How long has your aftermarket cam lasted or not lasted?? - Page 4 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PQ · 01-18-2014, 10:24 AM

Thank you all.

I'm going to get a list ready so I can implement this better.

PQ · 01-18-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssmike

Great thread PQ! I don't have a cam....YET, but I am considering one this year. I'm very interested in this type of poll to see if there is a trend. I get very nervous when I read about all the carnage lately but I also know that it is probably a small percentage of cams out there that actually fail. I hope you are able to get yours all sorted this year and get that beast back on the road!

Thanks man. I so suspect that there is a higher percentage of aftermarket cams fail than stock cams but I know they both fail. I thought about asking to participate even with stock cams but that would be obviously hard to go through. haha

Quote:

Originally Posted by rberns

Correct. Such as what type of springs/push rods where they using? Did they ever do a trunion upgrade? etc... Just wondering if some of these failures may be caused from someone not wanting to spend the extra money and get quality parts.

I'll add those as one part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TannerJPowell

Would be good to know of any valve train mods such as which springs, trunnions, pushrods, etc and also oil pump if changed.

Got it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011ss/rs

PQ that is a great idea for a sticky with video attachments for those of us who will be doing or considering a cam install. My car is scheduled to go under the knife February 1st.

Video?

PQ · 01-18-2014, 11:09 AM

So what else?

Cam still in use Y/N:
Cam type/brand:
Cam Specs:
Cam miles:
Forced induction:
Power level:
Oil type:
Oil Pump:
Date of cam purchase:
Valve train upgrades:
Bottom end upgrades:

Ex-Cobra Guy · 01-18-2014, 11:25 AM

I think it would be wise to also include what valve springs people are using.
There could be a correlation between these cam/lifter failures and the use of valve springs with too much open pressure loads.
Tooley states that open loads exceeding 400lbs can cause "mushroomed" valve tips.
Just sayin' maybe the springs with higher loads can be a culprit?

PQ · 01-18-2014, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Cobra Guy

I think it would be wise to also include what valve springs people are using.
There could be a correlation between these cam/lifter failures and the use of valve springs with too much open pressure loads.
Tooley states that open loads exceeding 400lbs can cause "mushroomed" valve tips.
Just sayin' maybe the springs with higher loads can be a culprit?

It's possible.

I just put it all under one category so people can list the valvetrain components if they want.

I don't want to make the template too big in case people are less likely to fill it out?

JCunningham · 01-18-2014, 01:13 PM

I dont think adding anyone with under 50,000 on the cam miles is really worth it. and add if they have replaced there 1st set of springs for that cam. unless they failed. Im reading through this and see lots of people who have under 5000 miles.

SSeniorMoment · 01-18-2014, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroLoco

CAM TYPE/BRAND - Custom grind by Ed Curtis of FlowTech Inductions. He also did the work on the heads.
CAM SPECS -24X/25X .64X/63X - 115 (mild cam)
SINGLE OR 3 BOLT CAM - 3 bolt
CAM MILES - 15K (about 10 runs at the track) - It's my DD
FORCED INDUCTION - All motor - all internals are forged.
POWER LEVEL - 500+
OIL TYPE - Redline
DATE OF CAM - May/2012
STILL RUNNING - Oh yeah!

I remember PQ's thread when he discovered the damage. He'd been running about 15 PSI or less with respect to his oil pressure. I run 15 psi once the engine is warmed up. My valve train is very noisy and it sounded like PQ's video clip. I got pretty paranoid after that. I've pulled the heads twice and checked everything. All is good. I no longer have to take medication....for now.

Good luck PQ and hope to read about your new power plant soon.

Is your cam a Lunati billet steel?

