is there any safe way to use a used came if you dont have that cam's lifters to go with it? even if you used brand new lifters with it?
well i bought a intake for the W today and they guy threw in a 1969 351W 4bbl cam shaft and a brand new pack of unopened federal mogal lifters. at the very least i have a brand new set of lifters to go with any NEW cam i may buy just wondering if at this point that cam has any real value...
Cams are pretty cheap. I never buy a used one. With saying that, I know others who have reused a cam. They bought new lifters for it and didn't seem to have any problems. I guess if you know it's history it would be okay.
I'll never reuse an old cam again, even if the lifters were kept in the order they were installed on the cam when in use. It's a pain in the arse to rip everything apart with the engine in the car if you have a problem.
if you know for a fact the cam lobes are good.You should be fine,that said you dont know for sure the cam is good.Measuring the lobes for pitch is not as simple as it sounds.The lobes are pitched to allow the lifters to rotate so as to keep them from flattening out during use.Get a new cam they are cheap insurance.
To find out if the cam is good you would have to be able to measure the taper on the lobes, the depth of the hardening and the lobe dimensions. The last one is easy... the others, not so easy. Throw the used cam in the metal recycle bin and invest in a new one to match the new lifters. Oh, get a cam kitt without lifters - that way you have the right springs, retainers and locks to go with the cam.
I agree with everyone here...cams cost like $100-200, but it is a LOT of work to get in and swap it. I am resusing a briefly used ROLLER cam, but I would never reuse a flat-tappet cam. When my cam failed, I found little chunks of metal dust and flakes all through the engine, and I ended up finding it easier and cheaper to buy a new short block rather than clean and rebuild the old block.
I have reused a cam before but that was 25 years ago. With the modern oils I don't think it is worth the chance. Especially on a used stock camshaft. I would get a new cam and get the performance boost from modern technology.
I agree on replacing it. The cam in my 302 was used but the lifters were kept in order and I havent had any problems however
Here's a small Summit cam that is going to be only slightly larger than the 4v cam. You can use your new lifters with it, and stock springs would be fine. I would replace the old springs with new one though. Only 55 bux... http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM%2D4400&autoview=sku
well i wasnt exactly shopping for a cam at the moment but i was more curious if this cam qualified as "scrap metal" or not. i think i got my answer lol
