My friend has a performer rpm cam with only 5000 miles on it. Question: can I reuse the lifters or should I get new ones? Everyone says it's the mileage that breaks in the lifters but I was told it is the initial 30 minutes at 2500 rpm that does it.

Also, is this cam too big? I run the stock center bolt heads. I plan to get a better intake at the same time.

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1986 CAMARO Z28 -> 151,000 original miles, 43,000 on 89' vette 350 block, Holley 650 DP, Weiand intake, 1.6 rockers, 1 5/8" headers, no cat, 2 1/2" Flowmaster catback, Mallory coil, March pulleys, T5 with 3.35 1st gear, 90% Centerforce clutch, 3.73 posi, Eibach 1" drop springs, Spohn LCA's, Spohn adjustable panhard rod, Subframes connectors, polyurethane swaybar bushings/endlinks, 2 12" Sound Streams, 2 Infinity 6X9's, 2 Pioneer 6X9's, 800 watt Lanzar Vibe amp. ET 13.22@ 106.4MPH Next mods-> Homemade ram air, B&M shifter, Extreme Energy 230/236 cam, Holley Street Dom intake.

 

There are different views of this subject, but here's how I always do it.

First, the only way I'd even consider reusing a set of lifters on a flat tappet cam is if each lifter can be placed back on the exact same lobe it had been running on. As a lifter runs, it mates to the its lobe and needs to always be placed on that same lobe.

I inspect the base of each lifter to see if there are any pits or signs of excessive wear. A straight edge, like found on a single edge razor blade, can be used to make sure that base isn't concave. Light swirl lines are okay though.

In order of least to most problems: (1) new lifters on a new cam, (2)used lifters replaced on the same lobe, (3)new lifters on a used cam, (4) used lifters on a used cam NOT on the same lobe as originally run. Some guys swap (1) and (2) in their priority listing.

Pits disqualify a lifter as does any that are concave on the base.

Roller lifters are a problem; they can be reused as long as they don't show any signs of excessive wear.

Hope this helps,

Jake

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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

I always opt for option #1. The only time I would consider option #2 is when "I" made sure every lifter came out of what position and I marked it. But I never use used flat tappet cams and lifters because they are so cheap.

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George P. Lara
1994 Z28 LT1 T56
1984 Z28 High Output
Member: SCCA, SCFB, SC3GFB

 

I too agree with changing the cam and lifters with a flat tappet cam. The only time I would do anything differently would be when I have a shot lifter and I am low on funds. Then I would JUST change the individual lifter. But, that has always turned out to be a short-term fix as the lifter seemed to wear badly and would need replacing in a relatively short time.

The only time I would consider re-using a cam and lifters is if I had to tear apart an engine and the cam and lifters had recently been swapped. Other than that, I can not think of a reason someone would go through all that time and effort to pull the cam and lifters and then re-use them again.

This is all for a flat tappet cam. Roller cam and lifters are reuseable if they don't have any unusual wear. I have yet to replace my roller cam, but I will tell you that when I dig into my TPI that far, the cam will be changed and most likely my 165,000 mile roller lifters. Again, I cannot see myself to go through effort with my TPI engine and then scrimping on a couple of hundred dollars by re-using my high mileage roller lifters. My time is worth more than the couple of hundred dollars I would save, especially if I had to go back into the engine again.

Do it right, do it once.