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Used Camshaft????????

7.8K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  speedpup  
#1 ·
I have question that has been bugging me,
I have seen people selling used camshafts, and my question is; would you put a used cam in your engine? And if so don't you need the lifters that came with the cam to put back on the same lobe on the cam?
I was under the impression that not having the org. lifters could flatten the lobes on a cam. :-?

TIA
Ted :cheers:
 
#3 ·
Say there Ted,
These new roller lifter have a lot less resistence than the old flat tappet lifters. Could be risky picking one up without a visual inspection but other than that should be okay, if you like that route. ;)
 
#4 ·
I wouldn't. A cam shaft isn't much money. The most expensive part of swapping a cam is the labor to do it, which you're going to have to eat anyways. If you end up buying a shit cam that's used, you'll have to pay for the labor of putting in the cam, taking it out, and putting in a new one again. It's not worth it. You can get a top of the line, new cam for $400 or less. Good luck.
 
#5 · (Edited)
It was a problem with the older "cast" flat tappet cams, but not on the new steel roller cams. Unless there has been a failure of some kind there should be no problem. I've seen them come out after a many, many seasons looking brand new. The cast flat tappet cams usually have noticable wear.

Oh yea, and you don't need the original lifters.
 
#6 ·
:yeadog: :yeadog:

I sold my stock '02 Z06 cam to a guy who put it in his F-Body SS. He picked up 25 RWHP and 20TQ. No problems. My cam had about 8,000 miles on it at the time.

JWz06.
 
#7 ·
PriestYates said:
I wouldn't. A cam shaft isn't much money. The most expensive part of swapping a cam is the labor to do it, which you're going to have to eat anyways. If you end up buying a shit cam that's used, you'll have to pay for the labor of putting in the cam, taking it out, and putting in a new one again. It's not worth it. You can get a top of the line, new cam for $400 or less. Good luck.
I'm with you on this i don't think it's worth it plus the down time of doing it twice and if your doing it yourself and it doesn't workout, i personally would be pissed. i do know people who have done it though.
 
#8 ·
PriestYates said:
I wouldn't. A cam shaft isn't much money. The most expensive part of swapping a cam is the labor to do it, which you're going to have to eat anyways. If you end up buying a shit cam that's used, you'll have to pay for the labor of putting in the cam, taking it out, and putting in a new one again. It's not worth it. You can get a top of the line, new cam for $400 or less. Good luck.
This is what I was thinking.

Thanks everyone for your input!!

Peelin' Out
Ted :cheers: :usa: