Re-using low-miles camshaft and lifters?

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seabee

seabee

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Firstly, I'm not going to do it. But I have a nice cam and lifter set with ,1k miles that an uncle is asking to use in his 318. I don't want to ship it there and ruin his engine but he insists that "back in the day" they did it all the time.

What are your thoughts on re-using a <1k miles Camshaft? Lifters?

From what I understand at break-in the lifters, cam, and block adapt themselves to each other so putting them into another block would lead to a possible failure.

Just curious.
 
HI
No problem, I have done it many times. I did try and keep the lifters with the appropriate cam lobe and considered the "matched" but just installing new lifters is a good idea anyway.
The block is a non issue for the most part, the cam bearings are in the block so that is what touches the cam, the block wont care. Cam bearings don't really care either.
Bottom line.... I would do it if the cam shows good, new lifters are a good idea if not kept matched to a particular cam lobe......long winded reply lol
 
If the lifters go back on the same lobe as they were on no problem.done it many times if not get new lifters....
 
Thanks for the replies. Guess I'm paying for shipping to Kentucky:(

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I plan on installing a used cam in the very near future, the lifters are marked as to where they came from so I'll probably use those too.
 
There is no reason not to. Its already broken in. One FABO poster had the same cam and lifter set in 4 different engines. Would you replace a cam in your engine because it had logged 1000 miles? Of course not. Just be careful not to nick a lobe, mark the lifters, and keep it wet with a lubricant so it wont surface rust.
 
Reminds me, I have a voodoo cam and related items with about 1500 miles that I should list. My wife doesnt like it on the floor of her ffice.
 
Absolutely nothing wrong with a used cam even with 150K on it as long as it is in good condition. My only recommendation would be unless you are 100% DAMN sure where the lifters go, and I mean 100 and fifty bajillion percent, get new lifters. In fact, Unless "I" myself pulled and marked them, I would get new lifters anyway. They are cheap enough that you should not take a chance. It should be broken in like a new cam and lifters when you do.
 
nope...the only real concern is the convex surface the cam rides on. I bought a used ultradyne solid for use in my 383...whenever that project comes around and won't have a concern one about using it as long as you do what folks have already said above and you use proper break methods and lubricants.
 
Even making sure you keep the lifters matched to the cam lobe is not a big deal. Why you ask?? Because the lifter bore to cam lobe alignment will be slightly different from engine block to engine block. So the lifter will may be running on a part of the cam that it was not running on before. So treat the cam like your breaking it in for the first time.
 
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