SPCBA · 01-18-2014, 01:58 PM

answers in red

Quote:

Originally Posted by PQ

Cam still in use Y/N: YES
Cam type/brand: VVT Comp
Cam Specs: Specs via CMS. Its a itty bitty road course cam.
Cam miles: ~30k. quite a nice amount of miles logged on road courses as well.
Forced induction: the cam would work with boost...i am NA tho
Power level: 450/450 table top flat torque curve.
Oil type: amsoil z-rod
Oil Pump: l99
Date of cam purchase: year plus ago
Valve train upgrades: all
Bottom end upgrades: none

Bo White · 01-18-2014, 02:07 PM

I'll be doing my swap soon. PRC springs and a 227/243-114 cam.

I do know from back in '99 when I ran my first roller and comp told me to not let the engine idle for long periods because of oiling issues may arise.

LS3 SS · 01-18-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCunningham

I dont think adding anyone with under 50,000 on the cam miles is really worth it. and add if they have replaced there 1st set of springs for that cam. unless they failed. Im reading through this and see lots of people who have under 5000 miles.

If people want to post their setup in here and add to and update it later (like vroomapunk stated), then let them. You guys are thinking too much into this, and trying to turn some voluntary information into a witchhunt.

PQ · 01-18-2014, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCunningham

I dont think adding anyone with under 50,000 on the cam miles is really worth it. and add if they have replaced there 1st set of springs for that cam. unless they failed. Im reading through this and see lots of people who have under 5000 miles.

I would agree with that. Unless their cam has failed. Mine failed under 50k.

It would kind of give us an idea of what popular oils are being used though.

But once there is a really good pool we could weed some of that out.

TannerJPowell · 01-18-2014, 07:20 PM

It's no witch hunt if it helps someone who's thinking about adding a cam to keep their motor together :-)

vroomapunk · 01-18-2014, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TannerJPowell

It's no witch hunt if it helps someone who's thinking about adding a cam to keep their motor together :-)

But it turns into a witchhunt/misleading thread if you remove all the posts where cams havent failed.

Either way.

I think it would be nice to just have a thread about cammed cars period. For more than just seeing failures.

All the questions you asked earlier, plus one line to put your springs, oil pump, rockers, timing chain, pulley, etc.

Maybe a line about track use.

CamaroLoco · 01-18-2014, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSeniorMoment

Is your cam a Lunati billet steel?

Ed Curtis sub'd it out to Comp for the actual grind. I don't recall any specs regarding Lunati billet steel, unless it's standard with his cams.

Ed did use a Lunati dual valve spring package.

01-18-2014, 10:24 AM	#43
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	Thank you all. I'm going to get a list ready so I can implement this better. __________________

01-18-2014, 11:09 AM	#45
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	So what else? Cam still in use Y/N: Cam type/brand: Cam Specs: Cam miles: Forced induction: Power level: Oil type: Oil Pump: Date of cam purchase: Valve train upgrades: Bottom end upgrades: __________________

01-18-2014, 01:13 PM	#48
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,070	I dont think adding anyone with under 50,000 on the cam miles is really worth it. and add if they have replaced there 1st set of springs for that cam. unless they failed. Im reading through this and see lots of people who have under 5000 miles. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

01-18-2014, 02:07 PM	#51
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,019	I'll be doing my swap soon. PRC springs and a 227/243-114 cam. I do know from back in '99 when I ran my first roller and comp told me to not let the engine idle for long periods because of oiling issues may arise. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

01-18-2014, 11:25 AM	#46
Ex-Cobra Guy Drives: 2013 CTS-V Wagon & 2010 SS (hers) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 90	I think it would be wise to also include what valve springs people are using. There could be a correlation between these cam/lifter failures and the use of valve springs with too much open pressure loads. Tooley states that open loads exceeding 400lbs can cause "mushroomed" valve tips. Just sayin' maybe the springs with higher loads can be a culprit?

01-18-2014, 07:20 PM	#54
TannerJPowell Drives: 2012 2SS M6 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 106	It's no witch hunt if it helps someone who's thinking about adding a cam to keep their motor together :-)