I have a question for you guys from a friend of mine...

Can a hyd flat tappet cam from a SBC be reused? What I mean is, taken out of one motor, and used in another? Using new lifters of course.

Also, since the cam is already out of the engine, how could one check the condition of the cam, to make sure its still in good enough shape to use? I figure you can measure the bearing surfaces with a micrometer, but how would one check the lobes themselves, to see if any are worn more than the others?

Also, another question - What are the specs for the 1983-85 5.0 HO cam? I mean the L69 cam, not the TPI motor.

Thanks!

 

If I personally removed the cam, and kept each lifter in the correct order, I would do it.

For the price of a new one, compared to the labor of performing a cam swap, if it should fail, I'd just buy a new one.

 

I don't have the old lifters anymore, just the cam. Its the HO cam out of my 305. It looks to me like its perfectly reusable, but I don't have the old lifters anymore, he would have to use new ones if he used this cam.

On my cousin's past BBF, we changed just changed the lifters, leaving the original cam in the motor (hyd flat tappet btw) and it seemed to work just fine. Would a SBC work fine doing basically the same job?

 

Done it a few times, for beater motors. That cam is most likely 204/214.

 

Yes it will work with new lifters you will have to break them in ie: sart motor and run it at 2000 rpm for 15 min.

 

As long as you use new lifters it will work just fine. Treat it as a new cam break in when you fire it. Follow all of the same rules and it will be fine.

If you want to check it for wear, use a mic and measure the journals and the lobes. Compare these numbers to stock spec.

 

I missed this part.

 

I’ve committed more of a sin then that on a few engines. I reused old cams and old lifters in unknown order. Never had any problems except for lash adjustment was off and on for a few miles.

 

You are a bad, bad person.

 

Since neither of us has tools precise enough to check the cam, would I be able to take it to a machine shop and have it checked there? Would this be expensive?

 

I guess if you give it a going over, and there is no visable damage, and you mic all the lobes to rule out a worn one, should do it. One thing though. Cams are parkerized, and that coating aids in the break in of a new cam. Thats that black color coating that is on new flat tappet cams. Maybe, if you flip a machinist a ten spot for his time, he might help you out. IMO, new flat tappet cams are not expensive. I would put a new one in. But thats just me.

 

Is it really worth the hassle? As long as you see no signs of major wear I wouldent worry about to at all. Of course you need to remember it's a 20 year old cam and it "could" start to go down hill at any time even if you had a shop check it over an mic it.
An MTC-1 is less then $60 from any parts store and usaully is in stock



Yea I know! One on these days I'll learn my lesson.

 

MTC-1 = 204/214 cam = Summit 1102 = $50

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=SUM%2D1102

or, with lifters, $70

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...rt=SUM%2DK1102

The cheapest cam on the planet

If there's a problem, it will cost you 3 or 4 times more than that other cam new, to fix it.

Although there's a good chance it'll be OK, for $50, it isn't worth the risk. For any motor that a used stock cam would be "good enough" for, that other cam would be better; and will liekly save you money in the long, and maybe even the not-so-long, run.

 

Anyone but me remember when mechanics would routinely change flat hydraulic lifters because they "failed" (oil sludge from multigrades) or were worn? It used to happen all the time. Just slap in a few new lifters on an old set of lobes, no break-in necessary (the lobes are already polished) and off you go.

That said, an aftermarket cam for $50-60 is dirt cheap. Even a new Elgin E922 (.443" /.465", 214°/224°, 112° LSA $52.95) and lifter set is less than $80. Messing with an old cam for that is perhaps not worth the risk. A good timing set will cost you that much, and it isn't even worth opening up if you aren't going to install a good timing set. Your gaskets, fluids, and shop supplies will probably cost more.

 

You can also get that Elgin cam cheaper from Summit.... same identical cam. In fact its intake lobe, is the same as the exhaust lobe on the 204/214 cam. Those cams are so generic.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=SUM%2D1103 $49.95