Rocker arms and cam/lifters question

Discussion in 'Technical' started by 1972Grabber, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    Only if you buy the kit...
     
  2. stmanser

    stmanser Looking for a Maverick

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    i have never done cam bearings.. i have always had the shop do them.. how hard are they to do with the engine in place..?

    i am going to be doing a cam and lifter kit in the summer time.. i hope.. so i might as well find out how to do it all now

    and is it ok to up the weight on the springs..? i am running a 120# now.. what would a 150# do... or a double spring.. what will it do for a .512 lift cam
     
  3. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    I don't think you want to do cam bearings in the car.
    I told my machinist that I needed a front cam bearing and he cringed...
    He said I am lucky I don't need any others or the engine would have to come out.
    If he doesn't want to do them in a car with 30 years of that work under his belt, then I know I wouldn't want to while learning how!

    As for spring pressure:
    You should really only use what your cam needs.
    Any more or less is counter-productive.
    Less means you float the valves, more means that your are spending horsepower to open springs that are stronger than what your cam needs. That amounts to a waste of time putting the stronger springs in, power turning them, and money buying them.
    Also, if you put too much spring on a flat tappet cam you risk wiping the lobes off.
    Dave
     
  4. ShadowMaster

    ShadowMaster The Bad Guy

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    YOU DON'T NEED NEW CAM BEARINGS JUST TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT!!!!!!!!!!!!

    There...had to get that off my chest. Now, on to the other question.....

    NEW CAM + OLD LIFTERS = VERY BAD
    OLD CAM + NEW LIFTERS = OK

    So...in summation: Put new cam and lifters into your engine. Have the heads machined for screw in studs and hardened seats (the latter isn't necessary but...) then get a set of good adjustable rockers. Don't worry about the cam bearings. It's really hard to screw up cam bearings. I've seen engines with over 500,000 miles and the cam bearings were ok. You don't need to replace the cam bearings.
     

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