I am on the market for a set of cams and can get a nice set for a good price but they have ~1.5 years on them. Any possible problems with used cams? (they are working fine in their current home)

Thanks for your help!

 

two words... cam wear.

after about 15k miles, cams start to soften and wear... how many miles are on the ones you're thinking of purchasing?

 

About 20k.

Sounds like this is not a good idea.

Thank you very much.

 

others may have varying opinions... but, mine? nah, not a good idea...

 

I got a set of JWT ones with barely 1000 miles on em..Ill take $700 shipped.

 

what type? i'll give you 50$ cash!

 

Wow!! For $50 cold hard cash ill give you mine!! Sorry to steal the sale MRC..

 

what's up with the new j00ser name?

 

I thought Id come up with something hot.. Like urs..

 

i'm thinking you're gonna get sued for copyright infringements...

 

Pm sent

 

Most camshaft wear happens when new cams are first installed. After that the camshaft's lobes conform to the particular lifter or follower that rubs against it. Putting that cam in a new engine usually results in slightly different angles which can cause additional wear.

Installing cams in a VQ is so much work, that I wouldn't do it unless I could afford brand new cams and springs.

 

I am building my motor next month so the heads will be off anyway. I was just looking for savings where I can. Those ones with 20k are out but maybe that set with 1k from MRC.

 

the cams Tim was asking about are mine. I don't see a problem with buying used cams, but when he asked me if there were any downfalls I asked him to make a thread and get some opinions.

Here's my opinion. Cam wear? So everyone that has cams are you guys swapping out your cams after 20K miles? If not, why not, I mean cam wear and all?


I can tell you this. My car was recently just re-dyno'd and it made the same power it made 1.5 years ago with out changing mods and on the same exact tune. I guesss the cams didn't wear too much to effect performance.

 

barely 1000 miles is still enough for cam wear.

 

I'll drop my price to $500 shipped, but that is it

 

I wasn't trying to put up this thread to get you to lower your price in any way. I think the $600 was a good deal. I am not experienced with cams so I thought I would ask. I know that I would never buy used pistons or rods so I wanted to find out how this was different.

 

I asked you to make a thread so I know trying to lower my price wasn't your intention. I just lowered the price cause I want these things to move and because Julians offer is a little more attractive than mine. My motor is getting ripped out this week so I am just trying to move them

 

Tim,

it looks like you'll have a new motor before I will!

I am still waiting on revup cam cores. I am having custom cams ground.....and my heads are still being ported. In the mean time, I am up to my as in parts, though. Including the engine in my car,I have 3 full revup motors.

 

i almost guessed that these were your cams, doc... so, no one is trying to let ill-will fly here...

as _jb said above, the issue with buying used cams is that they wear in with the valve / spring setup when installed... as noted here:

"Sliding friction between the surface of the cam and the cam follower which rides upon it is considerable. In order to reduce wear at this point, the cam and follower are both surface hardened, and modern lubricant motor oils contain additives specifically to reduce sliding friction. The lobes of the camshaft are usually slightly tapered, causing the cam followers or valve lifters to rotate slightly with each depression, and helping to distribute wear on the parts. The surfaces of the cam and follower are designed to "wear in" together, and therefore when either is replaced, the other should be as well to prevent excessive rapid wear."

also, due to the heat and friction in our higher HP car setups, cams tend to soften and wear much more quickly than OEM vehicles...

the OP asked for opinions, and i believe ours are solid...