I just got my new cam today for my 400 and opened the box to check it out. I noticed that the cam lobes are ruff. its a 266 H10 grind hydraulic cam. I can file down my finger nail on them. the lobes are probably equivelant to about 320 grit sand paper. I have only done about 8 or so cam swaps but I don't remember them being like this. if it was a roller cam I would definitly be freaking.

am I over reacting or should I give Crane a call? I dont' want any premature wear or component failure. ease my mind someone

 

That doesn't sound good!

 

I understand that they are not perfect being cast iron and all but this one just seems to be "not up to par" if you know what I mean.

 

Give Crane a call but I have seen rough cams too. My buddy bought an SSI brand cam and it was pretty rough. My crane wasn't smooth but it wasn't too rough either. You can't have a cam be completely smooth unless its a roller otherwise the lifters might not break in. They smooth out over time.

 

Good News

I gave the cam a complete inspection over the weekend. half of the cam (8 lobes) were rough(not ruff) lol, and others were normal. it seemed like whatever step used in the finishing process was only completed on half the cam.

so what I did was use a fine Arkansas stone with some starret lube as a honing oil. it took little effort to bring them to the condition of the other lobes. everything sould break in nice and even now.

 

Gosh I hope that works for you. Cams are very picky about things like that. If it wipes a lobe on breakin you'll have to tear the whole thing down. I'd send it back.

 

that was exactly my first impression when I felt the lobes. I have some tool and die experience and I trust that the honing job I did will prevent this. the effected lobes were not as bad as I originally thought. crane could have just as well did what I did and ship it right back to me.

 

I hope that works man. The final honing process on cams is done on a machine with very precise tolerances. If a cam is just a little out of spec it can easily wipe the lifter and lobe out.

I remember a story of a guy here who once have something like every other lifter go flat on his cam. I wonder if he got the same deal as you did and never bothered to check the lobes.

If it were me I would send it back. Metal shavings from 8 cam lobes would wipe out every bearing in the engine.

 

I agree with the 'smoker. SEND IT BACK. Your hands are very precision instruments, but not for the job of smoothing cam lobes. Odds are that you will have failure reall quick. The cam/lobe interface is the worst spot in an engine for wear as the two surfaces are in shear, with no 'wedge' of oil built up like you would get in a thrust bearing, as the only contact surfact is the edge of the cam lobe (slightly tilted lobe surface.. that's why they will rotate in the bore) and the bottom of the lifter. Not the spot to play 'hand fitted'.
tom

 

I appreciate and welcome all your concerns. all of which are very correct I'm sure and I know I'm the one that was crying for help, but I think not in this case.(I read thses forums more and more and can start to see who has thier heads on straight so don't think I am ignoring your alls advice)
let me further the details. think in terms of a cylinder wall and you have the step of boring or rough honing and you now have created an even rough surface of peaks and valleys. these valleys are needed for holding the oil but the peaks are too sharp and will premote wear. so you would refine the surface by Plateau honing which removes the top of the peaks. if from the top of the peak to the bottom of the valley is .003" and you hone that down half to .0015" you in turn have changed the dimensions of the cylinder. (I feel this it not what I did to the cam.)
with that said let me explain the cam lobes better. it was not a uniform roughness like the boring process of a cylinder wall. it was almost like mig spatter on a welding table, spread out and erractic. it's very hard to explain. in short it was like very small but course sand like casting marks. so to reduce the strain on my brain lets just say I feel in no way I altered the dimensions of the lobes. plus I have already performed the work to the lobes and do not trust they would properly inspect it sice I have removed the evidence.
it will be a couple of weeks before I finish the work. also doing headers, some mild head work and control arm bushings but I will post back with the outcome.
Kenny

 

I probably dont need to tell you, but make sure you use plenty of moly assembly lube on the cam when putting it together, and be very careful about cam break-in.

 

Well I guess your mind is made up, but workmanship like that is not what a guy pays for, especially from crane whose sole business is cams, if it doesn't work for you and you do wear your lifters, don't say anything about you touching it when you try to send it back, but I'm sure you knew that.