Friggin 428!!!

[keithw]

Well it happened again. Wore thru an intake valve lifter and severely wore the lobe on the cam. The first time was in Topeka last year. Had the engine rebuilt with new block, cam, lifters, bearings and added new roller rockers.

I'm beginning to think this is a Comp cam thing. All the other lifters were mirror smooth.

Now for the question. Think I can just change out the cam and lifter, pull and clean the oil pan, change oil and filter and I'd be ok?

Thanks,

Keith

[JOHNNYCOBRA]

What lift are you running and how much spring pressure?

Are they adjusted frequently?

I've used comp cams on several engines and never had a problem, but that doesnt mean you can't.

[Excaliber]

Keith, thats what I would do!! Keep it simple. Clean up and then replace worn parts. I'm SURE some members here would settle ONLY for a complete tear down, tooth brush clean EVERY part, magnaflux everything, sonic bath, etc. etc. And hey, how could you wrong giving advice like that? You certainly would have covered ALL the bases.

Now the REAL question is: What the heck is going on with the cam??? Are you valve spring pressures TO high? Could be!

Ernie

[valpodoc]

I'm not sure this is you but check out "ford Muscle" project FE sounds like they were having a similar problem with their Mach 1

Roland

[FFR428]

Are you running a solid cam with double springs? If so you need to break in the cam with only a single spring. Also be sure you have the correct springs for your cam. Yes I'd clean that puppy out really good depending on how badly everything was worn down. You'll have all kinds metal in that thing if the lifter and cam lobes were worn badly. Check to see also the lifters are not binding or hanging up in one of the bores. Sorry to hear about your trouble. G.

[keithw]

Thanks for the input.

I have a hydraulic cam and lifters. Pretty mild at .570 lift putting out 493HP at the crank.

I only wore one lobe this time so will clean everything out and install new cam and see what happens. I'll also check the valve spring force.

Keith

[leadertape]

just a note that might help. i had this problem with a comp cam. i replaced it with a REED CAM , atlanta ga. they told me this has been a reoccuring problem with comp cams. apparently the grind on the bottom of the lifters is not right.

[thundercat]

I had a lobe go on my first Comp Cam ..ran in with all springs on ....Installed new cam and ran in with only one spring this time.. Now has 11000 miles on it with no problems...Steve McD

[so427]

Kieth I have had several comp. cams go flat for no reason known other than bad hardening on the lobes,also comp cam will pay for this repair if you pressure them parts and labor, out of many engines built, all the cam failures were with comp cams, the rv cams in big block bowties are known for this. if you do replace just the bad parts you need to do a very good job of clean up just.002" will stop the lifter from turning and make the cam go flat on that lobe. also check for pushrods turning on breakin,any that are not turning could mean cam/lifter failure.



Karl

[keithw]

I've decided to change the cam with a new roller cam with hydraulic roller lifters. I'll remove the heads and have them check the spring pressure as well. Total cost $1200 which I didn't think so bad.

I'll let you know what happens.

Keith