When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I just fired off my new 390 engine. I have a comp flat tappet mother thumper cam in it. I did the whole song and dance on breaking it it. Used assembly lube, zinc additive, 2500-3000 rpm break in for 30+ minutes. I pulled my intake to fix an oil leak and check my lifters for giggles. One did not take! No spinny spin. The engine has maybe 2hrs of runtime. I measured the culprit lobe (4th one down in the pic) and it is the same as the other intakes so the cam is not damaged. I REALLY do not want to spend the 2k on roller upgrade. Would it be too much of a risk to put a new lifer in and hope it takes?
I'm in the process of rebuilding my 390. After reading an article from engine builders nov 2014, (Choosing the correct camshaft for the build). I ordered my cam and lifters last night. In the article it list cam break-in failures. I would guess the cam is bad now. This is my third or forth engine in twenty-five years so im no expert. Had my cam failures too. Good luck and i hope someone with more experience will help.
Sorry to say it but you probably need another cam & lifters.
The "whole song & dance" is bull in my experience. Tried it once and wiped the cam within minutes.
What I do, is coat the cam & lifter feet with spray graphite, run normal oil, and IDLE the engine with valve covers off to watch the pushrods spin.
I've done it that way with half a dozen engines so far and never have had a cam failure. But the one time I tried it the "suggested" way, it failed quickly. So I'm never doing that again....
I'm in the process of rebuilding my 390. After reading an article from engine builders nov 2014, (Choosing the correct camshaft for the build). I ordered my cam and lifters last night. In the article it list cam break-in failures. I would guess the cam is bad now. This is my third or forth engine in twenty-five years so im no expert. Had my cam failures too. Good luck and i hope someone with more experience will help.
thanks for the insight! This is my 4th engine I have built so I’m not a professional or anything. I never had an issue in the past tho. In the future I’m just going roller on any motor from now on. With the track records today it’s not with the chance anymore.
So I just fired off my new 390 engine. I have a comp flat tappet mother thumper cam in it. I did the whole song and dance on breaking it it. Used assembly lube, zinc additive, 2500-3000 rpm break in for 30+ minutes. I pulled my intake to fix an oil leak and check my lifters for giggles. One did not take! No spinny spin. The engine has maybe 2hrs of runtime. I measured the culprit lobe (4th one down in the pic) and it is the same as the other intakes so the cam is not damaged. I REALLY do not want to spend the 2k on roller upgrade. Would it be too much of a risk to put a new lifer in and hope it takes?
Hmm. cam may be OK. What did you measure, the base circle? if anything the up ramp is damaged, hard to measure, but can be done with degree wheel compared to another lobe.
Use some real break in oil, not an additive. Quality break in oil is much less than new parts and gaskets. suggest DRIVEN racing assembly lube, and break in oil.
what are the valve spring rates? open /close pressure? Big spring will wipe cams... if dual springs, take one out.
I respect' Cleveland's experience, however I will share the reason for typical break in....
1) you are heat treating/hardening the lifter face/cam lobe. So you want to build heat quickly to prevent wear.
2) Cam lubrication is almost always insufficient at idle for item #1 above.
It is OK to shut down or do the 20-30 min in pieces.
You do not have to pre-lube until oil is coming out of rockers. it will rinse assembly lube off of cam.
You think there may have been something (crud or gasket material) in the lifter oil hole? I've always heard that is one of the main causes of lifter failure on a new engine.
Im building a Windsor based for my F100 project and still undecided on cam selection.
I know that roller lifters can fail too. Especially if you convert from flat to roller. Happened to a buddies 302.
You think there may have been something (crud or gasket material) in the lifter oil hole? I've always heard that is one of the main causes of lifter failure on a new engine.
Im building a Windsor based for my F100 project and still undecided on cam selection.
I know that roller lifters can fail too. Especially if you convert from flat to roller. Happened to a buddies 302.
My personal opinion, no. Highly unlikely. I think made in "CH***" crap. They don't care about tolerances and quality. Just profits on cheap labor. There are reasons why made in America things cost more.
Hello corporate America. Stock holders be damned. Build American. Sell American. BE American! And sell us something we can be proud of. Period.
Can you all tell I'm strong about this? I wear my cowboy hat with stand tall pride.
Sorry OP if I for a moment. I'm just too "Red, White, and Blue".
My personal opinion, no. Highly unlikely. I think made in "CH***" crap. They don't care about tolerances and quality. Just profits on cheap labor. There are reasons why made in America things cost more.
Hello corporate America. Stock holders be damned. Build American. Sell American. BE American! And sell us something we can be proud of. Period.
Can you all tell I'm strong about this? I wear my cowboy hat with stand tall pride.
Sorry OP if I for a moment. I'm just too "Red, White, and Blue".
Right there with you jefffafa. I've seen too many perfectly good products (at work and everywhere else, too) ruined by know-nothing bean counters singing along to the only song they know - "Just Build it in China." I would much rather them sing, "Anything They Can Do, We Can Do Better," 'cause it's true (if they'll let us)
Back to the question. Put another lifter in and give it a try. You've got nothing to lose at this point but your time and the cost of a new intake gasket
clean the lifter bore with clean cloth over a brush. check lifter for scuffing, clean as needed and re-install.
Make sure your lifter spins in the bore on assembly. What have you got to loose ?
Your engine may run for years happily with that 'suspect' lifter. Ary you running Valve Rotator's.
Unless your engine was running weird or something, i would not be concerned.
Personally, i tried a hyd Comp cam in my 300 Ford inline six, and had a lobe go flat after 4-years, and installed a Clevite cam. mild build.
As long as your parts are getting lubed satisfactory, the mechanical engine knows no difference, until you do begin loosing a lobe, if at all. _ _ _ which may take years of happy motoring.
I installed a mid-range Crane hyd cam in my 429 Ford 385 series 23 years back, and it is still working fine.
I don't mess with any elaborate break-ins, i go out and run the engine. guess i'm old-school.
My old engine builder mentor always reminded me to stay on the loose side of the tolerance range for a happy engine.
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
for a moment. I'm just too "Red, White, and Blue".
