Scratched a cam bearing. Now what?

[OttawaCharger]

I pulled the cam from my LA 360 yesterday in preparation for an upgrade to something a bit more stout (Comp cams XE268H). I slipped and consequently scratched one of the cam bearings. It is to the left of the oiling hole in the picture here. I can catch a nail on it. Should I replace it or smooth it with scotch bright and run it?

 

[Demonracer]

I would run it as is, DO NOT use Scotchbrite on the nick. In doing so, you will leave some of the abrasive and it may get into the oiling system.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

It being factory bearings, I would personally replace it, but that being said, that scratch isnt going to hurt anything

 

[69FBCuda]

Great cam choice.

Looks like a chunk is missing at the oiler hole.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

They look to be used bearings that have been delaminated and chips washed out. I would replace the bearings. You will lose oil pressure if they are bad.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Make sure the scratch isn’t raised.

Send it.

It’s a cam bearing. You’re not running 900 pounds over the nose or something.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

I pulled the cam from my LA 360 yesterday in preparation for an upgrade to something a bit more stout (Comp cams XE268H). I slipped and consequently scratched one of the cam bearings. It is to the left of the oiling hole in the picture here. I can catch a nail on it. Should I replace it or smooth it with scotch bright and run it?

View attachment 1716375965

I don’t think you did that,,,,that looks like the bearing is already delaminating .
Like has been mentioned,,,,there is a chunk missing near the oil hole as well .
Sometimes cam bearings do that,,,,,they just start flaking apart .

I would inspect the other bearings as well,,,however,,,,,they will run like that just fine .
It all depends on what you have planned for the engine .
They will bleed off more oil in that condition,,,,,but they will still run fine .

Tommy

 

[A56]

You're already in there, I'd replace it.

 

[Dan the man]

I would also remove those sharp edges from the oil returns that's above the camshaft. If those edges were to break off they are going right into the oil, and or get lodged between a cam lobe and a lifter. I'm sure that most will disagree with me on this but I know how my luck would go and I agree with replacing the cam bearings.

 

[Dan the man]

I enlarge the picture of the cam bearing, it looks bad to me, I would replace them all. I believe in being safe rather than sorry.

 

[George Jets]

Yes, you did not scratch that bearing. It is a stock cam bearing with a lot of "time" on it.

Years of minimal use there are acids in the oil that starts to break the surface lamination down. Not so much it may be a low mile engine, but 30 years of "time" are hard on the bearings.

Here is your's with the delamination starting, not a scratch.

Here is another failing bearing just like it.

Here is what your bearing lower halves will look like if you keep running them.

So putting in a new cam with higher lift and will consequently need more spring pressure, now you will be increasing the force on the original bearings that are already starting to go away.

(Not to mention your oil pressure will be less than perfect with the used bearings.)


☆☆☆☆☆

 

[fishmens67]

What was the oil pressure before you pulled it apart, if the pressure was good I wouldn't worry about that scratch. It won't hurt anything.
Delaminated bearing? lol I bet it looks like the rest of the bearings in the engine.
If your going to replace the cam bearings , may as well replace all the bearings.
If the oil pressure was good, run it.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Oil pressure comes from the oil pump and the bearing clearances. It's a fool's errand to think those bearings aren't worn. The engine is out and apart. Slant 6 or Briggs and Stratton, it needs new camshaft bearings. If you were local to me here in Georgia, you could bring it by and I'd knock new ones in to make a new friend. It's a 30 minute job taking my time.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

You’d think the guy was building an engine with 300 on the seat and 700 over the nose.

I’ve run way worse many times.

Way too much dick measuring and mental masturbation going on.

 

[Dan the man]

Oil pressure comes from the oil pump and the bearing clearances. It's a fool's errand to think those bearings aren't worn. The engine is out and apart. Slant 6 or Briggs and Stratton, it needs new camshaft bearings. If you were local to me here in Georgia, you could bring it by and I'd knock new ones in to make a new friend. It's a 30 minute job taking my time.

I agree and I know that you would install those cam bearings for him as I've heard that you like to help out people.

 

[RustyRatRod]

You’d think the guy was building an engine with 300 on the seat and 700 over the nose.

I’ve run way worse many times.

Way too much dick measuring and mental masturbation going on.

Oh horse feathers. He's got the thing down to bare bones. Now's the time. Go back in the corner and lube yerself up. lol

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Oh horse feathers. He's got the thing down to bare bones. Now's the time. Go back in the corner and lube yerself up. lol

Yeah, I didn’t go back and read the OP so I forget things.

If he’s down to the studs then change them.

It’s not a lot of money. But, if the OP is a little bit scotch he can use them.

Plus I just wanted to use “dick measuring contest” in a post lol.

I got me chance and me took it!

 

[DumpsterFire]

I pulled the cam from my LA 360 yesterday in preparation for an upgrade to something a bit more stout (Comp cams XE268H). I slipped and consequently scratched one of the cam bearings. It is to the left of the oiling hole in the picture here. I can catch a nail on it. Should I replace it or smooth it with scotch bright and run it?

View attachment 1716375965

They've done worse brand new at the factory

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yeah, I didn’t go back and read the OP so I forget things.

If he’s down to the studs then change them.

It’s not a lot of money. But, if the OP is a little bit scotch he can use them.

Plus I just wanted to use “dick measuring contest” in a post lol.

I got me chance and me took it!

Yeah that's my line ya thief. lol

 

[RustyRatRod]

They've done worse brand new at the factory

While 100% true and factual and no one can argue against it, he also doesn't know how badly they are worn or out of round. His choice. I know what I'd do if mine was down to the bare block.

 

[DumpsterFire]

I'm normally of the mindset of putting in new bearings anytime I'm tearing into things. I've replaced better looking

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Yeah that's my line ya thief. lol

Sure is. I plagiarized that mother like a villain!!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Sure is. I plagiarized that mother like a villain!!!

 

[fishmens67]

He's got the thing down to bare bones

I know what I'd do if mine was down to the bare block

Where does it say he's down to the block.
The OP said he pulled the cam to upgrade to a XE268

 

[RustyRatRod]

Where does it say he's down to the block.
The OP said he pulled the cam to upgrade to a XE268

Maybe I'm assuming too much from his picture, but it appears that way. Obviously the camshaft and intake are both off at the least. He asked for opinions.