Big 10 350/350.. play toy 1990 V1500 Suburban 350/700r4..Daily driver 1987 K10 Silverado 383/400.. Wife's rig WRECKED! 1989 V2500 Suburban 350/400.. SOLD! 1974 C10 Custom10 LWB 350/350.. SOLD! 1974 C10 Custom10 SWB 350/400.. SOLD! 1999 Silverado Z71 LS1.. Wife's rig WRECKED! On the hunt for a new project....... I'm a Chevy guy.....I'm just not a "NEW" Chevy guy.

07-17-2012, 11:10 PM	#3
rwhit57 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tulsa,Okla Posts: 590	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft If that cam will work for you. I think it's a good deal. His labor alone to help you do it is worth the 100. Break in on cams today is critical, due to the fact that oils no longer have a Zinc additive. Be sure he did this and I would do it again once it's in your motor. Dont know if it would matter but cant hurt. __________________ "Whoever said money can't buy happiness has obviously never seen a speed shop!

07-17-2012, 11:16 PM	#6
mattpiotr Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan City, Indiana Posts: 158	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft Also when doing a top end rebuild i was planning on getting my heads rebuilt and painted. i ordered new comp springs for to match with the Cam. my buddy that is rebuilding the heads(same guy im getting cam from) said he would put new guides and the springs in. should i maybe look into getting new rods and rockers?

07-18-2012, 02:35 AM	#7
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft Yah go for it. Lube up the cam but make sure its clean first. Run it like your breaking it in again and you should be fine. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 377 sbc thumpr cam autogear m23 muncie 3:73 Detroit trutrac 3''spintech prostreet mufflers xpipe 1 3/4 headers build thread !http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=577217 Iroc gauge threadhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554511

07-18-2012, 07:43 AM	#8
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft I've seen this done with mixed results. Some work fine, some flatten the lobes in nothing flat. You're assuming that all the lifter bores are identical in both blocks when they rarely are.

07-18-2012, 08:17 AM	#9
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Buying A Used Cam Shaft You getting the cam and the lifters? I'm not a mechanic by any means, but was always taught to replace the lifters when replacing the cam and if going back with the same cam and lifters to make sure you put them back where they came out. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

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