Looking for camshaft recommendations - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**pjmoreland** · 04-15-2005, 02:19 AM

Several lobes on my camshaft are severely worn. I'd like to replace the camshaft with one that is pretty much stock and will hold up ok. Any recommendations? I don't want to spend a lot of money.

For anybody who is interested in knowing how I got to this point, check out this previous thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=150486

The exhaust lobe for cylinder 4 is pretty much totally gone. The exhaust lobe for cylinder 8 is about half way gone. My guess is that the head gasket blew partially between cylinders 4 and 6 because the exhaust valve in cylinder 4 wasn't opening. That allowed coolant to start leaking into cylinder 6, causing the valve to crack, causing the low compression in cylinder 6. Not sure why the exhaust valve in cylinder 8 cracked.

Here's a picture showing the absense of a lobe for the cylinder 4 exhaust valve and a picture of my timing chain that definitely needs to be replaced:

midyearvet@aol. · 04-15-2005, 09:20 AM

You better check the lower end & the oil pump also.
When my cam went flat it wiped out the oil pump from the metal shavings & damaged the bearings, Also scored the cylinder wall on the cylinder adjacent to the bad lobe.
Rick Ca.

**pjmoreland** · 04-15-2005, 09:34 AM

I'm going to be pulling the oil pan off the rest of the way, so I'll pull of one or two of the main bearings off and take a look. There isn't any obvious scoring on the cylinder walls, but I'll take a closer look. The metal had to have gone somewhere. Hopefully by some miracle it ended up in the oil filter. This would probably be a good time to put a high pressure oil pump in.

4x4Poet · 04-17-2005, 02:43 AM

No need for a high press oil pump, though I like Melling's improved oil pump in the 10% version. Great design features.

Look at the DD2000 numbers for this mild, yet above stock, cam. I think one of the Voodoo cams might be a bit better because it has an ever so slightly longer duration intake valve opening with a touch more lift.

**pjmoreland** · 04-17-2005, 01:29 PM

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into the Voodoo cams.

**VetteVet** · 04-19-2005, 12:54 AM

Here's an article to read
VV

http://hotrod.com/techarticles/113_0209_cam/

**pjmoreland** · 04-19-2005, 01:34 AM

Interesting article. Thanks.

**pjmoreland** · 04-24-2005, 01:30 AM

Well after replacing the camshaft, lifters and heads, it's back up and running. The coughing through the carb is definitely gone. The engine has way more power now and runs much better. This ended up costing me about $250 and took about 20 hours of my time. I guess it could have been worse.

**pjmoreland** · 04-24-2005, 01:31 AM

Oh, yeah, and a new timing chain set.

04-15-2005, 02:19 AM	#1
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	Looking for camshaft recommendations Several lobes on my camshaft are severely worn. I'd like to replace the camshaft with one that is pretty much stock and will hold up ok. Any recommendations? I don't want to spend a lot of money. For anybody who is interested in knowing how I got to this point, check out this previous thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=150486 The exhaust lobe for cylinder 4 is pretty much totally gone. The exhaust lobe for cylinder 8 is about half way gone. My guess is that the head gasket blew partially between cylinders 4 and 6 because the exhaust valve in cylinder 4 wasn't opening. That allowed coolant to start leaking into cylinder 6, causing the valve to crack, causing the low compression in cylinder 6. Not sure why the exhaust valve in cylinder 8 cracked. Here's a picture showing the absense of a lobe for the cylinder 4 exhaust valve and a picture of my timing chain that definitely needs to be replaced: Attached Images

04-17-2005, 02:43 AM	#4
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	No need for a high press oil pump, though I like Melling's improved oil pump in the 10% version. Great design features. Look at the DD2000 numbers for this mild, yet above stock, cam. I think one of the Voodoo cams might be a bit better because it has an ever so slightly longer duration intake valve opening with a touch more lift. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

04-19-2005, 12:54 AM	#6
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,709	Which Cam Here's an article to read VV http://hotrod.com/techarticles/113_0209_cam/ __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

04-15-2005, 09:20 AM	#2
midyearvet@aol. Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Napa, Ca. Posts: 103	You better check the lower end & the oil pump also. When my cam went flat it wiped out the oil pump from the metal shavings & damaged the bearings, Also scored the cylinder wall on the cylinder adjacent to the bad lobe. Rick Ca.

04-15-2005, 09:34 AM	#3
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	I'm going to be pulling the oil pan off the rest of the way, so I'll pull of one or two of the main bearings off and take a look. There isn't any obvious scoring on the cylinder walls, but I'll take a closer look. The metal had to have gone somewhere. Hopefully by some miracle it ended up in the oil filter. This would probably be a good time to put a high pressure oil pump in.

04-17-2005, 01:29 PM	#5
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into the Voodoo cams.

04-19-2005, 01:34 AM	#7
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	Interesting article. Thanks.

04-24-2005, 01:30 AM	#8
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	Well after replacing the camshaft, lifters and heads, it's back up and running. The coughing through the carb is definitely gone. The engine has way more power now and runs much better. This ended up costing me about $250 and took about 20 hours of my time. I guess it could have been worse.

04-24-2005, 01:31 AM	#9
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,426	Oh, yeah, and a new timing chain set.



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