Don't Store a Camshaft for Too Long a Period

[dibbons]

After my first small block build I did not have the oil pump drive indexed and the vacuum advance was hitting the firewall. This resulted in not being able to time the engine correctly for the initial fire-up. And that resulted in a wiped camshaft lobe. Isky was kind enough to send me a "warranty" cam, but I put a hotter camshaft in the rebuild of the rebuild.

The warranty camshaft was stored in it's original box/packing, but 30 years later when I examined it during a move, I found a good layer of rust. I did not want to chance using it after that discovery, so I threw it out. Did not think at the time it could have been saved in some way?

My advice is to bath your camshafts in some kind of lubricant (40wt motor oil?) and check on them once a year to find if they have suffered any weathering/storage deterioration.

 

[cawcislo]

I would think a thicker lubricant like grease would stand the test of time better than oil, and then possibly putting it in a sealed bag (to keep humidity away from it) but I'm certainly not a expert at long term cam storage.

 

[moper]

Because the cams are hardened, you could put it in a bath of either Evaporust or vingar. Surface rust is not a problem in most cases.. Now if it got further than that - that's another story but it could probably also be reground to a similar profile.

 

[MoparMike1974]

I have a new cam that I sprayed with cosmoline and then vacuum sealed it. Should last at least 100 years in storage.

 

[jos51700]

I have a new cam that I sprayed with cosmoline and then vacuum sealed it. Should last at least 100 years in storage.

Where you getting cosmoline at?

I used pvc tubing with end caps glued on. Coat with oil or grease, drop it in, purge with welding gas and seal it up.

 

[fratzog lover]

Dibbons, my man. 30 years? I no longer feel bad about looking at my stripped 383 block for 2 years.

 

[72Dart6pack]

Dude it could have been a Ultra Rare Hemi camshaft and you let it rust? Thats grounds for being banned on FABO site. Lol

 

[fratzog lover]

Now we have to know, what make and profile? I guess Crane Fireball or .508 MP.

 

[Gdub310]

Where you getting cosmoline at?

You can get the modern-day equivalent: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRRYF6N/?tag=joeychgo-20

But there are alternatives which are more commonly available. For example, my local parts store has this on the shelf: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZ53KFF/?tag=joeychgo-20

 

[MoparMike1974]

Cosmoline for Sale - Cosmoline Direct Rust Preventives, Sprays & More

 

[sireland67]

Cosmoline, and wrap in burlap.
That is how the NOS camshaft from WWII came for my Willys jeep.
No rust after 70 years.

 

[dibbons]

The "rusty" camshaft was a mild Isky .480 lift.

• Racing Cam
• Solid
• Valve Lift Int/Ext. 0.480
• Valve Lash Hot Int/Ext. 0.018
• ADV Duration Int/Ext. 280
• 0.050 Duration Int/Ext. 240
• Lobe Center 108

 

[rumblefish360]

I store my cams oil soaked wrapped in plastic food wrap in my closet, in the dark, away from it all.

 

[fratzog lover]

The "rusty" camshaft was a mild Isky .480 lift.

• Racing Cam
• Solid
• Valve Lift Int/Ext. 0.480
• Valve Lash Hot Int/Ext. 0.018
• ADV Duration Int/Ext. 280
• 0.050 Duration Int/Ext. 240
• Lobe Center 108

Sounds like a feisty little street cam. May it RIP.

 

[toolmanmike]

Could you glass bead the lobes? If it's just surface rust I would think Scotchbrite and a little hand work would clean it up.

 

[fratzog lover]

Could you glass bead the lobes? If it's just surface rust I would think Scotchbrite and a little hand work would clean it up.

Lazarus the camshaft, rise! Rise I tell ya!

 

[cdnEHbody]

I have a new cam that I sprayed with cosmoline and then vacuum sealed it. Should last at least 100 years in storage.

 

[Gdub310]

I used pvc tubing with end caps glued on. Coat with oil or grease, drop it in, purge with welding gas and seal it up.

That's how I store my beans and rice, which turn out about as edible as the average camshaft.

 

[cdnEHbody]

This came full of cosmoline too

 

[MoparMike1974]

Is that a Russian Nagant? I have a NOS WW2 german mauser that was stored in cosmoline. Looks and shoots like a brand new rifle.
Yeah it can be tough to get it off but its not as bad as people make it out to be.

 

[dibbons]

Another setback!

I was just taking inventory on parts for a small block build. I found about half of my new set of Lunati hydraulic lifters (still in the original box) had visible rust on the bottom (surface that rides on the camshaft). I could see the rust with the naked eye and I could feel it with my finger.

I don't know for sure the date, I purchased the lifters a year or two ago and stored them in the garage. Now I don't feel comfortable using those that have just begun to rust on the bottom (6 to 8 of 'em).

 

[dartfreak75]

Is that a Russian Nagant? I have a NOS WW2 german mauser that was stored in cosmoline. Looks and shoots like a brand new rifle.
Yeah it can be tough to get it off but its not as bad as people make it out to be.

That would be a sks.

 

[moparmat2000]

Stuff like brake rotors, and drums i get turned and put into storage, i wipe clean with laquer thinner , then i spray em down with Cor-Ban 35, and let it dry like your painting a part. It forms a hard clear slightly reddish tinted impenetrable coating on the bare metal for storage until needed. Wipes off with laquer thinner or MEK. Designed for the aerospace industry to prevent corrosion, it can be sprayed inside car doors and wheel houses at the seams where water would collect as well. This stuff would work for long term storage of camshafts etc. A thin unbroken sprayed on coating, and letting it dry before boxing and storage is all it takes to stop corrosion on bare metal, however you use laquer thinner or MEK to get it off.

 

[krazykuda]

Could you glass bead the lobes? If it's just surface rust I would think Scotchbrite and a little hand work would clean it up.

Or polish the rust off with some emery cloth if it's not too bad....

 

[Jadaharabi]

What is MEK?